February 22, 2021
Good morning! Just four more days ’til the sweet smooth cool deliciousness of the Dairy Queen returns; opening day excitement!
If you are among those traveling — even short distances — and it’s not because of tragedy or profound necessity, I’m very jealous.
Answer from last week: Anecdotal to the experiences I’ve had out on the (urban) hikes, the most common article of clothing found abandoned or lost or discarded on city streets, alleys, and parkways is pants of different sizes and styles — go figure.
(Some readers guessed masks and that would probably be true, but I didn’t think of them as clothing.) There are now six or more countries competing for supremacy on Mars… far more than the number wanting Texas. (Sorry.)
- Turns out your Mother might have been on to something more than trying to secure a few minutes of sanity for herself when she said (hollered?), “You kids get outside!”
- The latest research trending would seem to indicate two (2) or more hours of time spent in nature — REAL nature, not virtual, simulated, or urban — are of equal value to diet and exercise.
- “The benefits have been clear to scientists for some time, but the COVIDs have made the matter more urgent…
- … (the COVIDs)… have galvanized doctors, researchers, and others to tap into nature’s therapeutic effects.” (2021, Morris)
- There is no such thing as a perfectly calibrated human time keeping device, certainly not a calendar.
- There are approximately thirteen lunar (moon) cycles in a year; i.e., the time it takes for the earth to orbit the sun.
- Why then are there only 12 signs of the zodiac? Twelve months? Twelve lunar animal symbols? Seems like thirteen would be much more accurate.
- On which side(s) of the George Washington history do you set up your camp? Why?
- Ironic that it would be on George’s birthday, but I was reflecting recently on John C. Calhoun (how can you not?!) of late from South Carolina and his role in what haunts us today.
- And then along comes a book from a scholar, Calhoun: American Heretic, Elder, 2021.
How People Manage Their Work Lives and Careers
- Research from MIT’s Sloan School: There is growing awareness that increasing longevity will have major implications for how people manage their work lives and careers. Rising life expectancy means the level of savings required to provide a reasonable income for retirement at age 65 is becoming increasingly infeasible for most people.2 We predict that, given the average level of savings in advanced economies, many people currently in their mid-40s are likely to need to work into their early to mid-70s; many currently in their 20s (many of whom could live to be over 100) will be working into their late 70s, and even into their 80s.
- Aware of my interest in mnemonic devices, our friend and reader, Bill, provided this one:
- Lead by example
- Expect excellence
- Assume positive intent
- Do what’s right
- Embrace intellectual curiosity
- Respect others
- Stretch your comfort zone
- And, might I add? Stretch before exercise… I’m learning the hard and very painful way.
