BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND
I wrote many stories about nature destinations in 2022, but I also covered other topics that were near and dear to my heart including stories about the sudden loss of one of my best friends, my father and other family, a visit to the Flight 93 Memorial, a man who walked the streets of downtown Chicago for decades, the criminal attack on the U.S. Capitol, and the criminal invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine by Russia and the suffering of the Ukrainian people (let’s never forget the brave Ukrainians and their fight against fascism).
While there was much light in 2022 (more stretches of pandemic normality than in 2020 and 2021 and the joys of family, friendships, and nature), there was also considerable darkness. Examples include the invasion of Ukraine by Russia; escalating climate change; ongoing vaccine- and mask wearing-, and general science denial; an increase in book bans (or attempted book bans); a toxic environment at times on social media and in other public discourse; and a general breakdown in societal norms of behavior that have been the glue that has held our country together for many years.
I wish for a more peaceful and kind 2023 in which people help, accept, and love each other more; embrace facts; steer clear of soul-sucking social media wars and fact-challenged “media” sources; and fight to fix the wrongs and inequities that exist in our nation. And that more people embrace nature–from our city parks to our beautiful state and national parks–as an antidote and sort of “power pack” to weather the storms of 2023. Click here for the most-popular nature stories of 2022.
Here are the most popular non-nature posts in 2022 based on page views by my readers. Click on the links to read the articles:
1. Remembering David Fode (the story of one of my best friends, who passed away suddenly…a great artist and even better human being)
2. Remembering My Community of Saints on Día de los Muertos
4. An Elegy for Chicago’s Walking Man
5. George’s Desk: A Story About My Dad on Father’s Day
Copyright (text) Andrew Morkes
Photo copyright credits are listed at the end of each article.
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Looking for some great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, I just published Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations (including for birding) in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book (306 pages, 210+ photos) is only $18.99. Click here to learn more and purchase the book.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I have been a writer and editor for more than 25 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the editorial director of the CAM Report career newsletter and College Spotlight newsletter; the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I’m also a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school. Stories about my work have been published in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Southtown, Beverly Review, and Practical Homeschooling.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 40 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
My poetry has appeared in Cadence, Wisconsin Review, Poetry Motel, Strong Coffee, and Mid-America Review.
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