Tiny Joys and the Return of #100Rejections
Hello!
Happy New Year.
Around this time last year this newsletter launched.
I can’t believe how much it has grown and how warm the responses have been to it. Whether you’ve been a subscriber since the start or if you’ve accidentally clicked on this link just now, thank you for being a part of this community ♥️
Today’s letter was going to be about the return of 100 rejections a year.
I also wanted to write about tiny joys. So you’ve got a bumper edition today!
Addressing rejection culture is important to me and so I have kept the original content of the letter . You just need to scroll past the tiny joys section to read it👇🏾
Tiny Joys
You ever have days where you feel glum and lethargic? Where it seems impossible to get going? Me too.
Yesterday I felt overwhelmed and almost claustrophobic by the negativity of the news.
I wanted to brighten up my timeline, so I asked people to share something lovely that they had experienced that day. I was directed to the hashtag #TinyJoys, created by @lizgloyn.
It was joyous to see folk sharing simple delights: from spotting cute animals whilst out walking to enjoying a really good cup of tea.
It got me thinking about 100 rejections and how, although it is important to celebrate the effort it takes to apply for even just one opportunity, it’s still a celebration based on a result or action.
I’m going to be more mindful of the tiny joys in my everyday life. I thought I had a good handle on this, but actually I want to make it much more of a daily, hourly, minute by minute practice.
I have found it difficult to get going this week. On difficult days tiny joys have provided me with respite and comfort, on easier days tiny joys propel me onward.
Some of my tiny joys this week have included:
📒 Organising my stationery and buying a new pencil case. (Although this feels bittersweet, because news has just been announced that Paperchase might be going into administration)
🍵 Green tea. I’ve never enjoyed green tea before but … something has changed within me, something is not the same…(Wicked lyrics, if you know you know! )
💫 I got a warm fuzzy feeling reading about Moomin creator and author Tove Jansson. The Summer Book is on my list to read!
What tiny joys have you experienced today?
Reset Game Settings: 100 Rejections is back!
One of my very first letters was about playing 100 Rejections A Year. It’s a way of cultivating a positive relationship with rejection and I was inspired to create the game after reading this article.
I’ve redefined the rules this year, so feel free to play along at home. I will create a thread of my rejections and add to them as and when I receive them. (Here is mine from last year …37 rejections thank you very much!)
My Rules
I play the game in relation to rejections from work / career opportunities.
I only count the rejections that I actually receive. Finding out on social media or just never being told doesn’t count as a formal rejection.
I create a rejection postcard. I decorate it with doodles or funky fonts and I stick it on a wall, ready to easily add my rejections to it. I use a tally system and it’s so satisfying picking up a bright felt tip and marking a line.
(I don’t write down the details of the rejection, unless it’s an opportunity I will reapply for in the future or I have received useful feedback on my application which I can use for future reference).
For every 10 rejections I get, I get a reward. I’ve created a rewards list for myself, I tend not to share this as it’s private, just for me. Some folks reward themselves by putting aside a fiver for every rejection they get, saving up to splash out at the end of the year.
I allow myself to grieve if it’s an opportunity I feel gutted about not getting. I’m human and I am allowed to process. I grieve and then I try not to dwell on the rejection.
Congratulate, don’t commiserate. If I’ve added another rejection to my thread it’s because I’ve gone through step number five and come to terms with it, so don’t worry about feeling sorry for me!
I keep the rules simple and fluid. For me it’s a game, not a competition.
Now it’s over to you. What rules will you create? What rewards will you create? Share them with me, I’d love to know!
Join in with #100rejections2021 on Twitter.
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