creative dare calendar (dec '24)
with downloadable PDFs & tiny dare stories
Hi friends!
Welcome to the realm of creative dares. Here, we dive heart-first into exploring and embracing the thrill of stepping outside our comfort zones. Creative dares are gentle yet bold nudges that push us to break free from the monotony of our routines and tap into the creative spirit that lies within all of us.
Think of these dares as invitations to play—sparks meant to ignite inspiration and foster connection. Whether it’s turning everyday moments into art, reaching out to a friend, or simply grounding ourselves in the present, I curate these dares with one goal: to help us reconnect to ourselves, the world around us, and the incredible beings we share it with. I see each dare as a fresh opportunity to engage with life in new ways, reminding us that true creativity thrives in the unexpected.
What started as a fun summer experiment with friends is blossoming into something truly special. It’s been a joy to witness so many people—both in my personal life and online—dive into these prompts and embrace the growth that comes with them. I’m excited to keep this energy alive, so please keep sharing your experiences with me. And if you’re just joining us, welcome! I’m so happy that you’re here.
Below, you’ll discover a more detailed exploration of the inspiration behind each dare for the first half of the month. These prompts aren’t pulled from thin air; each one is crafted from moments that have significantly shaped me or ideas gifted by others that have shifted my way of perceiving the world—whether drawn from an insightful interview, a thought-provoking TV show, or a heartfelt conversation. Everything I invite you to do (and trust me, I’ll be right there with you) is something I’ve either already done and integrated into my life as practice or something I’m ready to try, regardless of any initial resistance. May each dare serve as a portal into a new world of possibilities.
Happy dare-doing! I’ll meet y’all on the other side of a deeper knowing.
-Val
Tiny Dare Stories (December 1–15)
Sunday, December 1st
Dare: Choose one word that captures your intention for this month. Write it on a sticky note and place it somewhere you’ll see it daily.
Context: I love this because it simplifies goal-setting, a process we often overcomplicate. As someone with big dreams and a thousand ideas always swirling around, diving into goal-setting can sometimes feel overwhelming. This practice, however, invites me to toss logic aside and focus on grounding into a single feeling.
At the start of 2024, my intention was to "be (30%)." I was in a phase where my day job was a constant source of stress, fueled by my impulsive need to give 110% to everything. In therapy, I realized how draining and unsustainable that was. The funny thing is, what feels like 30% to us might actually look like 110% to someone else. Often, it’s just us putting unrealistic pressure on ourselves to be the “greatest” version of us (hello, capitalism; yup, I’m looking at you too, colonization). But I digress.
Monday, December 2nd
Dare: Revisit something you saved on Instagram, TikTok, or wherever you keep “for later” resources. Engage with it intentionally and journal your reflections.
Context: How many of y’all scroll through social media justifying that it’s for “inspiration” or “educational purposes”? Don’t lie to me. I’m awkwardly raising my hand too. We save the post and tell ourselves, “I’m going to learn more about this later.” Stop it.
While I’ve made significant progress in 2024, more so than any other year, I know there’s still a wealth of resources I’ve saved in my archives—categorized under “Israel-Palestine,” “writing resources,” “film inspo,” etc.—that I haven’t revisited, let alone fully digested or processed in a meaningful way. Later has arrived. I hope you share not just something you’ve learned, but something you’ve transformed into genuine understanding.
Tuesday, December 3rd
Dare: Pick up something from a drive-thru, ask the cashier how much the meal behind you costs, and if it’s within your budget, pay for it.
Context: I’ve done this a few times throughout my life, and it always fills me with a deep sense of abundance. I remember when I worked at a coffee shop, a customer started a ripple effect. I was working the register, so I got to share the joy of telling the next customer that their coffee was already paid for. Watching their faces shift from confusion to surprise to awe was such a gift. A few of them were so moved, they decided to pay it forward to the next customer. Ugh, kindness. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.
Wednesday, December 4th
Dare: Record a two-minute video updating a good friend (or a group of friends) on your life and send it to them via text. Encourage them to share their own update in return.
Context: I feel like my version of doing this is talking to my revamped #closefriendslist on IG, where I’ve curated this inner world to be a group of creatives who are truly interested in what I have to say and are curious about how to build a new world on IG with me—a world where we do less scrolling and more engaging; less consuming and more sharing. If you’re curious about how to enter #closefriendslist land, peep my bio.
However, the way I specifically chose to write out this dare was inspired by The Wednesday Waffle.
Thursday, December 5th
Dare: Turn an item you’d normally throw away into art or something functional.
Context: This dare was created by one of my really good friends, Caresse. I was talking to her about how I wanted to make these creative dares a monthly practice and invite other people to submit their own prompts for the creative dare calendar. I asked her if she had one in mind but she couldn’t think of any in the moment. A few days later, I randomly received the most energizing text from her with a list of ideas! “This is fun. I’m inspired,” she said.
