August: not enough month

 August was the month of music and Ireland.  There wasn't enough month to cover either one of these.  I learned that both are just too big and fascinating.  

For books I read: George Washington and the Irish; Amy Grant's Mosaic; and Janis.  Janis as in Janis Joplin of course.

In podcast I listened to: Dumbarton's Drums; Cooperstuff; Nationalism and Ireland; Daigel Bites with Chrissy Metz; Nebraska and Irish Emmigrants; and Irish Radicals.  The Nebraska podcast was the view of the Nebraska life through the eyes of an Irishman.  Hilarious! 

For videos: Walls of Wonder; JS Bach; Amy Winehouse; Celtic Music and Drums; Northern Ireland; and Musical Gumbo and New Orleans.  

Activities were Celtic drums meditations and listening to all kinds of music.  I found Ulali (an American Indian group) and Janis both amazing and could listen to them forever.  

What I learned is that commercialism both exposes people to new things but also tends to ruin music eventually.  It ruins the musicians too.  I was going to learn an instrument, but the amount of data and actions to go about were too much.  I will got to a festival or concert soon.  I hope.  Ireland is just amazing.  I am so glad to be Irish.  I haven't found the other cultures I have learned about as fascinating to explore.  I was disappointed to find that when I was trying new Irish foods, I looked into Irish restaurants only to discover that anything labeled "Irish" tended to just be a bar.  I know that with any stereotype the rumor tends to be based in reality.  I hope there's more to this story than stereotype.

Anyway, I will continue this research next year, it will go on the "to be continued" list.  

Day 20 of 40

 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:11

I've been coming across a lot of alive, death, and love stuff lately.  God is trying to tell me something.  Maybe living in this moment?  This one.  This moment. 

Day 19 of 40

 So look upon your old sin nature as dead and unresponsive to sin, and instead be alive to God, alert him, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Do not let sin control your puny body any longer; do not give in to its sinful desires.  Do not let any part of your bodies become tools of wickedness, to be used for sinning; but give yourselves completely to God-every part of you-for you are back from death and you want to be tools in the hand of God, to be used for good purposes.

Romans 6:11-13

Like he said.

Day 17 of 40

 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10

Love is when you give all to someone who did not deserve it.

Day 16 of 40

 Yet, even though Christ lives within you, your body will die because of sin; but your spirit will live, for Christ has pardoned it.  And if the Spirit of God, who raised up Jesus from the dead, lives in you, he will make your dying bodies live again after you die, by means of this same Holy Spirit living within you.

Romans 8:10-11

Yea, I am not sure I'm getting this one.  It's deep.

dAY 15 OF 40

 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Peter 1:18-19

It's interesting that he uses the word perishable when talking about silver and gold, but not with a man.  The man goes on forever, he counts, he lives on.  The gold and silver, though never die, never live either.

Day 14 of 40

 He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things we have done.  God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit.  He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning.

Titus 3:5

It's all brand new.  It's a wash.  All new!

Day 13 of 40

 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself.  Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.  Therefore, as the scriptures say, "If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord."

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

You have done nothing.  Your sins are the same as everyone else's.  The only reason you are free is because Jesus made you that way.  Stop bragging.

Day 12 of 40

 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Hebrews 2: 14-15

If it's good enough for God, it's good enough for you.

day 11 of 40

 Remember that in those days you were living utterly apart from Christ; you were enemies of God's children, and he had promised you no help.  You were lost, without God, without hope.  But now you belong to Christ Jesus, and though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought very  near to him because of what Jesus Christ has done for you with his blood.

Ephesians 2:12-13

Sacrifice brings people closer.  For the sacrificer and the sacrificee.  The giving and the taking changes everything.  Jesus gave all to bring us closer to also give all we have as well.

Politics & Poland

 July was the month of poles.  Politics and Poland.  Politics was kind of boring.  Poland was pretty fascinating. I though it would be the other way around.  Poland is the land of my people and I gotta admit, I was impressed.  The music, the food, the literature....nice.  Politics seems all heated on the news/propaganda, but when learning about it, it got dry quick.  

