Frgmnts is back! After a much needed, unannounced break, I am excited to be back in your inbox on this Tuesday morning.

Is it too late to say "Happy New Year?" Well, even if it is, I hope you've had a wonderful start to 2024. I've missed sitting down every Monday evening to write to you — and I've especially missed your thoughtful responses.

As I nervously announced here in November, I am working on a book which will be released this year. And as I prepare to complete one of the first big milestones — finishing the rough draft — I'm about to do one of my favorite things: go on a "personal retreat."

`What places, activities, or people make your imagination come alive?`

`#063 / 08.25.2022`

If you are a Frgmnts subscriber, that question might be familiar. It's the question I ask in every new person that signs up for this newsletter in my welcome email. If you've never seen this question or you haven't answered it, I encourage you to think about your answer.

For me, a good personal retreat makes my imagination come alive, without fail. When I venture outside the confines of familiarity and daily routine, something inside me opens up. A free-flowing pathway emerges where new ideas can travel in and creativity rushes out. Since I started the ritual, I've treated these retreats as experiments. I prepare to take advantage of my time away, while giving myself full permission to do only and exactly what feels right. It looks different every time.

Tomorrow, I will drive deep into the Flint Hills of Kansas to a place I have come to cherish. This specific place is where I went on my first personal retreat. It's also where I wrote the poem Still Green. One of my few goals with this trip is to make some sort of progress on the rough draft of my book. Whatever I come back with, I have no doubt the time away will be transformative.

And now, a few updates...

Book progress: On the first day of the year, I took a formal step towards publishing my book. I filed for a new LLC business entity. I'll use this business to manage all the financial aspects of publishing, including paying for various services, purchasing inventory, and then selling the book to those that want to buy it.

New poem: I published a new poem, titled I Find Myself.

I appreciate you for continuing to read these words. I appreciate the space and freedom to hit pause on this newsletter when I need a break. Most of all, I appreciate those of you that sent a message to check in when you noticed you weren't receiving your weekly Frgmnts email. I am endlessly grateful.

Before I let you go, a quick reflection: To reiterate the question above... What places, activities, or people make your imagination come alive? Pause and answer this for yourself. If you feel like sharing you can reply to this email.

Thank you for joining me.

See you next Tuesday,

Benny

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