I chose this one because, at first, I caught myself thinking, “That’s hard for me. I’m not good at that.” Then it hit me—I was overcomplicating it. Why not just take a wine bottle and turn it into a vase? Voila. Yeah, I can at least do that. I can also challenge myself the day of to see if any other ideas arise.
Thursday, December 6th
REST DAY / DIY
Because resting is vital to our creativity. However, if you feel inspired to make up a prompt yourself, go at it! And please, share.
Friday, December 7th
Dare: Take 15 minutes to create a playlist that reflects how you feel today, then listen to it while doing something you enjoy or a task that seems mundane.
Context: Music has become one of the most life-giving resources in my creative process lately, especially with all the incredible new releases. Kendrick blessed us with GNX just two weeks ago, and I’m still unpacking its brilliance. Doechii's Alligator Bites Never Heal, released three months ago, and continues to be a staple in my weekly queue. And Berlioz’s Open This Wall has ignited some of the most vivid visions of my future—dreams that feel like they’re already unfolding.
The other week, just before I started washing the dishes—which I knew would take about 10 to 15 minutes—I queued up a playlist of five songs. As I washed the dishes, I found myself naturally incorporating breath work techniques I’d learned from my friend Nicole, an incredible breath work facilitator. Before I knew it, I was dancing in a way that made me feel deeply connected to something bigger, and by the end, I was in tears.
Saturday, December 8th
Dare: Send someone you love an extra sweet good morning text or voice memo filled with your gratitude for them.
Context: When was the last time you intentionally took a moment to reflect on how much someone means to you? Do that. Then, when you feel that presence of gratitude in your body, share it with them. What’s fascinating is that whenever I do this, it often leads to something deeper—like spending time together and enriching the relationship.
Sunday, December 9th
Dare: Write a thank-you note to your barista, mail carrier, or someone you interact with regularly but often overlook.
Context: As someone who was once a barista, I’m a huge fan of this idea. When we’re rushing to get somewhere or caught up in our own thoughts, it’s easy to pass by others without acknowledging their existence. I remember one time when a firefighter expressed his gratitude for our work in such a sincere way that it truly moved me, especially during a period when I was resenting my job. Another time, a regular came in and handed me a $10 Amazon gift card, saying, “Thank you for everything you do.” Tiny gestures, big meaning.
Monday, December 10th
Dare: Watch a show you love but put the subtitles on in another language that you’ve been curious to learn.
Context: Since 2021, I’ve been on a journey of intergenerational healing, working to reconnect with my Filipino roots. While living with my parents from 2021 to 2022, I often asked them to speak to me in Tagalog so I could practice. Now that I've moved out, I do my best to keep the language alive by immersing myself in it wherever I can.
Tuesday, December 11th
Dare: Wrap up something you no longer need, but believe it could be valuable to someone else. Add a thoughtful note and gift it to them.
Context: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho changed me. When I asked a friend if he had read it, he said “No.” So I responded, “If I gifted it to you, would you read it?” He hesitated, saying, “Oh, I don’t know; I haven’t had much time to read lately.” I smiled and replied, “That’s okay! I’ll gift it to you anyway and see what happens.” While I know he might not be ready to dive into the book right now, I have a strong feeling that once he does, it will be impactful. In my note, I asked for him to pass it along as well when he feels like he’s ready to let it go.
Wednesday, December 12th
Dare: Go to a park or community garden (alone or with a friend) and spend 30 minutes in nature without your phone.
Context: I recently visited one of my favorite gardens with my friend Nikki, someone who I hadn’t spent one-on-one time with in a year. As soon as we arrived, we were struck by the beautiful vibrant colors around us, and we realized it was our first time experiencing the garden in this season. We settled on a bench to catch up, and she surprised me with some snacks. It felt so good to reconnect that we decided to turn it into a monthly ritual.
Thursday, December 13th
Dare: Wear an outfit that completely clashes on purpose and document how it makes you feel throughout the day.
Context: In July, my friend Toan hosted a surrealism birthday party, and it was such a fun theme. My friend Ruby and I adorned our faces with sticky gems, and the next day, she felt inspired to keep wearing them. It was a playful way to practice embracing the attention that comes with stepping outside societal norms. At first, it feels a bit awkward, but there’s so much value in being able to celebrate our uniqueness and challenge conventional expectations.
Thursday, December 14th
Dare: Ask someone out on a date. If you’re in a monogamous relationship, invite someone on a friend date. Focus on the act of asking, not the outcome.
Context: In 2021, I slid into someone’s DMs for the first time. I had never asked someone out before, but I was in a transformative phase, obsessed with challenging the beliefs that had been holding me back. A consistent mantra of mine basically became “Do it for the plot.” So, despite the nerves, I decided to focus on simply asking him out rather than attaching to the outcome. The goal was to simply do it for the experience, no matter where it led.
Here’s a little peek into my flirt game:
Plot twist.
He asked me out seven months later when he became single.
Friday, December 14th
REST DAY / DIY
Because resting is vital to our creativity. However, if you feel inspired to make up a prompt yourself, go at it! And please, share.
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