I only read 2 books: "Build the World Better" and "The Last Wish" which is a Witcher novel written by a Polish author.  Highly recommend it.  I watched Sons of Liberty on TV during a 4th of July marathon and the Hamilton musical.  On Curiosity Streaming:  Meteorite Men (in Poland, got to see current landscapes) and America's Declaration.  On Great Courses: Rosa Luxemburg; Gorecki; Investigating the Presidency; America's Changing Democracy.  On commune I watched a couple of days of political videos.  

On podcasts I listened to Poland's Lost Generation; Biden in Poland (a twofer); and Pantsuit Politics.  

I also made or ordered some Polish food.  I must say if you've never had Polish pancakes you should try them.  They have apples in them and are so delicious.  

Last month I learned that the food and music in Poland is amazing.  Between Chopin and Gorecki I spent several days just listening and meditating.  Beautiful.  I also learned that what is displayed to us through the media about politics isn't all together true.  It is more cut and dry, yet passionate.  The people (not all) are more into the country that into themselves.  But they are just people.  The are both good and bad and make a ton of mistakes.  Only theirs has more effect.

August:  the Irish and music (not just Irish).   

Day 10 of 40

 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

You are forgiven.  If you believe, you are forgiven.  No matter what.

Day 9 of 40

 He gave himself for us to set us free from every wrong and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

Titus 2:14

He bought us with his life to save us a from a life of slavery to wrong to ownership to do right.  To be eager to for it.  Are we eager?

Day 8 of 40

 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteaousness of God.  

2 Corinthians 5:21

He took the punishment for us.  He volunteered. 

Day 7 of 40

 Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.  

Romans 4:7-8

Without Jesus there is no hope.  

Day 6 of 40

 When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God.  God brought you alive-right along with Christ! Think of it!  All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's cross.  He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the cross and marched them naked through the streets.  

Colossians 2:13-15

The past me is gone, done.  Move on.  Look forward.

Day 5 of 40

 So, friends, we can now- without hesitation- walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place".  So let's do it- full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out.

Hebrews 10: 19, 22

Just do it, full of confidence, no draw back, no " I think I do?"  Just go to him.

Day 4 of 40

 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.  And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

I think this means not only does God see you as new, but you need to as well.  You need to act different, think different, respond different.  It's a two way street.

Day 3 of 40

 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."  The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness- for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. 

Romans 4: 20, 22-25

Question of the day:  What is the difference between "being" love and "showing" love?  I'm not real sure.  I think you can show love without feeling it at all.  You can show mercy with an agenda, do good for others when it is for yourself.  But being love is when you feel it and show it even if it does you little benefit. 

day 2 of 40

 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with hime, graciously give us all things?  Romans 8:32

Evidently nothing is off the table.

Day 1 of 40

 John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  

Thank you so much for your sacrifice.  I would never have been able to save myself.

Polar Opposites... or is it?

 June was all about nature and computers.  Well, technology.  What I discovered that surprised me was that humans and animals are not at all different.  Whenever I would watch something on males in the wild it would remind me so much of all the guys at work.  I also have found that being in the trees is very good for stress.  Technology isn't so much, but it could lead to so much if not taken advantage of or over used.

The books I read were Only Good Indians (wonderful), The Only Woman in the Room (though about Hedi Lamar it's not about tech much), and I tried to read Walden.  But mostly it is about an ego driven man telling people what to do.  For instance he recommends people sleep in tool boxes.  What's up with that?  Just drill air holes, he says. 

 In Great Courses I watched: Sharks & Rays; Zoology: Reproduction; Is Privacy Dead (probably).  In Curious Streaming:  Iberian: Breed Season; Nature's Cutest; Technology; Fight Club (animals); Digital Transcendence.  I also watched Obama's National Parks show on Netflix.  Highly recommend.  

Audio:  there really isn't much to listen to on these topics.  It's a hard one to listen.  Unashamed: Jase's take on Technology; Life is short- Justin Long and Jeff Corwine; and Elon Musk.  He's pretty fascinating.  Not sure I buy into the whole get-Elon thing, but he probably pissed someone in media off and they are looking to benefit.  

I did a lot of meditation outside or with nature sounds.  I didn't focus much on computers.  Kinda boring really.  I did a 5K to round out my May PE focus.  It was through the woods.  

