It sometimes requires a lot of time, money, and work if you want to invest in a new hobby. But in Storey’s Curious Compendium of Practical and Obscure Skills: 214 Things You Can Actually Learn How To Do (2020) by the How-To Experts at Storey Publishing, the reader is introduced to hobbies, as well as new experiences that are much less time-consuming than most hobbies. Some of the experiences that this book teaches include: predicting the weather by gazing at the clouds, darning a pair of socks, creating a butterfly garden, building a dog agility course, starting a nature sketchbook, navigating the stars, and more. And if you really like any of these new experiences, then you might just want to pick up an experience as your new favorite hobby, after all.

Angela C. Santomero’s book Radical Kindness: The Life-Changing Power of Giving and Receiving (2019) is about her belief in the power of kindness, in large part inspired by her mentor Fred Rogers of the PBS show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. As creator of the popular children’s shows Blue’s Clues and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and as executive producer and head writer of other children’s shows, Santomero states in her book, here, to act based on warmth and empathy, with respect for yourself and others. As a result of integrating these virtues and principles into your life, Santomero states, you can expect many people’s lives around you to be benefitted. With a strong case for self-care, vulnerability, knowing when to ask for help, and similar topics, it starts with one person, and emanates to the neighborhood you live and work, and from there, to the world.

There are just so many places to travel! Might we suggest putting a national park or two on your radar with: National Parks of America by Amy Balfour, Becky Ohlsen, Carolyn McCarthy, Emily Matchar, Greg Benchwick, and Regis St. Louis? This 2021 book is the second edition to the original Lonely Planet series by the same title. Included in this edition are three newly created national parks, which are: Indiana Dunes, Gateway Arch, and White Sands, as well as updates to the first edition’s profiles. Inside there are detailed itineraries and practical advice, with photographs of features of different parks, including but not limited to: the Badlands, Carlsbad Caverns, Denali, Everglades, Great Smokey Mountains, Lake Clark, the Petrified Forest, the Virgin Islands, White Sands, and Wind Cave. There are also drawings and names of wildlife species that you might see while trekking down trails in specific national parks.

Starting recycling is somewhat problematic, because it is a challenge to figure out what to recycle. Most people who start recycling ask: How do I know which plastics can be recycled? Lucky for us, Can I Recycle This?: A Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics, written by Jennie Romer; illustrated by Christie Young (2021), answers that question in a highly illustrated way while answering other big recycling questions. For instance, what are the basics of the whole recycling process? How does it compare to waste processing and disposal? What do I do with different bags and boxes? What is the human impact when we ship recyclables internationally? Where does disposed plastic end up when it is not recycled? What can I do in my personal life now? With a little help from this book, the challenge of starting to recycle is a little easier to navigate.

Healthy food can taste good, too. If you have heard of the DASH Diet from friends and family or the news, then you might want to try the cookbook: The Everything Easy DASH Diet Cookbook: 200 Quick and Easy Recipes for Weight Loss and Better Health by Christy Ellingsworth and Murdoc Khaleghi, MD (2021). As you may also have heard, DASH stands for: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The focus on eating fruit and vegetables, as well as low-fat dairy in this diet for many people contributes to: lowering blood pressure, preventing diabetes, and promoting weight loss, so there is a lot that could change for the better in 2022.