January 2021

It's a season of changes and beginnings, and I've been forming old habits to offset the new year. 

Currently Reading: Two books, and then some. First, I recently finished "How to Communicate," a psychological self-help guide that explains common blind spots in the individual and provides helpful tools for successful communication in close relationships. Second, I am midway through A Promised Land. It is like a juicier, detail-packed and intimate account of Becoming. I have to say, President Obama writes his biographies in a way that is coherent and articulate; it's always easy to follow and refreshingly honest.

The "and then some" refers to the countless books I've started, but not yet finished. I have dipped my toes in "Democracy in America" (been wanting to read this one for a while), Gentle and Lowly (highly recommended by a speaker I admire), and my guilty pleasure -- High Fidelity.

Reading has been one of my great joys as of late. I like lighting a woody candle, turning on soft background music, and curling up into bed with a good book. It makes me feel like life is simple and enjoyable again. Sometimes, it's nice to escape from our own thoughts. 

Currently Listening: I've been listening to music every day lately. It's necessary to have a good playlist when working from home. I have a playlist titled "Places We Don't Walk" (yes, nod to Bruno Major -- although the compilation is not entirely in his realm or music genre, it's a good starter for the soundtrack). This playlist is a closer look into my thoughts, my mood, my zone. I'm listening to it now, and I already feel toned down -- in the best way possible.

Quote of the day: "I asked them to describe their world as it was and as they would like it to be. It was a simple exercise I'd done many times, a way for people to bridge the reality of their communities and their lives with the things they could conceivably change." - A Promised Land, Barack Obama, 2020

Until next time.