Next month:  Poland and Politics.  Not Polish politics, but politics in general. 

Vikings in the PE Class

 May was PE/Health and Baltic Sea.  I have done enough history and genealogy to know that just about everyone has some Viking in them, especially a France, South Irish, Poland combo like me.  I also needed to lose some weight, therefore the PE.  For the month, one of the things I wanted to do was once a week do something I wouldn't normally do for exercise.  I also joined a weight loss support group and a gym.  For the Baltic Sea ancestry I did the usual study methods.

So for my weekly exploration I did bowling, trampoline workout (that is very hard), and hauled brush.  I joined Faithful Finish Lines, which is a weight loss group online, and I did Baltic meditation.  Some of the meditation was doable some was amazing.  Completely depended on the mood I think.  

I read "Fierce" by Olympian Aly Raisman.  I watched on Curious Streaming: Fit in 6; How to not get Cancer;  and Viking Origins.  On Great Courses I watched:  Diet for Happiness; Science of Weight; Exercise, Fitness & Activity.  On Youtube:  Vikings of the Baltic and Viking Ancestry.  

I listened to: Austin AF Women in Sports; Bee Goddess & Dragons; Sugar is not Evil; Koshas,Chakras & Yoga Living; Good Carbs, Bad Carbs; Vikings' Global Connection; Simply Healthy; Back on Track; Listen to your Body; Youth, Inc with Shawn Johnson.  One night we had a Baltic meal which consisted of pork steak, potato pancake, and mushrooms.  

What I learned:  That I had more Baltic blood than I thought, that there was more than just 'Vikings", there were many clans and tribes.  I learned that I feel better when I work out and watch my diet.  I learned trampoline jumping is harder than it looks.  I discovered high intensity interval training.  

I will continue my workout regimen and keep looking for new ways to be physical other than the walks and videos.  I also learned that there is more to weight management than just physical.  It's mostly mental. 

A Little Soul in more Ways than One.

 April was a thinker.   The year's theme is discovery: of both the world and myself.  Now for the world I had decided to do religion for April.  I picked two of the big 5 because they were the most removed from what I know.  I picked Hindu and Buddhism.  I read Diwali, a children's book, because I figured it was as basic as you can get.  It was and I knew none of it.  I also read Letter to a Hindu and Dinner with Buddha.  For videos I watched on Great Courses: Hindu and the Vedas; Nationalization of Hindu; Three Baskets of Buddha; Pure land Buddha & Zen; Death, Rebirth, and Resurrection.  On Curious Stream I watched Ancient Genius: Buddha.  For audio I listened to:  Hinduism 101; Modern Buddhism; and Awakening of Buddha.  

There was a lot more of Buddha then Hindu.  Hindu is a more exclusive religion that has been politicized to the point where you can't really figure out why anyone would stay unless forced.  Buddhism is a religion that has branched off of Hindu.  Which I had no idea of.  It's a lot more relaxed and people oriented rather than controlling.  Kind of like a Jewish/Christianity relationship.  Connected and together, yet completely separate.  It was a fascinating discovery.  I loved learning about both.  Both religions are heavily reliant on meditation, which is something I discovered a couple of years ago.  I love mediation.  As an activity I did Vedic mediation and a couple of different Buddhist style meditations, as well as Buddhist mindful eating.  Great stuff really.  The more I did it the more I wanted to.  I will definitely be incorporating these styles into my practice. 

For discovery of self I wanted to study history of Passing for White.  While doing genealogy I discovered that a branch of my family had been going by either Negro or Mulatto as recently as my great-great grandparents.  So I wanted to learn more about the experience of people who had made the transition.  I read Sweeter the Juice and The Vanishing Half.  I watched Passing (the documentary, not movie); Netflix's Fredrick Douglass; and Hulu's Clotilda.  I listened to No Dogs, No Blacks, No Irish; Girl Trek's Harriet Tubman and Bishop Tutu and Alice Walker; and Go(o)d Morning with Curlynikki.  

