​

“Don’t wait for the holidays to feel connected — bring the connection with you"
​

Hey Reader,

Before we dive in, I keep the newsletter free for 20,000+ of you thanks to great sponsors like HubSpot. I downloaded their guide because, frankly, I have no idea how this is all going to shake out, but I'd like to be prepared ;)

​

​
Okay, onto the good stuff:
​
Whether you powered through the full 7-Day Challenge and have been with me since the beginning or barely made it to Day 2, you’re here, and that’s what counts.

This is the week before the holidays really begin. Before the group texts. Before the travel (aka - please don't let my week turn into Planes, Trains and Automobiles). Before the “who’s bringing what” negotiations.

Here is the idea this entire issue sits on:

“Don’t wait for the holidays to feel connected. Bring the connection with you.”

If you want the next few weeks to feel meaningful, you start now. One small moment this week sets the tone for the whole season.

👥 THE FRIEND

I know two friends with a pre-holiday ritual I love.

Every year, the week before the holidays kick in, they drop a used book in each other’s mailbox. No note. No explanation. Just whatever they happened to finish recently.

A simple way of saying:
​
​“Here is something from my real life before we step into the holidays.”

Not ceremonial. Not dramatic. Just human. And somehow that one small moment makes everything ahead feel more grounded.
​
It’s the kind of ritual that makes you think, “Oh right, connection can be small and still mean something.”
​
It’s small, it’s simple, and it’s somehow better than most giant holiday gestures.

🛠️ THE FIX

The One Warm-Up Text

Before the logistics take over, send one friend this:

"Before the holiday chaos kicks in and I forget to send this text…you good?"

No plan-making. No pressure. Just like grabbing your stuffing ingredients this week while you're already at the store.

Just a small human moment before the calendar gets loud. A warm-up rep.

📚 THE RECO

A Cool, Unexpected Pick: Scrounging: A Cookbook from A24

It’s the opposite of a polished holiday cookbook. Nothing curated. Just creative chaos that sparks conversation.

Scrounging is an oddball, late-night comfort-food cookbook that feels like a film-school art project in the best way.
​
Scrappy concoctions from 54 films, including The Breakfast Club's Pixy Stix sandwich, The Apartment's tennis racket spaghetti, The Martian's baked potato with Vicodin, Home Alone's 12-scoop ice cream sundae, Kramer vs. Kramer's divorced dad french toast. So...the kind of thing you flip through with a friend and immediately text someone a page...but maybe not actually use.
​

Perfect for a warm-up week when you want something interesting to spark a conversation before the main events begin.
​
​
​
Until next time,
​Matt Ritter
The Friendship Guy

PS: The $1500 Wine🍷 Weekend Getaway is still open for another week! Just screenshot your download of my Audible Original The Buddy System and reply here with the pic!
​