17 Comments
User's avatar
Callie Ó Nialláin's avatar

“be 95% good and 5% mean” ❤️

Expand full comment
Melinda's avatar

Hold the hug one second longer

Put the kids covers back on them at night if you’re up

Set a timer on your home WiFi

Boil the eggs for the week

Light a candle, say a few Hail Marys for someone you love

Crack the bedroom window open before you go to sleep

Dry your clothing on a rack

Train your children to first ask dog-walkers if they can pet their dog

If ‘you don’t like audiobooks’ try 0.8x speed

Expand full comment
Callie Ó Nialláin's avatar

What is this Tuesday writing group and is it accepting new members? I will write my list and post later....

Expand full comment
Molly Wizenberg's avatar

I facilitate three ongoing groups of writers -- people who have taken workshops from me and want to continue -- that meet on Zoom weekly to share work, receive feedback, and talk writing and reading. All of the groups are currently full. But thank you for asking, Callie!

Expand full comment
Callie Ó Nialláin's avatar

Please let me know when you have an opening. :)

Expand full comment
Anne's avatar

This makes me even more excited for the workshop I signed up for this fall on narrative! Weee!

Expand full comment
Reannon's avatar

How to be perfect-

Always look for the good in people & situations.

Don’t hide your feelings.

Kiss, hug & tell them you love them everyday.

Eat what you want not what you think you should eat.

Read everyday.

Remember that creativity comes in many different forms. Create your way.

Smile at strangers you make eye contact with.

Always be polite to customer service.

It’s ok to change your mind.

Forgive often. Especially yourself.

Expand full comment
Tracy Harris's avatar

So. I happened to be at home when this came into my inbox, and I had all of the ingredients, and I recently made another of Natasha's recipes recently so I know she's amazing, and I trust you implicitly when it comes to food because I think we have the same taste, so I made this coffee cake immediately, except with blueberries, and I can confirm, it is fucking amazing.

Expand full comment
Molly Wizenberg's avatar

YES YES YES!!!!! 💙

Expand full comment
Karen Homer's avatar

I still sing my 15-year-old daughter twinkle twinkle every night (ssssh don’t tell!) Also walks, always.

Expand full comment
Marian Bull's avatar

Molly!!! Thank you!!! As a big fan of sundry lists I’m honored to be included in yours 💗💗💗

Expand full comment
Alyssa Severin's avatar

ahhhh!!!! thank you for an impromptu writing prompt that I could write on my phone, holding the napping babe, sad to not do IRL tomorrow, happy to have had the chance anyway. 🧡

say their name if you remember it. “it’s alex, right?” watch them smile.

only read the parenting things that make you feel free.

use libby liberally.

take the stairs whenever possible. always stick to the right.

wave and mouth thank you when the people with the leaf-blowers stop their leaf-blowing so you can walk past.

look grief square in the face, cupping your hands at its neck, holding it tenderly, holding it loosely, holding it.

keep lists of any and all kinds, paper, phone, napkins—pleasure, tasks, needs.

put two glasses in the freezer so later you can split a cold beer.

grill on sundays.

buy more fruit than vegetables at the farmer’s market.

remember that empathy is being with, not fixing. remember this applies to you, too.

text the people you love “checkin’ in” and leave it open, like a screen door on a cooling summer night.

don’t conflate loving him with always loving the role. you won’t always love the role. you will always love him.

kiss those cheeks. kiss. those. cheeks.

Expand full comment
Casie Gambrel's avatar

Coming back to the comments since you mentioned your list. It's wonderful. x

Expand full comment
Kaitlin Rogers's avatar

Your LIST. Gah! Tomorrow.

Expand full comment
Angela's avatar

Never depend on others for your morning coffee.

If you find yourself continually investing more into relationships than you receive, reevaluate.

Friendships can run a course.

Expand full comment
Katie's avatar

Ah Molly your list made me tear up. Thanks for sharing 💛

Expand full comment
a.g.'s avatar

beautiful, everything and the Helen Garner article, my god!!

here's my quick shortlist:

surprise; allow yourself to be surprised.

retain mystery; allow others to retain it, too.

let your eyes linger on any people that attract them.

wash the linens.

long.

make mischief.

praise others lavishly when the whim strikes.

sleep cold.

be 95% good and 5% mean.

let intoxication be an indulgence; let indulgence be an indulgence.

crush.

don’t waste yourself.

move the muscles, they need it and like it.

savor.

be open, but sure.

play: the game is worth the candle.

Expand full comment