T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 29

Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #29!

Here are some things I really like and that you might too. 

Finance Articles

I Only Go To Work to Get the Money (FreddySmidlap.com) – “Some people love their work and would do it for free, that does not apply to me or to most people I know. I show up at my thankless J.O.B. for a paycheck and no other reason, unless you consider premium air conditioning in the building in summer.”

You Want a Better Future. But What if You Were Already Good? (City Frugal) – “What if, instead of putting your work under pressure to be The Best Job Ever, you acknowledged its set of benefits and drawbacks, remaining open to the idea that you might find a better role eventually?”

Video

It’s that time a year, squirrels everywhere prepping for winter. I usually have to bunny hop one or two on every bike ride I do in the fall. Check out this very entertaining video of a pretty slick squirrel obstacle course and see how smart and nimble they actually are. 

Who’s Inspired Me

Daryl Davis.

Daryl Davis is a piano player.  While playing in a small bar way back in the 1980’s he was approached by a guy who complimented his playing.  They struck up a conversation, and Davis quickly realized he was talking to a member of the KKK.  Davis is African American.  Davis went on to become good friends with the man, and convince him to leave the KKK.  And then over time he did the same to hundreds of others, one by one.  His motto – “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

He even wound up giving the bride away at a real KKK wedding.   This guys stories are amazing and he’s a very special human being who obviously has a gift to change hearts and minds.  And his story also shows the transcendent power of music in it’s ability to unite people, because that’s how it started. 

Yes he has a TED Talk, and should.

NPR did a good piece on him with an audio option. 

If you want a real deep dive, I highly recommend his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.

What I’m Grateful For

The continual decreasing cost of eating healthy. As time goes on organic food keeps getting cheaper and more ubiquitous, as well as sustainably raised meats void of growth hormones and other nasty toxic crap. Life keeps getting better.

Lyrically Speaking

Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People call say ‘beware doll, you’re bound to fall’
You thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hanging out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next meal

From “Like A Rolling Stone“, by Bob Dylan 

Oh Bob.  No one can match your wordplay.  That opening verse has taken on a whole new meaning to me now that I’m financially independent.  “Like a Rolling Stone” is about a persons fall from grace, from riches.  When I heard it recently it struck me that I’m a completely different character in the song now than I was when I used to listen to it in my youth.  I’m now at the top.  And I have to make sure I preserve my wealth to last the 50+ years I fully plan on being alive.

So I don’t end up with nothing, and nothing to lose. 

Miscellaneous

The maps that show life is slowly getting better – “New ways of seeing the world can help provide a new perspective to age-old problems”

Mitochondria May Hold Keys to Anxiety and Mental Health – “Exercise, he says, may be ‘the best thing you can do for your mitochondria.'”

Marcus Aurelius on How to Motivate Yourself to Get Out of Bed in the Morning and Go to Work