I have been taking an evening class on Spanish for five weeks now.  It has been fun.  I still can’t speak much, but I start to understand the basic structure of the language.  The full session is 10 weeks, and it will end in February.  I think I will continue to Level 2, and at this point almost out of necessity–it is a great form of therapy for me.  No matter how unhappy, frustrated, or stressed I feel before class, just a few minutes into each class I can’t help but smile and laugh.  Everyone in class are beginners, we have limited vocabulary to express ourselves, so whatever we say are clumpy and hilarious.  And we all make mistakes, and the mistakes are often very funny.  Most importantly, during this whole hour and a half, I am forced to think about something other than what I do everyday on a regular basis.  I have to focus on learning and thinking this new language, prepare to be called on during class by the instructor.  For once, I have to stop thinking about my projects, stop designing in my head, stop planning and orchestrating all the consultants on the team.  I also practice Tai Chi/Yoga once a week, but my mind never stopped, even I am suppose to during the session, it was too easy for me to multi-task.  I do think less about work and my personal life during exercise, but I cheat, body and mind go into autopilot mode.  It is about $300 for 10 weeks of classes, about the same as a yoga pass at a studio, or a few sessions with a therapist.