T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 85

Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #85!

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

Financial Independence/Retirement Articles

Keeping Life On Track (Playtirement) – “It isn’t even a question to ponder. If you know where your time and money are going, you will be better for it.“

How Our Perceptions of Time and Money Change as We Age (Retire Before Dad) – “…as we age and grow wealth, we learn to appreciate time more because we have less of it to live. “

Video

If you haven’t seen the 2021 documentary “The Alpinist” (<–affiliate link), you should.  Many folks got sweaty palms watching Alex Honnold free solo climb El Capitan in the movie “Free Solo”. But as Honnold describes in the clip below, rock is mostly stable and solid.  What Marc-André Leclerc did by free soloing big ice routes is another level of insane.  I’m an ice climber, and I can tell you I still have a hard time watching these scenes.

Who’s Inspired Me

Elnaz Rekabi.

Rekabi is a professional rock climber from Iran.  In October she competed in the Asian Continental Championships without her hijab.  As a result, her family home has been destroyed by the Iranian government. 

After the arrest and death of Mahsa Amini for violating Islamic dress code by the Iranian government, protests have been ongoing in Iran since September with over 400 killed and thousands arrested, including an Oscar winning actress.  Elnaz Rekabi chose to use her visibility as a professional athlete to support this movement against an oppressive regime, knowing there would likely be repercussions.  She is an inspiration, and a reminder that I’m grateful to be an American.

What I’m Grateful For

Besides being an American (see above) another year of friends, health, and progress on a new start.

Lyrically Speaking

On a day when I’m overthinking
Oh man, what’s worth waiting for?
(…conscious?)
When we shouldn’t care at all

From “Overthinking” by Onsloow

Fans of my Lyrically Speaking section write to me that they enjoy finding the obscure artists and hidden gems that I often highlight.  Today’s artist, a Norwegian band called “Onsloow”, is just that.  I can’t remember how I found them, but I’m glad I did.  The song “Overthinking” has a melody that’s so addicting I can’t stop playing it.  And to show how obscure they are, I can’t find the lyrics to the song, so I tried to make out the part above by ear.  I did find an explanation of the lyrics from the band from this site which I love:

The lyrics revolve around thinking too much of things that are in the way of what actually matters. Like thinking of how a relationship is going to end even before it has started. How overthinking can get in the way of living and just having fun. While the music is uplifting, positive, and melodic, the lyrics from Johanne in many ways challenge that. We like playing with those kinds of contrasts

I love the punk-pop-rock sound and vibe of this band.  The whole album is fun, uplifting, and catchy.  And check out the video which they created with a single cellphone during lockdown in Norway.  They’re just a bunch of rockers goofing off and having a blast, singing into cactuses and dancing around like fools.  The video totally reminds me of the practice sessions my first band would have, except we weren’t nearly this talented.

Overthinking things… yeah that’s me.  I’m that on steroids.  Most of what I overthink about, I shouldn’t care at all about.

Miscellaneous

Intermittent Fasting Completely Reverses Type 2 Diabetes in Study – “People with diabetes who fast intermittently may no longer need medication, according to a new study.

The play deficit – “In recent decades we as a society have been conducting a play-deprivation experiment with our children.

What makes us subconsciously mimic the accents of others in conversation – “Have you ever caught yourself talking a little bit differently after listening to someone with a distinctive way of speaking?”

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND THANKS FOR READING!!