Reading time: 4.25

Hey Reader,

There’s a certain quality of light you get in the early morning and late evening, in the UK at least.

Not golden hour, although that’s stunning; it’s a little later than that in the evening — immediately after dusk — and just around sunrise in the morning, if the sky is clear.

There’s a strange clarity to everything. Lights look brighter, especially car headlights. The air has a sparkly haze. And flowers are luminous. Sometimes I’d swear they glow.

If you’re lucky enough to be somewhere with a view and you can stretch your eyes, maybe there’s a mist lying low in the morning, and that glows too.

This light quality feels magical to me. It feels like anything is possible.

And it reminds me the world is so much bigger than I am, so full of incredible sights and sounds and people and ideas.

It’s full of things worth saving and talking about and cherishing.

We talk a lot about saving the world, but the truth is the world will be just fine without us. It'll thrive, actually. I remember hearing David Attenborough say that not so long ago and it caught me like a punch to the stomach.

The world doesn’t need saving. It’ll bounce forward* from everything humanity has done to it. Different, but strong.

What we really mean when we talk about saving the world, is saving humanity, and I’m not sure that collectively we have the will to do that. Or at least, those with the means to save humanity clearly do not have the will to do it.

So it’s up to the rest of us.

But saving humanity sounds like a tall order, right? It’s a lot. I hear you.

Start small.

Start with what we can do, right now, today.

Start with your idea.

Channel that magical quality of light and shine it on what matters to you, and let it flow into words on a page.

Write what you care about.

Write that book.

Which is why I created MicroBook Magic: to shine a light on your big idea and help you bring it to life.

Enrolling now:

*Thank you to my extraordinary client and MicroBook Magician Laura C for this idea of bouncing forward, from her upcoming book Brilliantly Bouncy which you HAVE to read.

And now — time for the Friday Goodie Bag!

Senator Cory Booker making history

This week, Senator Cory Booker (who is a remarkable man) made history by speaking for more than 25 hours in protest at Trump’s presidency and the fascist takeover that is happening before our eyes. It’s even sweeter that a Black man beat Strom Thurmond’s filibuster record attempting to stymie the Civil Rights Act.

Anyway — Sen Booker is a wonderful example of using your voice to galvanise people into action.

Some cool grafitti I saw in the Arcadian car park, Birmingham

I’m always on the lookout for art, so when we parked in Birmingham on Saturday I was delighted to look up and see this:

When councils allow artists to decorate public spaces like this, it’s a thing of beauty. We can have real art, or we can have messy tags, broken windows, and litter.

Nature’s art, all polished up

My friend came to visit on Sunday, for my birthday, and she brought her collection of fossils and her fossil polishing kit. Because she’s as big a nerd as I am. We spent the afternoon in the garden polishing ammonites and look how gorgeous they are!

Worried about AI in design? Watch this…

Dave Officer, a graphic designer and artist on LinkedIn, has created a really great and balanced video about AI and the future of graphic design. It’s really worth a watch because I think it’s quite hopeful.

I’m of a similar opinion: AI is extremely problematic in many ways but one thing it will do is weed out mediocrity and that is not a bad thing.

There will always ALWAYS be space for human creativity, innovation, design, and ideas. Focus on that and use AI as the tool it is to help you do that faster and better.

Do you know how to walk proper?

I thought I knew how to walk, but apparently I do not. Shoes seem like a good idea, but are they really?

I dunno anymore. Watch this video and ponder it for yourself.

What I’m reading

Right now I’m reading Deborah Frances-White’s new book Six Conversations We’re Scared to Have because it’s important and urgent.

And I’m reading Artifact Space by Miles Cameron because I love a good space opera. This is no Becky Chambers novel but it’s entertaining me so far!

What I’m writing

I’m working on my next stand-up comedy set, happening later in April. My theme is “self care” and how stressful it is. Ahahahaha.

What I’m doing

Right now I’m on a train on my way to Dave James’s speaking workshop titled hilariously Smack My Pitch Up. I’ll report back!

Word of the week

Filibuster

meaning: to make a long speech in order to delay or prevent a new law being made.

What I love about this word is it has its history in piracy. Like, swashbuckling on the high seas.

The word referred to an irregular military adventurer — specifically “an American engaged in fomenting insurrections in Latin America in the mid-19th century.” The word came to English in the 1840s from the Spanish filibustero, which literally means “freebooter” — that is, a pirate or plunderer.

How cool is that?

Quote of the week

Of course, those of us who are autistic already know this. We get thoroughly obsessed with things. Like dinosaurs, polishing ammonites, trapeze, or philately.

(Did you collect stamps or have friends at school?)

Have a splendid weekend and remember to do something that brings you joy, and do something that brings joy to someone else.

TTFN,

Vicky