Bingo Challenge: Ask For/Give Help

Take risks in August, get a chance at an early copy my book!

Two months from today, my new book The Dignity of Dependence, should be in the hands of anyone who pre-orders! I’m so excited to share it with you, and very grateful for how this community has provided me with a place to think sustained thoughts.

I think I can give out at least two early copies to readers, and here’s how you can snag one:

Thanks to your brainstorming, I’ve assembled a bingo board generator with various ways to ask for and receive help from others. Here’s how this challenge will work:

1. Generate your own bingo card here. (You use the print dialogue to generate one).

2. Check off things you do for others or ask others to do for you in August!

3. I’ll run a weekly thread on Saturdays (starting next week) for people to share stories/announce bingos.

4. At the end of the month, I’ll collect your bingo cards and stories. Anyone with a bingo will be entered in a drawing for at least two early copies of The Dignity of Dependence.

(whispers): And everyone who scores a bingo will get the first chapter of the book emailed to them to get a head start!

Here’s an example of what your board might look like, and I’ll cover a few questions I anticipate.

If one square feels definitionally out of reach for you (e.g. “Pray for someone” if you’re not religious) pick something that feels compatible with the spirit of the bingo challenge and just substitute it on your board.

If you’re torn about whether something should count, you can ask me, but know ahead of time that I’m going to be pretty generous! I want you to try things—it’s ok if you try to schedule something but it falls through. Making the ask is half the battle.

“Exchange numbers with a stranger” is not intended to be about dating, but you can count a romantic connection if you want. I liked someone’s suggestion about trying to chat people up in your neighborhood and then stay in touch. It can be another parent, someone in a bookstore, etc.

I put “fail at something” on the board to encourage you to try things that may not work. If you only try things you are certain you can manage, you leave a lot of the world unexplored.

All you have to do is check off boxes and eventually send in your board to me, but I’d definitely appreciate hearing stories along the way, both here and possibly on social media. I don’t have instagram but I’m happy to see links if you start a conversation there. I am on twitter @leahlibresco and please tag me in!

You can tell people why you’re making a little leap or not, it’s up to you ;)

And I’ll be playing along too! Putting “Ask a neighbor to keep a spare key” into the list made me remember I ought to do that!

So go ahead, make your boards, and then go out into the world!

What on your board do you want to set in motion today?

What on your board feels like it would be the biggest stretch for you?

Any other questions for me?