We Should Live a Life That Sparks
Good conversation is one of life’s great luxuries—and far too rare.
There’s the life you were told to want—tidy, efficient, strategically optimized. And then there’s the life that crackles: unscripted conversations, half-finished novels on the nightstand, mismatched teacups from cities near and far. A life that sparks.
Let’s focus on the latter. A truly interesting life isn’t built on habits alone. It requires friction, curiosity, and just the right amount of boldness.
Learn Something Delightfully Impractical
There’s a special kind of intelligence in choosing to learn something that serves no obvious purpose. Pick up the cello. Study ancient Greek. Sketch nudes in a dusty atelier. Whisper phrases in Portuguese to your plants. The point isn’t achievement; it’s enchantment.
Becoming a beginner again refreshes the spirit and quietly rewires the brain. And let’s be honest—no one ever became more interesting by optimizing every spare minute.
Romance the idea of learning simply because it makes you feel more alive and because you want to bake a perfect soufflé and quote Sappho while you do it.
Travel for the Plot, Not the Postcard
Indeed, there’s a time and place for sun loungers and poolside spritzes. But the journeys that linger—the ones that subtly reorder your internal architecture—tend to begin off the beaten track and end somewhere far from your comfort zone.
Opt for travel with texture. Cities dense with old stories and newer contradictions. Landscapes that recalibrate your sense of scale. Places where you’re briefly unsure of the currency or the customs.
Trains, when possible. Fewer plans, more encounters. Conversations with the curious and the kind. Avoid collecting countries like stamps; instead, accumulate moments: a dish that surprises your palate, a detour that rewrites your itinerary, a conversation that lingers longer than your visa.
Travel should shake something loose. It should disorient you—gently, generously. If you come home with fewer assumptions and a few more questions, you've done it right.
Curate a More Provocative Circle
Look around the table. Are these people expanding your world—or just reflecting it back at you? The most dynamic lives are built through proximity to difference. Seek out artists, scientists, linguists, quiet rebels. Host smaller dinners with better questions. Befriend someone twenty years older. Or younger.
Let your social life become an ecosystem of perspectives—layered, diverse, generative.
We’re all susceptible to social autopilot: the same group chats, the same polite dinner party topics. Shake things up. Seek out people who challenge you—people who read different newspapers, speak different languages, ask better questions. The goal isn’t to agree on everything; it’s to widen the scope of your thought.
Good conversation is one of life’s great luxuries—and far too rare. Surround yourself with the kind of minds that leave you taking notes on cocktail napkins.
Rethink Your Relationship with the Glow
Unplugging is no longer an act of defiance—it’s a necessity. In a world where constant connectivity is the default, a daily reprieve has become a quiet luxury. Set aside an hour each day to disconnect. Read the long-form articles, the ones with substance and texture. Write actual letters. Sink into albums, not playlists.
Rediscover the art of mono-tasking—immersing yourself in one thing, done well, without the interruption of notifications. It’s a simple truth: no one truly interesting gets there by scrolling endlessly. The devices designed to connect us often rob us of presence.
Craft your day with intentional moments of disconnection. Enjoy the tactile experience of a newspaper with your morning coffee. Take walks without the familiar hum of your phone in your pocket. Light a candle. Let your mind wander.
When you do return to your screen, do so with a purpose. Technology is meant to be a tool, not a lifestyle. Let it enhance your world—not replace it.
Give in Eccentric, Enthusiastic Ways
A well-rounded life involves contribution—but who says it has to be predictable? It’s a daily practice. Give without fanfare. Invest in people, places, and projects with long-term value. Send flowers. Write grants. Organize local talks.
Support what’s fragile but meaningful. Let generosity be your legacy. Mentor someone unexpectedly. Donate to something obscure. Lend your talents in surprising corners of your community.
Giving back should feel personal and slightly mischievous—like slipping something generous into the world without anyone quite noticing. And don’t wait for perfection or free time; build it into your life as you would any other form of beauty.
Keep It All Slightly Mysterious
Lastly, consider withholding. Not everything needs to be shared, explained, posted, or branded. Some of the most magnetic people are those who keep a few projects brewing quietly, who create for the sake of it, who surprise even their closest friends. Be one of them.
What’s one thing you could do—not because it makes sense, but because it makes you feel more you?
With warmth and gratitude,
Jennifer
xxx