Friends, here’s the truth; the world is crazy. Let’s make it a little easier to handle with this month’s top picks.
Books
I read Dead Wake by Erik Larson. I’ve enjoyed several of his other nonfiction novels and decided to revisit this unique brand of terror. Working from archives, journals, and historical accounts, Larson recreates the final journey of the British passenger ship, the Lusitania. Doomed from the start, the Lusitania was destroyed by a torpedo from a German submarine in 1915, a precursor to America joining World War I. What struck me during this reading was twofold. Firstly, everyone was so proper that when something was amiss, it was easy to pinpoint. Secondly, everyone was so proper it was impossible to conceive that one might behave otherwise due to an evil impetus.
This is what ultimately led to more than 1,000 civilians losing their lives on the day of the disaster. According to Larson’s retelling of the event, the American and British simply could not conceptualize a maneuver as evil as targeting a ship carrying, not freight but, civilians.
Weaving chapters together from perspectives of the U-boat, various passengers on Lusitania including Captain William Thomas Turner, President Woodrow Wilson, and the top secret Room 40, Larson presents another excellent read. It left me wondering: how do you fight an enemy who does not share your values and does not believe in your rules? I do not have an answer for this, but I believe the first step is to reconcile the possibility that your adversary might actually want to hurt you in irreparable ways. The notion that one “shouldn’t kick a man when he’s down,” is exactly the type of philosophy that will lead to destruction when fighting an enemy who seeks to do exactly this in order to win.
Beats
I went to the Morikami museum this month, the gallery exhibit displayed art from the revolutionary film, AKIRA. Here’s the theme song from the soundtrack, Kaneda’s Theme. It blends the good vs evil vibes that seem to be the running thread this month.
Barbells
It’s definitely winter and easy to snuggle in on those colder days, BUT our bodies were made to move. Even if the allure of a warm bed and hot chocolate calls to you, make an effort to warm up with movement. Spend 20 minutes making a snowman, or shoveling the driveway, or getting a head start on spring cleaning by rearranging furniture and packing away all your summer clothes – or donating them to others.
Hope your new year is off to a fantastic start! Let me know what’s good in your world. Comment. Like. Share!
Peace and love,
Kit
Find the balance. 