6/1/25 – 12/1/25 – 85, Religion & Lynyrd Skynyrd

Welcome to my first Monday’s News on the March for 2025 – The week that was in my digital world.

85
Reflection post at Britta’s Blog – Letters From Scotland

My family ancestry partly traces back to Scotland, which has always given me a deep appreciation for all things Scottish. This brings me to a relatively recent discovery—Britta’s blog, which she describes as her “letter from Scotland to the world.”

I am a circus skills instructing & common butterfly following German. I am also a performer, writer & linguist, who is annoyingly keen on hillwalking and baking lopsided cakes. I live in Scotland, my chosen home & habitat since the year 2000.

I eagerly look forward to reading Britta’s daily posts, as she is a remarkable writer who expresses herself with eloquence, introspection, and often a touch of humor. She graciously allowed me to share one of her recent posts titled 85, which reflects on memories of her late father while delivering a poignant message about cherishing the present with loved ones. Without further ado, I present to you Britta’s 85:

85

Today would have been my dad’s 85^th birthday. Last year, we were still able to celebrate with him. We all walked to a local restaurant, had a nice meal, we sat, we chatted and laughed. We did know of course that we were on borrowed time. That things would change at some point soon. Still, we celebrated. We were happy. And that moment of happiness on his 84^th birthday, now a comforting memory on what would have been dad’s 85^th.

We learned a lot as a family in the past few years.

First and foremost: to enjoy. What we can. When we can. Without guilt. We also learned not to wait for another day. A better day. There isn’t always tomorrow. But there is today. And today is a good enough day.

Being present, in the moment, without looking back at what no longer is, without looking forwards at what might never be – being present doesn’t always come naturally to me. I have to remind myself that ‘now’ is as good a time as any. That ‘now’ deserves my full attention. That at some point in the future, I’ll look back at my ‘now’ and say things like ‘wasn’t that a perfect day?’

So, 85. And I think back of 84. Of all of us eating out, enjoying the food and time spent together. Of how easy it felt. Of how we raised our glasses and sang happy birthday. Of how we all forgot for a moment that this would in all likelihood be his last.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Is Religion Good For Society?
Video debate hosted by the Big Conversation at Premier Unbelievable

Why this truly evocative and informative debate arrived to my feed so long after it’s premier is anyone’s guess. Subject matter aside it was so refreshing to see the debate discussed with such respect and maturity from its participants. This takes the Jordan Peterson vs Sam Harris debates up a notch in light of its conciseness and objectivity. I hope you find it as enlightening and enjoyable as I did.

Daily Wire host and renowned political thinker Ben Shapiro goes head-to-head with Oxford graduate of philosophy and theology, now international public speaker and debater, Alex O’Connor. Hosted by Andy Kind, Shapiro and O’Connor debate Is religion good or bad for society? What is the concept of free will? Does it even exist? What about the idea of the self, and the foundations of morality in society, and do we all have to agree on them?

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Groundbreaking Documentary Of A Legendary Band
Video presentation at Amplified – Classic Rock & Music History

Two North American ‘Southern Rock’ groups featured here recently and in quick succession, namely the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. In the early years both groups were familiar with, and shared recognition and support of the other’s music. In this wonderful documentary here (which I listened to yesterday as I watched the NFL in the background) tells the captivating history of the band through a blend of new and archival interviews, firsthand accounts from band members and those intimately connected to the group, location shoots, news reports, and a gripping narrative of the tragic 1977 plane crash.

That is all. Thank you for reading.