T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 112

Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #112!

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

Financial Independence/Work Life/Retirement Articles

The Challenges of Retiring from a High-Powered Job (Harvard Business Review) – “Each year, thousands of executives retire from long and successful corporate careers. But few are prepared for the journey they are about to embark on.“

Why Do So Many People Hate Their Jobs? (The Escape Artist) – “Your bio-chemistry determines your lived experience. It acts as the prism through which you see the world.“

Video

Orcas or “killer whales” are undoubtedly one of the most intelligent non-human species on Earth.  Watch this amazing short video of adult orcas teaching their offspring to hunt dolphins.  Unfortunately for the dolphin this isn’t an amazing video, but this is the real natural world and it’s brutal.

What I’m Grateful For

That someone bought my “Hills On Ice” art piece on Displate.  Regular readers know my business is primarily creating and selling designs about cycling, climbing, kayaking, and outdoor sports meant to put on “stuff” such as t-shirts, coffee mugs, and hats.  My blog-buddy Joe Udo from Retire By 40 even bought my popular “Poop In The Woods” camping shirt, haha.  Last February I started to expand my design business by creating original art pieces that are not meant for merchandise and not about outdoor sports.  They’re mostly abstract landscape designs and boho or nature-themed designs.  I honestly didn’t think any would sell, like, ever.  I know I’m good at making designs around rock climbing jokes that sell, but doing real “art” is another thing.  I’m delighted to say I was wrong – I have sold quite a few!  One piece I did called “Hills On Ice” was really abstract and to be honest I wasn’t happy with how it turned out.  I uploaded it anyway.  And wow, last week I sold a copy of it on a Displate and got a nice royalty.  The lesson here for me to take into the new year is one I already knew, that art is in the eye of the beholder.  I wasn’t too jazzed with that piece, but someone out there liked it enough to open their wallet and drop more than $100 for one. 

I still feel like an imposter as an “artist” and putting out these pieces is still hard.  What’s even harder is showing them to you my readers, but here goes.  This link has all of my digital landscapes, and this one has my boho and nature themed designs.  I also have a few “modern art” pieces that really make me nervous.  Part of me thinks those really suck, and I haven’t sold any of them yet, but hope is eternal.  Someone out there might like one.  I welcome any compliments but if you think my stuff sucks that’s okay too, just please don’t comment, haha.  Some of my stuff is also on Fine Art America and I haven’t sold anything there yet so I’m limited to 25 product listings. If I make a sale I’ll be able to upload more, but I’m not going to ask or beg 🙂  

Lastly, if the person who bought my Hills on Ice Displate is a reader – I THANK YOU profusely! 

Lyrically Speaking

And the highway is frozen with cold working stiffs
Who sit in their well-heated cars tightly lipped
And wait for the light to change red to green then move on
Ah, the best of intentions all get up and leave before long

From “The Best Of Intentions” by Patty Larkin

Patty Larkin might be the most accomplished female singer-songwriter you’ve probably never heard of.  In 14 full length albums starting with 1985’s Step Into The Light Larkin has built a formidable canon of work that artistically stretches and pulls at the folk label given to her.  She’s an accomplished guitarist who studied jazz guitar at the Berklee College of Music and she came to prominence in the era of hard-knocks by street busking and playing thousands of solo coffee house gigs. 

My favorite two albums of hers are 1995’s Strangers World and 2003’s Red = Luck.  The song “Dear Diary” on the former is my favorite, the guitar work is sonically amazing and it’s just so uplifting to sing the chorus “Ain’t it good to be alive? Good good good…” 

As for the lyrics above, man ‘o man, reminds me of my commuting days early in my career.  Gives me hives just thinking about it…

Miscellaneous

Artificial Sweeteners May Have Despicable Impacts on Gut Microbes – ” Two recently published studies have suggested a possible link between what you eat, how it impacts the behavior of the microbes living in your gut, and type II diabetes.“

Effect of swearing on strength: Disinhibition as a potential mediator – “Swearing fulfils positive functions, including benefitting pain relief and physical strength.” Dave’s Comment – Growing up in Baltimore City, I learned every conceivable cuss word before I learned to count to 10. This study made me happy :)”

Scientists Discover An Amazing Practical Use For Leftover Coffee Grounds – “We could be producing concrete that’s 30 percent stronger by processing and adding charred coffee grounds to the mix“