School is out for the year, 2024 is around the corner.

I got an interesting gift from my aunt and uncle this Christmas. This Christmas, in a shiny, silver cardboard box– so shiny that I could see myself like through a mirror– I received a deck of self-contemplation.

Printed on the front are the words WE’RE NOT REALLY STRANGERS. Upon opening the flap that seals the box, it reads INSIDE WE ARE ALL THE SAME.

I took a moment to shuffle through the cards. Every one of them contained a question– one deep question that could be expanded upon and written down in some journal. On the backside they were all the same, a reflective silver.

Sometimes a wildcard painted in red appears, in which the topic is more open and gives us more freedom to write whatever.

It seems like these cards are meant to be considered carefully and journaled often. For 2024, I’ll aim to do it every other day at least. Everyday when I wake up, I’ll get to work on answering the card at the top of the deck. Write about it for a bit, finish it later in the night or tomorrow. After I have written, put that card at the bottom of the deck.