The title to this column probably has you thinking about some life-changing transition or a big vacation to refresh, or maybe a new exercise regimen. If that is the case, I am sorry to disappoint you.

I’m actually about those renewal reminders for annual donations you make to a charity or to renew a magazine subscription. The reminders usually start with “Thanks for your donation last year,” or “Don’t miss a single issue,” or “Immediate action needed.” The most recent one I received was a little more subtle; it said, “Your membership is within the expiration window.” Of course, the notice did not tell me how wide that window is. The common characteristic among these reminders is that they almost always start arriving way before the actual renewal date, but you would never know it from the wording in the mailing you receive.

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