One of the forty books read in the month of December 2020 was "The Joy Of Missing Out" by Tonya Dalton.  Tonya writes some pretty compelling stuff about the importance of finding your priority (not plural) as it relates to what you are passionate about. 

We are finally at the end of the limited series of the Year in Review reflecting on my last three months of 2020.

I close out the year by reading 40 books in the month of December. Why? Because I was angry.

Anger can be a valuable ignitor for you as long as you aren't using anger as the fuel to move you forward.

What do I mean exactly?

Well, you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out.

Before you start planning for how you will attack 2021, take time to reflect on 2020. Share your story of how 2020 has impacted your life through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

In today's micro podcast, I share what happened during the months of July, August, and September including:

Before you start planning for how you will attack 2021, take time to reflect on 2020. Share your story of how 2020 has impacted your life through the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

In today's micro podcast, I share what happened during the months of April, May, and June including: 

What's your 2020 story like? 

In the first of a four episode Year in Review Limited Series, I reflect on the First Quarter of 2020 highlighting: 

During these next four days, let's take a day to review each quarter before the start of the new year.  Today, reflect on the first quarter of 2020 and share your story via the written word, video, or audio podcast. If not for others, share it to yourself.  Prior to attacking 2021, reflect on 2020. Reflecting will prepare your heart for the planning and execution of a new year. 

You got it, now go DO IT! 

I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free!

Those are the lyrics from the song, "I Sing Because I'm Happy."  Often times when I'm at home I'll start singing and my children will ask/tell/shout for me to stop.  My response is always, "I sing because I'm happy."

An Australian study done in 2017 had some interesting findings as revealed through an article written for the The Tabernacle Choir blog. 

From the blog: 

A study published in Australia compares the deep breathing aspect of singing to an aerobic activity, giving the body more oxygen in the blood, which improves our overall mood by releasing endorphins. Also, the concentration required in singing reduces the stress of having to worry about the problems we face on a daily basis, such as money or work stress. “Learning is also part of the process -- learning new songs, new harmonies, new methods of keeping tempo. Learning has long been known to keep brains active and fend off depression, especially in older people.”

The study revealed good news for choral singers: “On average, choral singers rated their satisfaction with life higher than the public -- even when the actual problems faced by those singers were more substantial than those faced by the general public.” Making a connection between the social aspect of singing and happiness, the article suggests “The support system of being part of a group, and the commitment to that group that gets people out of the house and into the chorus every week -- these are benefits that are specific to group singing. And they seem to be a big component of why choral singers tend to be happier than the rest of us.”

- - - 

How often are you singing? 

Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

Ask not what your family can do for you, but what you can do for your family.

Ask not what your company can do for you, but what you can do for your company.

Ask not what your spouse can do for you, but what you can do for your spouse.

Ask not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church.

Ask not what your God can do for you, but what you can do for your God.