Work In Progress Newsletter
Edition 35 | January 16, 2023

WRITE THIS WAY…
Greetings and welcome to a special MLK Day edition of the Work In Progress newsletter! I’m Ryan McCrary, your resolution reveler. For the last 35 weeks and counting I’ve been scouring the news, interwebs and the occasional archived MySpace page to share stories of hope and joy and triumph.

WHAT AM I THANKFUL FOR
Now that I’ve been staring at the blinking cursor under this heading for a while I will take this opportunity to alert you that the following is not the most profound observation I have ever delivered in this space. But, this is not to say it is not heartfelt. Today I am thankful to all of you reading these musings. For those reading the “Work In Progress” newsletter for the first time, thank you. For those who have made it a weekly part of your Monday, thank you.


THREE DOTS… GOOD NEWS ONLY
These moments captured in time truly resonate… For those that fear for our future generations, hope… Meet the students of Glen Lake Elementary School… After realizing that the students with disabilities did not have any playground equipment accessible to them, the students mobilized, raising $300,000… Sometimes karma really happens… Meet Grant Carson, who for the last 23 years has worked for a charity dedicated to finding accessible housing for the disabled won a raffle for a $3 million house in the Scotland Lake District… Carson plans to continue advocating for the disabled in his native Glasgow, but will also purchase his first dog… When Devin Allen’s grandma bought his first camera from Best Buy back in 2013, no one could have predicted the career and mission to follow… One of the leading artists capturing the struggle for race relations in the United States, Allen has established “Through Their Eyes” a Baltimore-based youth photography foundation. 

BEST THING I SAW ON THE ‘GRAM LAST WEEK
If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of reenactments of legendary hockey fights done in LEGOS. Watch Chris Osgood square off against Patrick Roy here… →  CLICK

See more

BEST THING I SAW ON THE TWITTER LAST WEEK
This speech, by Brendan Frasier is powerful… → WATCH

OTD – JANUARY 16
Enjoy yet another notable historical snapshot in the latest edition of On This Date… 
Notable Historical Moments… Curious this move was made in January… The title “Augustus” is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate in 27 BC… What can possibly stop this change?…. The British House of Commons accepts Home Rule for Ireland but is shelved for World War I… It seemed like a bad idea at the time?… The 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, authorizing the prohibition of alcohol, was ratified by a majority of states in 1919… A Saharan trailblazer… Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is sworn in as Liberia’s new president – the first female African head of state – in 2006.

Famous Birthdays… Show tune singer Ethel Merman (1908-1984)… noted silver slugger Albert Pujols turns 43… I want to go (really) fast… race car driver A.J. Foyt turns 88… the ever winsome British supermodel Kate Moss turns 49… A pioneer in neo-soul Sade Adu turns 64. 

Famous Deaths… The first black U.S. Senator Hiram Revels (1827-1901) of Mississippi… famed Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957).

Bonus Arturo Toscanini Performance: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5


SHAMELESS PLUGS
I’ve been working on a Thursday update, called “Thankful”. Think of it as a boost of good news to fuel the end of the week. Latest edition → HERE

WHAT I’M READING NOW
For Improvement: The 5-Second Rule by Mel Robbins

**One sentence review: One of the most practical approaches to self care I have ever read… relatable and applicable.  

Embracing my inner history nerd: Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose

**One sentence review: “One of the most compelling authors of our time immerses the reader in the relationships formed and forged under withering fire.”

For an Escape: No Plan B by Lee Child & Andrew Child

**One sentence review: “I’ll be completely transparent, I’m 1/3 of the way through the 27th book in the series and I am not sure exactly what is going on, but I’m pretty sure Jack Reacher is going to win.”

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO AS I WRITE
Today I’m listening to Jackson Browne, specifically a concert he performed live on the BBC in 1978… The artistry and the lyrics still impact like a freight train. Here is a clip of The Load Out and Stay → CLICK

WHAT I WATCHED
I watched the entire John Wick Trilogy over the weekend. Life lessons include: do not steal an elite assassin’s 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 and do not… do not mess with the man’s dog. Ever. I jumped on what my mom only referred to as “The Google” today to satisfy my curiosity about Keanu Reeves and the number of lines he delivers in John Wick. There are 2,781 English words spoken in the movie and John says only 511. Talk about verbal economy! All three movies are streaming now on HBO Max!

CLIP OF THE WEEK
Picking up the trash and recycling taken to the next level. Special Advisory: If you are over 30, please stretch before attempting.  →  WATCH

MY GIF TO YOU
Keanu Reeves endorses this newsletter… → PROOF

QUOTABLE
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
 – Martin Luther King Jr. Champion for Justice

THIS WAY OUT
Thanks for reading the latest edition of my Work In Progress newsletter. My goal is to spread inspiration and hope in a world that needs both more than ever. My goal is to release these newsletters each Monday – because who doesn’t need a shot of good news to start the work week? Look for a new article on my timeline later this week. Special thanks to Kim Kaupe and Terry Rice for encouraging me to launch this into the universe. As always, feedback is welcomed!