Let’s Talk About 77 Exciting, Easy, and Inexpensive

Things to Do During Trying Times

ART RIOS

2

Copyright © 2020 by Arturo R. Rios

Rios Talks Inc.

2929 Fifth Avenue North

St. Petersburg, Florida 33713

www.RiosTalks.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic,

electronic, or any other process whatsoever, or in the form of a phonographic or audio recording

of any kind; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for

public or private use—other than for “fair use” as a brief quotations embodied in articles and

reviews—without the prior written consent of the author.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique

herein as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of

a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a

general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you

use any of the information in this book yourself, which is your right, the author assumes no

responsibility for your actions.

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Contents

Greetings and Salutations….……………..…….………….…………….4

77 Exciting, Easy, and Inexpensive Things to Do During Trying Times…………..5

77 Great Songs for All Times……………..………………………….......…82

77 Great Movies for Any Time……………………………………………...85

Parting Thoughts……………………………….………………………87

About the Author………………………………………………………88

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Greetings and Salutations!

Thank you again for reading Let’s Talk: Book 1. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as

I loved writing it for you. As a token of my appreciation for reading the book and

supporting my dream, I have put together this guide to exciting and simple things to do

during a pandemic or quarantine, because as of this writing, we are still in the throes of

the Covid-19 pandemic. But, this guide can be used in non-pandemic times as well. As an

extra bonus, I also added two more lists: 77 songs and 77 movies to enjoy when

quarantined, or at any time.

But as a quick refresher, in Talk # 7, we talked about pandemics and about conquering

crises. When you face adversity, see it as an opportunity to learn novel ways to cope. God

never gives us more than we can handle. So, tackle each crisis as a blessing, as a challenge

to your greatness. It’s a matter of turning lemons into lemonade. A crisis is also a significant

time to seek divine guidance, to ask God for grace and intervention. Crises are inevitable.

They will come at you in many forms throughout your lifetime. When they do, you can be

an ostrich and bury your head in the sand. Or you can be a lion and face the challenge

head-on.

If you read Let’s Talk: Book 1, you’re a fighter because the book is not for quitters.

So, I pray that God will guide you through any crisis you may face. Above all, promise me,

and yourself, that you will never give up. If you’re in the throes of a pandemic or crises

now, and need something to take your mind off it, here is my list of 77 exciting, easy, and

inexpensive things to do during trying times (plus 77 songs and 77 movies to enjoy during

the same). Stay happy and healthy, my friend!

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1

Binge watch a BUNCH of shows!

6

2

Start a diary or journal.

7

3

Put together a vision board

(see Talk # 11).

8

4

Start learning a new language.

9

5

Do a family tree and/or learn

about your family’s history (from

your parents, relatives, etc.). Even

better, write a book about your

family’s history.

10

6

As my daughter Maria does,

learn to love Nutella.

11

7

Go for long, leisurely walks,

alone and with loved ones.

12

8

READ, READ, READ!

13

9

Take a personal development

course online

(visit RiosTalks.com 😉).

14

10

Do jigsaw puzzles.

15

11

Learn how to play backgammon.

16

12

Start learning how to play an

instrument.

17

13

Watch a bunch of movies

(see the list below).

18

14

Listen to music for hours and

reminisce (see the list below).

19

15

Read that long and/or

classic novel you’ve always

wanted to read.

20

16

Meditate, and if you don’t

know how, start.

21

17

Play with your dog, and if you

don’t have one, buy two!

22

18

Write letters, not texts or emails,

to friends and family, and mail

them. Yes, mail them, with an

actual postage stamp and

everything.

23

19

Finally clean up your closet and

house (see Talk # 6).

24

20

Bake!

25

21

Video chat with friends and family,

what the hell, even with people

you don’t like that much.

26

22

Start enjoying happy hours

(see Talk # 2).

27

23

Write that book or song you’ve

always dreamed of writing.

28

24

Draw your masterpiece.

29

25

Fix all those little things that need

fixing around the house you’ve

been putting off for months.

30

26

Clean up and organize all your

photos.

31

27

Give your body a tune up.

32

28

Start a gratitude journal

(see Talk # 4).

33

29

Start wine tasting and learn more

about wine. Visit Wine.com.

34

30

Revamp and reorganize

your finances.

35

31

Research and make a list

of trips you’d like to take.

Visit Expedia.com

36

32

Re-arrange the furniture in your

house, it’ll break up the monotony.

37

33

Grow a beard (gentlemen) or your

hair (ladies), or both for both

sexes. Ok, that’s weird.

38

34

Start exercising, I know, but

it is good for you.

39

35

Be kind and charitable. Remember

that others are worse off than you

(see Talk # 14).

40

36

Sleep, a lot, and take

a bunch of naps.

41

37

Spend time with your children,

and listen to them,

don’t start preaching.

42

38

Spend more time with God.

43

39

Cook a special meal

for your family.