For my experience I dug out some of my grandmother's recipe's and made a "soulfood" supper.  I'm sure she wouldn't have called it that, but I wanted to connect with her.  I don't really remember her much.  She had a walker and she lived in a nursing home.  She had kinky curly hair.  Her name was Lily.  Spelled like the flower.  I made fried chicken marinated in sweet tea.  It was good!  I shoulda made that before! 

This was a pretty eye opening month.  I feel like I really learned and connected with my past and the world.  I don't think May is going to be able to contend. 

There's a Place in France.....

 March was the  month of France and Art.  I didn't intend to pick the two together because they blended so much.  I mean, I was aware that France had a lot of art, but so does the rest of the world.  But, Paris is art and art is Paris.  Or so it is said.  For France I had a rule of no WWII and for art I stuck to the classics.  

I read " I Will Always Love You" which is about Mary Cassatt, an impressionist painter from the end of the 19th century and her relationship with art and Edgar Degas, a fellow Parisian painter.  I watched on Curious Streaming four videos:  Bon Appetite; Picasso; Mona Lisa; and The Secret Versailles.  On Great Courses I watched:  Normandy at Ease; Women and French Salons & English Coffeehouses; and Islamic Art.  I also watched "Under the Eiffel Tower" on Netflix.  I listened to podcasts Resurrecting Notre Dame and Artist Way.  The music I listened to was La Femme Pendu and Baroque.  These things taught me about the culture of France for the most part as well as the classics of the great painters.  I was introduced to not only the food of Paris, but how it is grown and the agriculture of the region.  I learned some history of France, specifically the 1770s as that was when my French ancestry came over and Marie Antoinette.  It was all very fascinating.  

For my art activities, I did an art journal called No Mistakes by Keiko Agena.  I also took a vacation to Santa Fe.  I had intended to go to the Georgia O'Keefe museum, but found out on arrival that you have to purchase tickets ahead of time!  But no fear, Santa Fe is swimming in art of all kinds.  So I got some experience in the culture of art.  

For self discovery this month I read two books:  Death of Innocence by Mamie Till and Recovery by Russell Brand.  I also had a vacation to the desert of the Southwest, made some donations, did some Spring Self-care challenges and Spring Hygge.  I did a meditation series on Commune with Koya Webb as well as listened to some podcasts by Jeff Kober, Joyce Meyer and Faith Hunt.  

I learned about France that they like to enjoy life.  Really enjoy it.  Art is beautiful.  The stuff I like anyway. It is wide and varied with something for everyone.  And though it is serious business when they do it, the world of galleries and museums do not get up early.  Not for anything. 

I Always Loved Your review

 "I Always Loved You" by Robin Oliveira is a novel that follows the life and work of two of the 19th centuries greatest artists: Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas.  Cassatt is an American who went to Paris to paint and Degas was already there, famous, and full of opinions.  It starts at their meeting and follows them and their crowd full of artists throughout their lives until the death of Degas.

I really loved this book.  It "paints" the imagery and turns the novel into a work of art itself.  Cassatt is one of my favorites and this book brings her to life.  I recommend this novel to anyone who loves art, Paris, or color in their life.  

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from netgalley.com.  

Round the world in 28 days: knowing it by Heart

 Today rounds up exploring the world and our hearts for the month of February.  One thing I have learned is exploring a different culture every week is a  lot.  It's quite the push.  I won't do that again. This week was Djibouti.  My step-son was stationed in Djibouti in 2014-15.  At the time I had never heard of it and the research I did was military based.  Why were we there in the first place?

For February I decided to learn about the place where he was, not just the base.  Djibouti is on the horn of west Africa.  It is a tiny country with a large port city: Djibouti City.  It's a hot bed for pirates (one of the reasons the US is there).  Djibouti supposedly means 'the casserole'.  Which is what it is.  There are 9 different countries with bases there.  It is also a combination of locals and Somalians, the neighboring country.  You can't grow any food there, so it is all trucked in.  They tend to eat camel and goat along with drinking the milk.  Khat is a favorite herb there.  It is an herb that removes any anxiety.  Which may sound good, but it removes it to a dangerous level.  I can see why it may be so addictive.  The official language is French, due to the French controlling the country so long.  However, on the street the people speak Somali.  

