I don’t see myself as a creative person.
Having said that, I have 3 live blogs (and 2 dead ones—may you both rest in peace). I’ve named them all, designed the sites, created the logos, and written extensively on any number of topics from watching the Oscars to what makes a relationship work.
So I’m guessing this self-perception is not exactly rooted in reality.
For an uber organised person, my creative process is strangely spontaneous. I rarely plan or brainstorm (and on the few occasions I do, those ideas tend never to get used). I simply sit down, place my fingers on the keyboard, and go.
That’s kind of how I came up with this name for the newsletter. I was trying to answer two questions at the same time: a) what to write about? and b) what to call it?
There are many topics I can consider starting a newsletter about, but having a single topical focus is limiting. So I had to find an angle that will allow me to write far and wide to reflect the eclectic nature of my thoughts.
So, in the span of a minute, I racked my brains for an angle I could use, a niche that will differentiate me from the throngs of newsletters out there. And a phrase I once uttered to a friend immediately sprang to the fore: “I’d like to be remembered as a thoughtful person.”
Bingo! I’m going to write about everything I’ve ever thought about, and I’m going to share them with you, one thought at a time.
As my mouse hovered over the field where I was to fill in the URL, my mind raced for a name that would be simple, catchy, and self-explanatory. And out of the wilderness, “Val Thinks” popped up.
Simple, catchy, self-explanatory. Ticks all the boxes.
So here we are.
Until next Friday… Stay cool, stay safe, stay thoughtful,
Val