44

40

Go on your lawn and just lie there,

take in the sun, and do some

Earthing (see Talk # 5).

45

41

Have food delivered, and get

exotic, try new cuisines.

Go to Ubereats.com.

46

42

Screw it, stay in bed all day.

47

43

Plant flowers. Start gardening,

if you don’t already.

48

44

Don’t shave or put on makeup.

49

45

Wash your car, really.

50

46

Play video games.

51

47

Put wine in a to-go cup and go for

an evening stroll.

52

48

Hug your loved ones, the ones

you’re quarantined with.

53

49

Go off the grid for a day

(see Talk # 10).

54

50

Play cards or board games

with your family.

55

51

Do word search puzzles.

56

52

Text all the people in your phone

you haven’t talked to in

at least a year.

57

53

Unsubscribe from all those dang

unwanted emails you keep getting.

58

54

Clean up your computer

and phone files.

59

55

Buy coloring books.

They’re not just for kids!

60

56

Start a new hobby.

61

57

Start working on that degree

you’ve always wanted to complete.

There are many online universities

that are exceptional.

62

58

Have a family karaoke night.

63

59

Stream a concert.

64

60

Take a digital museum tour.

65

61

Create your own

signature cocktail.

66

62

Have an indoor picnic,

or a picnic on your lawn.

67

63

Take a long, warm bath, and just

lie there, no electronics or reading.

68

64

Visit the world with Google Earth,

or “window shop” on

Expedia.com for future trips!

69

65

Give yourself a makeover.

70

66

Stargaze.

71

67

Birdwatch.

72

68

Commune with nature.

73

69

Do something you’ve

been putting off.

74

70

Offer to help an elderly

neighbor or relative.

75

71

Donate blood.

76

72

Say thank you, a lot

(see Talk # 4).

77

73

Have long talks with your

parents and siblings.

78

74

Start drinking healthy smoothies.

79

75

Talk to a psychiatrist or therapist.

Nothing could help more

at this time.

80

76

Spice things up in the bedroom.

81

77

Send me an email,

Art@RiosTalks.com,

and we’ll chat!

mailto:Art@RiosTalks.com

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77 Great Songs for All Times

1) "Happy,” Pharrell.

2) "Better Be Good to Me,"

Tina Turner.

3) "Blessed," Elton John.

4) "I Feel for You," Chaka

Khan.

5) "You Make My Dreams,"

Daryl Hall and John

Oates.

6) “Radio Gaga,” Queen.

7) "Shiny Happy People,"

R.E.M.

8) "Shining Star," Earth,

Wind and Fire.

9) "Dancing Queen," Abba.

10) "I Wanna Hold Your

Hand," The Beatles.

11) "Margaritaville," Jimmy

Buffett.

12) "Don't Stop Believin',"

Journey.

13) “What a Wonderful

World,” Louis

Armstrong.

14) "Biggest Part of Me,"

Ambrosia.

15) "Never Gonna Let You

Go," Sergio Mendes.

16) “I Knew You Were

Waiting (For Me),"

George Michael and

Aretha Franklin.

17) "Can't Stop the Feeling,"

Justin Timberlake.

18) "You're the Inspiration,"

Chicago.

19) "Just Dance," Lady

Gaga.

20) "Cherish," Madonna.

21) "She Will Be Loved,"

Maroon 5.

22) "Fun," Pitbull featuring

Chris Brown.

23) "Don't Stop the Music,"

Rihanna.

24) "C'est La Vie," Robbie

Nevil.

25) "How Will I Know,"

Whitney Houston.

26) "Rainbow Connection,"

Kermit the Frog.

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27) "Where is the Love,"

Black Eyed Peas.

28) "The Power of Love,"

Celine Dion.

29) "Heart of Rock and Roll,"

Huey Lewis.

30) "Straight Up," Paula

Abdul.

31) “Tonight’s The Night,”

Rod Stewart.

32) "Always Be My Baby,"

Mariah Carey.

33) "Baby Baby," Amy

Grant.

34) "Don’t Worry Baby,"

Beach Boys.

35) "Modern Love," David

Bowie.

36) "Go Your Own Way,"

Fleetwood Mac.

37) “My Life,” Billy Joel.

38) “One Day More,” Les

Miserables.

39) “Waterloo,” Abba.

40) “Walk This Way,”

Aerosmith.

41) “No More Tears (Enough

is Enough),” Barbra

Streisand.

42) “Evergreen,” Barbra

Streisand.

43) “Daybreak,” Barry

Manilow.

44) “Copacabana,” Barry

Manilow.

45) “Stayin Alive,” Bee Gees.

46) “Baby, I Love Your

Way,” Big Mountain.

47) “Piano Man,” Billy Joel.

48) “Don’t Look Back,”

Boston.

49) “Memory,” Cats.

50) “You’re So Vain,” Carly

Simon.

51) “All by Myself,” Celine

Dion.

52) “Feels So Good,” Chuck

Mangione.

