Happy Valentine's Day, friend.

Whether we've known each other for a few decades, a few years, or a few hours--I'm thinking about you today.

Because, cheesy and trite as it may be, I still think we all deserve to have someone think about us on the 14th of February. I know you do. And I know I do, too.

This year, I gave myself a cool self-love present that I wanted to tell you about, so that you can maybe go create your own.

Actually, I take that back, I gave myself two presents.

Hey friend,

It's a Monday, and I just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you.

No advice, no long story, no punchline today.

I just know that Mondays are not everybody's favorite day of the week.

If you're having a lousy day, I'm thinking about you.

Hi friend,

This is it, the end of the year. It's really happening.

In my opinion, 2017 didn't always feel like a proper year in its own right -- at times, it was like this weird continuation of 2016 that forgot to end. Maybe you felt it, too.

So, to prove that this year really happened, I'm gonna run us through the numbers. Because, once I counted it all up, quite a lot of stuff happened.

(And the experts all say it's good to acknowledge your accomplishments and your blessings, don't they? Dampens the existential dread, etc.)

Here we go.

Hey friend,

In news surprising no one, I am procrastinating on packing for San Diego right now. I fly tomorrow, for two weeks of holiday sunshine.

I never know what to pack. Leave me to my own devices and I'll wind up with seven pairs of Lululemons, a leather skirt, and a frantic day 1 trip to Target.

Anyway, Christmas is coming. I can practically feel the year winding down, so I want to send you one final pre-Santa note.

Hi friend,

I was going to write you a different email just now.

But then I had a moment of clarity last night in a pub in Dublin.

The funny thing about moments of clarity is, you don't realize how often you don't have them until you get one -- and that's most certainly what happened to me while sipping a half-pint of Guinness and waiting to meet up with colleagues for dinner.