Happy New Year to all of you who read this and who visit this discussion board.

There was a time years ago when this was a much busier place, then Facebook, Twitter/X, and other social media came along and it seems that's the kind of gathering and sharing space people prefer now. I'm on Facebook as well, so look me up if you'd like to connect there. My sense is that these older online social spaces are superior to the new in many ways, but there's no need to debate the pros and cons as we've done that in other places. For now, I will continue to leave the forum up and going as there are plenty of good topics with quality discussions, and we average over 500,000 visits per month. There is a fee for doing so, however, so it's nice when someone actually makes a donation to support this Internet ministry.
- https://heartlandspirituality.org/internet-minisrty/

As some of you may recall, I had quadruple bypass surgery in November 2023, so this past year has been one of progressively recovering from the surgery. It's gone well. I've been as active as before since April or so, and have good energy and stamina. Of course, I need to keep up my walks, watch my diet, take my meds, etc., but these are not burdensome chores. Mostly, I am grateful that the problems were caught before I had a serious health failure. Maybe I'm supposed to be around awhile longer? I hope so!

I've signed on for another year as a part-time member of the team at Heartland Center for Spirituality in Great Bend, KS. As I will turn 75 this year, it might be my last working there, although I plan to continue meeting with spiritual directees, writing, and offering programs on the Internet and in-person as long as I'm able and my services are requested. We'll see how it goes.

In sidebar news, 2024 was a birding "big year" for me as I tallied 189 species of in Kansas. This year I hope to surpass 200. If you're wondering how that stacks up in comparison with other birders, I came out #105 in the state. The leader had over 300 species, which is amazing! Kansas isn't the birdiest state, but we do have some nice inland marshes, state parks, prairie, and even a few forests. After living here over 34 years, I've come to love this state.

One of my resolutions for the coming year is to post more frequently on this blog. And just a reminder: most of the forums are open to having new topics started, or replying to existing ones. You have to be a registered member to do so, but that's free, so give it a try.

It seems that we're at a crossroads on this planet in several important areas. I hope to touch on some of these in the days ahead. Stay tuned!

Peace,
Phil

Thank you so much for tending to this discussion board. It has helped me sort out my experience, and I return to it when new challenges arise. Best of health in 2025.

Happy New Year! That's good news about your recovery after surgery. I miss the old days of our discussions on SP. I opened a Twitter/X account last year, but the format doesn't allow for real discussion. Wishing you good health and prosperity for the coming year.