53) “Under Pressure,” David

Bowie & Queen.

54) “Who’s Johnny,”

Debarge.

55) “Dim All The Lights,”

Donna Summer.

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56) “Turn to Stone,” ELO.

57) “I Believe,” Elvis Presley.

58) “Crocodile Rock,” Elton

John.

59) “Goodbye Yellow Brick

Road,” Elton John.

60) “I’m Still Standing,”

Elton John.

61) “It’s Still Rock & Roll To

Me,” Billy Joel.

62) “Orinoco Flow,” Enya.

63) “A Little Respect,”

Erasure.

64) “Come Fly With Me,”

Frank Sinatra.

65) “That’s Life,” Frank

Sinatra.

66) “My Way,” Frank Sinatra.

67) “December 1963,”

Frankie Valli & The Four

Seasons.

68) “Some Nights,” Fun.

69) “Turn It On Again,”

Genesis.

70) “Dance Into The Light,”

Phil Collins.

71) “What I Did For Love,” A

Chorus Line.

72) “I Will Survive,” Gloria

Gaynor.

73) “Thunder Island,” Jay

Ferguson.

74) “The Impossible Dream,”

Man of La Mancha.

75) “Only The Young,”

Journey.

76) “Songbird,” Kenny G.

77) “Nobody Does It Better,”

Cary Simon.

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77 Great Movies for Any Time

1) “Aliens”

2) “Arrival”

3) “E.T.: The Extra-

Terrestrial”

4) “The Martian”

5) “Star Wars” (all of them)

6) “The American

President”

7) “Harry Potter and the

Sorcerer’s Stone”

8) “The Lord of the Rings:

The Fellowship of the

Ring”

9) “Mad Max: Fury Road”

10) “The Matrix”

11) “The Wizard of Oz”

12) “Back to the Future”

13) “Father of the Bride”

14) “The Godfather” (all of

them)

15) “Meet the Parents”

16) “The Sound of Music”

17) “Animal House”

18) “The Blues Brothers”

19) “Booksmart”

20) “Ferris Bueller’s Day

Off”

21) “Ghostbusters”

22) “Groundhog Day”

23) “The Hangover”

24) “Old School”

25) “Young Frankenstein”

26) “Big Trouble in Little

China”

27) “Black Panther”

28) “The Dark Knight”

29) “The Goonies”

30) “Kill Bill: Volume 1”

31) “Rocky” (all of them)

32) “All the President’s Men”

33) “Amadeus”

34) “Ed Wood”

35) “Hidden Figures”

36) “Lincoln”

37) “RBG”

38) “The Right Stuff”

39) “Casablanca”

40) “Citizen Kane”

41) “Jaws”

42) “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

43) “Armageddon”

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44) “Highlander” (1986).

45) “Road House”

46) “Field of Dreams”

47) “It’s a Wonderful Life”

48) “Jojo Rabbit”

49) “Pretty Woman”

50) “Arthur” (the original

please!)

51) “Notting Hill”

52) “Rudy”

53) “Silver Linings

Playbook”

54) “The Shawshank

Redemption”

55) “You’ve Got Mail”

56) ALL the James Bond

movies.

57) “Les Miserables”

58) “Chicago”

59) “Man of La Mancha”

60) “The Goodbye Girl”

61) “Kramer vs Kramer”

62) “Gone with the Wind”

63) “Scent of a Woman”

64) “Forrest Gump”

65) “Crazy Rich Asians”

66) “Gandhi”

67) “Caddyshack”

68) “Good Will Hunting”

69) “Dead Poets Society”

70) “Network”

71) “Schindler's List”

72) “One Flew Over the

Cuckoo's Nest”

73) “Lawrence of Arabia”

74) “The Silence of the

Lambs”

75) “To Kill a Mockingbird”

76) “Patton”

77) “Rain Man”

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Parting Thoughts

I hope you’ll enjoy some, or all, of these activities, and enjoy the music and movies

as well. I also hope that you’ve incorporated some of the ideas in Let’s Talk: Book

1, into your life, and that by doing so, your life is more exciting, easier, and

exceptional. Please let me hear from you, contact me at Art@RiosTalks.com, or visit

the website, RiosTalks.com, where you’ll find many more ways to continue our

chats. I can’t wait to hear from you.

Until we talk again, stay happy and healthy, my friend.

mailto:Art@RiosTalks.com

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About the Author

Art Rios writes books. No kidding! He

also practices law, teaches at Stetson Law,

and enjoys long lunches. But above all, he

loves spending all his spare time with his

family. Art admits that he’s a better talker

than writer, which is why he enjoys the

webinars, gatherings, and retreats he offers to

further discuss Let’s Talk topics. Good luck

getting him to shut up at these events! Art is currently working on the next book in

the Let’s Talk series and is constantly adding new content to his website,

www.RiosTalks.com. Reach out to Art—Art@RiosTalks.com—as he’d love to hear

from you and strike up a conversation.