What is "The Notebook Experiment"?

Hi,

I went to a really amazing stationery store the other day. I bought some rad books. On the way home, I was struck by this idea that was clear as day. I asked my husband to take out his notepad and start writing a list.
The list was as follows:
(I like how he wrote the date, so I'm adding it as well.)
September 12, 2010.
-music lyrics
-your story
-someone's story
-an apology
-a love letter
-a memory
-draw a picture
-glue a picture
-a compliment
-a to do list
-a "favourites" list
-a joke
-your life philosophy
-your dream
-a tragedy
-what your obsessing about the most

I also asked him to write this... "I'm compiling this list so that anyone who wants to participate but feels they have nothing to offer can rest assured that they do... that i want to hear and i want to know and i will cherish that you told me."

Ok, you might be wondering what this is about or maybe you've got an idea. I want to try a little something because I've wanted at so many times in my life to try big somethings and because of laziness, a lack of confidence and sometimes knowledge, ive yet to set out to achieve the fruits of my ideas.

The idea is to send out notebooks. Each notebook would ideally have a list of about 10 people and their addresses. Each person on the list would receive the notebook for their group in the mail and would have no more than a week (or two because I'm feeling nice) to write something, anything and send it off to the next person on the list.

What's my hope? I guess the hope is that we can communicate and share something with each other through writing, through mail.. things that seem a bit outdated. More than that, I'm genuinely interested in what people will compile, how much will they or you open up, how much will we learn from each other's ideas, stories, dreams, to do lists and will it make us cry? Yes, i wonder about that and hope for it.

When it's all said and done and the notebooks have been mailed back to me, I'll make a video to share with the people on each list because I guess those that wrote first will be curious about the finished result.

For those of you who know me well, you know a cafe is another dream of mine. These books will be displayed in my cafe for people to read, to laugh at, to cry over?? If I never succeed in that dream, these books will stay with me and my family and will not be forgotten.

When you get the notebook, the key is not to dwell on it too long and get stressed about how clever or creative you have to be. Of course, I'd love for you to have put some thought into it, but maybe more of the thinking could be done before it arrives. I think there will be a tendency to act like students again, procrastinating on finishing our homework:)


I hope any of you who are interested will also spend the extra few bucks or won or euro, etc.. on air mail, so it doesn't take a year to finish this!! :)

Ok, think about it.. Dig it.. Get excited... JOIN!

Connie (aka conE)

If you do want to join, please sign up to follow the blog and send me your address. That part is very important! I can't do anything without it. My email address is cmsaieva@gmail.com.