Statuses

I’ve been battling a slowly developing virus/crud the past few days. Last night it hit hard.

This evening, I opened This Could Help to page 145 and found the remedy (a Hot Toddy recipe). Confident I’ll feel better tomorrow.

See, it even helps me.

The quickest path to joy is gratitude. Even in our darkest moments, joy can be found by remembering that for which we are grateful.

Make a list of things for which you are grateful. Write it down and tuck in your pocket. In dark times, let that be your map to the light.

Austin Kleon lists 100 things that made 2019 great for him. Lovely reflections of the small moments and big milestones that make a life.

First book of 2020 finished. I’m Telling The Truth, But I’m Lying by Bassey Ikpi. Lovely rhythmic evocative prose.

Besides the books I read, there were many other things I read in 2019 worth mention.

• I read every single print offering (and issue) of Robin Sloan’s Year of The Meteor.
• I still find myself picking up and reading passages from The Journal of Henry David Thoreau when seeking something to fill the time. Always worthwhile.
• I put a serious dent in my Instapaper queue. For most of the year, when between books, I’d sort my Instapaper articles by “longest to shortest” to get through some really long things that I’d been avoiding due to their length. This led me to worthwhile long reads that I was sorry I’d put off. Including:
  • • • My Four Months as a Private Prison Guard: A Mother Jones Investigation – Mother Jones
      • The Plot Against the Principality of Sealand
      • Vanished: How Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Disappeared
      • Secrets & Wives – Truly*Adventurous – Medium

My first thing on New Years Day tradition: Changing out my Daily Log.

“The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.”

— John Burroughs

Nicolas Bate encourages us to choose our word going into 2020.

Colin Walker is writing by hand.

Matthew is mind mapping again.