Jeff Muzzerall sent me this paper on the Benefits of Writing: Health and Productivity. The paper summarizes other research showing, among other things, that people who write about their long-term goals and their best possible selves become happier and more satisfied than people who write about trivial and short-term topics.

Might be a good reason to blog about what your ideal life would be like… =)

If everything went really, really well, what would life look like five years from now, when I’m 30?

Life: I have a wonderful relationship with W- and J- and other members of the family, full of experiences and laughter and deep moments. I’m close to my family and friends back in the Philippines, too, and we regularly chat over the phone, exchange stories and pictures, and visit. I can sew clothes I enjoy wearing, and I can take portraits that people like. I’ll have finally finished a book. =) I have plenty of friends that I’ve brought together so that they can meet my other friends, and they’ll also have formed good friendships among themselves. I’m always meeting people and connecting them with other people and ideas for making things happen.

Work: Whether I’m working at a large company or a small one, I’m helping people connect and collaborate. I divide my time between helping people connect, creating tools to support that, and teaching lots of people how to do what I do (or even better).