T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 146

Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #146!

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

Financial Independence/Work Life/Retirement Articles & Content

You Can’t Put a Price on Mental Freedom (Of Dollars And Data) “I stopped buying active investments (individual stocks, etc.) a few years ago. I’ve gone through different justifications for why too.“

This map highlights the average net worth in every state (Yahoo Finance) “The average net worth in the U.S. is $1.06 million. Here’s how that breaks down by state.“

Video

It’s that time again – nature porn!  Put this on the big screen and enjoy.  And I’ve backpacked through the Black Hills and cannot recommend it enough!

What I’m Grateful For

My running friends.  I run with a group once or twice a week and they’re real runners.  I’m primarily a cyclist who likes to run.  They’ve pushed me hard recently and I’m becoming a better runner.

Lyrically Speaking

There’s some times I wouldn’t want back
And others I would like
Mainly ups and sometimes downs
Something I call life

From “How Many Love Songs Have Died In Vegas?” by Swim Deep. 

Swim Deep are from Birmingham UK.  They play dream/rock-pop with some shoegaze tinges.  Think Teenage Fanclub meets Slowdive with a dash of Trembling Blue Stars (wow, that was snobbish music commentary, haha).  They have 4 full length albums and they took a bit of a turn on their most recent, 2024’s There’s A Big Star Outside.  The first song of that released is highlighted above and I absolutely love it.  It’s also the only release they have on Bandcamp so if you like them support them there.

As for the lyrics above, kinda like the stock market eh?  Ups and downs but mostly ups.

Miscellaneous

Lack of sleep can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease – “Even a few nights with insufficient sleep promote molecular mechanisms linked to a greater risk of heart problems. This has been shown in a new study in which the researchers investigated how sleep deprivation affects biomarkers (in this case proteins) associated with cardiovascular disease.

Gratitude comes with benefits − a social psychologist explains how to practice it when times are stressful – “Gratitude is experienced as a positive emotion. It results from noticing that others − including friends and family certainly, but also strangers, a higher power or the planet − have provided assistance or given something of value such as friendship or financial support.

Whales Run Aground by the Sun – “Is the fault of whale strandings partially in the stars?”