I also learned about Congenital Heart Defects for medical education.  I watched "Building the Field" which is about mental health in adults with chronic heart defects.  It was truly fascinating.  I also read a book "Hearts of a Girl" which is about a girl who needs a heart and kidney transplant and what all that entails.  My daughter has hypoplastic left heart, so this information was all very important to me.  

Next month is Art and France.  My heritage has some French in it so I am exploring my French side.  In art I hope to go to the O'Keefe museum in New Mexico.  Fingers crossed.  

Miss Burma Review

 "Miss Burma" is a novel written by Charmaine Craig, that takes place in Burma (currently known as Myanmar) between pre-WWII and the 1960s.  It follows the Benison family:  the mother a Karen (a Burmese tribe) from Burma and the father an Anglo-Indian who has lived his life in Rangoon.  

Now most Americans probably know little about Burma other than it's in Asia.  My grandfather was stationed there so I have done some research and know probably more than most Americans, but that's not to say I know much.  I found this trip into the history and culture of Burma to be fascinating.  I loved this book.  The mixed race couple have four children that they raise in a society where they are not only mixed, but minorities and are considered "foreign" even though their father has lived his whole life in that country.  It follows the war with Japan, the British control, the Burman overtake, the constant fighting between the tribes and races.  Plus it has the universal human factor including love, betrayal, sex, parenting and plain old self esteem.  It is truly a wonderful book.

I received this book from www.netgalley.com in exchange for my honest opinion and review.  

Mysterious Myanmar

 My grandfather served in Burma during WWII.  He served with the 13th Mountain Medical as a vet assistant.  I have been researching and writing about his experience there.  I thought learning about the culture of Burma would be interesting during Culture month.  So, I started looking into more of the current culture rather 1940s jungle during war time.  Which is really nothing close to the same thing.

For my investigation into Burma, I read "Miss Burma" which is about the 1940s on, but more about the culture living during that time.  There is little military connection other than Burma is military ran, so of course, it would be connected in that way.  I also watched several You tube videos and Great Courses.  The CG was about the education system.  The American Quakers and the Burmese Budhist are united in the creating and continuing the education system in Myanmar (Burma's current name).  I watched Exploring Myanmar Culture in Yangon, and Timeline.  One was about the culture in the cities and the other was jungle tribes especially along the Burma Road.  The two cultures are very different.  I also watched one on street food in Burma.  

There wasn't much in podcasts that was related other than I found one of a guy traveling my motorcycle.  Probably wouldn't want to do that.  

Learning about Burmese culture has helped quite a bit with my book about my grandfather.  Many situations have come up that explains things.  Especially the jungle/city differences. 

I'm Probably not Delaware

 Family legend has it that we have a Delaware (Lin-Lenape) in my ancestory.  I have done quite a bit of genealogy and did not find a single American Indian anywhere.  That doesn't mean there isn't one, I just didn't find it.  Since it was a relation to Sacajawea, I would sincerely doubt it.  Usually once the word "princess" is involved, you can guarantee it is horse manure.  I'm not even sure Sacajawea is Delaware. (She wasn't.)

Anyway, since February is culture month, I thought the Lenape culture was as good as any to learn about.    To start with I read "The Turtle's Beating Heart" by Denise Low.  It is about the Lenape culture in the 20th century as it relates to her family.  I watched YouTube videos on Lenape dance and Pow Wows.  I listened to podcasts about Lenape land use, the Nanticoke Chief, and different leaders.  

So here's what I learned.  I learned that the being "Indian" and being "an Indian" are different.  One can be racially Indian but unable to join a tribe.  The ability to join a tribe is all rather confusing and I would need more that a week to sort that out.  I learned what the different styles of dancing look like and where they come from.  I learned that in order to save the humans they had to discard the Indian.  But to save the Indian they had to suffer as a human.  If you get my drift.  I learned that a turtle's heart continues to beat long after it has been removed from the body.  Which I found fascinating.  It was an interesting culture to look at.  

Now I move on to Djibouti.  My son was stationed there and I knew little about it.  This week I will dabble. 

German Culture

 February is Culture.  I decided to split it into 4 cultures and learn a bit about each.  I'm going to report on each culture after a week to keep it less confusing.  At the end of the month I will do Medicine, specifically cardiology.  

The first week was Germany which I chose because my husband is of German decent and my uncle was there in the 40s.  Most of what you look up has to do with Nazis or beer.  So, number 1 rule: no Nazis or beer.  Since most of the pod casts and books have to do with Nazis, I decided to focus on activities that are a part of German culture.  

Exercise if very important in Germany as is cake.  In Germany they have Cake.  Like in England they have Tea.  So I exercised every day except 2 and ate cake at 3.  One of the days I missed exercising I went to a high school basketball game.  What I discovered there was that if you know you get cake at 3, it's not a big deal and since you are exercising everyday.  You don't have to feel guilty.  

Being on time is a big one.  I did that.  I'm pretty punctual anyway, so that wasn't a big deal.  Poetry is big, or so I read.  I found a book at my library, Contemporary German Poetry.  It's been translated, so I think it may be missing some flow and rhythm.  But it was nice.

I watched a lecture on Great Courses:  Tastes of Germany.  It's all about German wine.  Which I could care less about, but it talked about the regions and climates in Germany and how they affect the wine, and that was actually pretty interesting.  I also watched a couple docs on Curiosity Streams:  Wolves & Tanks, and Rescuing Bird Life. In one case, poachers took out the wolves until the two Germanys combined and set up regulations.  Now the wolves like to live on army bases where they train the tanks.  The birds are leaving Germany due to over farming the land and covering the greenery.  They are working on changing things so that the habitat the birds need will be available. 

So, now I have moved on to the Lenape or Delaware Indians. 

Confucius say, do the math.

 January was the month of Math and Philosophy.  I work as an office administrator so I do math all day.  I do data, data analysis, your basic accounting, etc.  So math was pretty much as boring as I expected it to be.  Philosophy I knew almost nothing about.  I thought it was something people said to sound smart, cultured. I found it a lot more compelling than that. Though still true.  

I read books, listened to podcasts, watched videos, did crash courses that are available online through my library, and did some activities like I  played some Yahtzee, because math or philosophy field trips are hard to come by.  I read Danica McKellar's "Kiss my Math" and brushed up on my algebra.  It came back to me pretty quick.  I also read "Hidden Figures" which talked a lot about math and the value of it in technology and science.  I know more about airplane wings than I ever thought I would.  I read a couple of books not so much on philosophy but about philosophers.  Steve Martin's "I was Born Standing Up"(he studied philosophy for several years in college) and "Gandhi and the Unspeakable" which is about the movement of Gandhi leading to his death.  All were educational.

Podcasts were a bit short in supply on both subjects.  Danica McKellar (she's about the only entertainment mathematician I could find) was a guest on several.  I listened to her talk about stereotypes, women and their education pertaining to money, and math anxiety.  Deepak, the granddaddy of modern spiritualism, has a podcast on Amazon, "Infinite Potential" which I listened to regularly.

Videos were mostly on Crash Courses which I borrowed from my local library through Hoopla.  Crash Courses has dozens of topics with college instructors teaching in university style classes.  I watched "Math & Magic" (not so fun) and "Mind, Body, & Consciousness" and "Confucius."  Most stuff available is modern pop education.  I wanted some classical so I went with Confucius.  Even though I have a bachelor's degree, I knew little about him.  I mean I knew 'Man who goes to bed with itchy butt, wakes up with smelly fingers'.  But that usually doesn't leave the cultured impressed.  

In an attempt to discover myself, I am taking a study on Marianne Williamson's "Course in Weight loss."  I am doing monthly servitude to give to my community.  This month I bought chili at the local animal shelters fundraiser and I donated to the same shelter on Betty White's birthday.  I donated to a woman who died from Covid's funeral costs.  She had been my friend at one time.  I also babysat my son's dog for the weekend.

Once a month I will eat some exotic type food.  This month I had some Japanese egg dish.  It was fine, but it is hard to find Japanese ingredients in this neck of the woods.  I took some time for self-care.  A storm and a covid exposure quarintine helped with that.  

Anyway....I found the month an educational and interesting experience.  Hopefully February will be as fascinating.