diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index 0f84f06..cba38cf 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -1,21 +1,25 @@
 from ovos_utils import classproperty
+from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 from ovos_utils.intents import IntentBuilder
 from ovos_utils.process_utils import RuntimeRequirements
 from ovos_workshop.decorators import intent_handler
 from ovos_workshop.skills import OVOSSkill
 
 
+DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
+    "log_level": "WARNING"
+}
+
+
 class HelloWorldSkill(OVOSSkill):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """The __init__ method is called when the Skill is first constructed.
         Note that self.bus, self.skill_id, self.settings, and
         other base class settings are only available after the call to super().
-
-        This is a good place to load and pre-process any data needed by your
-        Skill, ideally after the super() call.
         """
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        self.learning = True
+        # be aware that below is executed after `initialize`
+        self.override = True
 
     @classproperty
     def runtime_requirements(self):
@@ -30,14 +34,39 @@
             no_network_fallback=True,
             no_gui_fallback=True,
         )
+    
+    def initialize(self):
+        """Performs any final setup of the Skill, for instance to register
+        handlers for events that the Skill will respond to.
+        This is a good place to load and pre-process any data needed by your Skill.
+        """
+        # This initializes a settings dictionary that the skill can use to
+        # store and retrieve settings. The skill_settings.json file will be
+        # created in the location referenced by self.settings_path, which
+        # defaults to ~/.config/mycroft/skills/<skill_id>
+        # only new keys will be added, existing keys will not be overwritten
+        self.settings.merge(DEFAULT_SETTINGS, new_only=True)
+        # set a callback to be called when settings are changed
+        self.settings_change_callback = self.on_settings_changed
+        # (custom) event handler setup example
+        # below is a custom event, system event specs found at
+        # https://openvoiceos.github.io/message_spec/
+        # this can be tested using `mana` (https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon-mana-utils)
+        # `mana send-message hello.world`
+        self.add_event("hello.world", self.handle_hello_world_intent)
+        self.my_var = "hello world"
+
+    def on_settings_changed(self):
+        """This method is called when the skill settings are changed."""
+        LOG.info("Settings changed!")
 
     @property
-    def get_my_setting(self):
-        """Dynamically get the my_setting from the skill settings file.
+    def log_level(self):
+        """Dynamically get the 'log_level' value from the skill settings file.
         If it doesn't exist, return the default value.
         This will reflect live changes to settings.json files (local or from backend)
         """
-        return self.settings.get("my_setting", "default_value")
+        return self.settings.get("log_level", "INFO")
 
     @intent_handler(IntentBuilder("ThankYouIntent").require("ThankYouKeyword"))
     def handle_thank_you_intent(self, message):
@@ -48,14 +77,36 @@
     def handle_how_are_you_intent(self, message):
         """This is a Padatious intent handler.
         It is triggered using a list of sample phrases."""
+
         self.speak_dialog("how.are.you")
+        LOG.info(("There are five types of log messages: 'info, debug, warning, ")
+                 ("error, and exception."))
+        # Skills can log useful information. These will appear in the CLI and
+        # in the skills.log file under ~/.mycroft/logs. LOG.info() is the most
+        # common log level, but it is recommended to use the others when
+        # appropriate:
+        # LOG.debug() - Messages useful for developers to debug the skill
+        # LOG.warning() - Indicates something unexpected happened, but the skill
+        #                 can recover
+        # LOG.error() - Indicates a recoverable error
+        # LOG.exception() - Indicates an exception that causes the skill to crash
+        #                  and is non-recoverable
+        if self.log_level == "WARNING":
+            LOG.warning(("To be able to see debug logs, you need to change the")
+                        ("'log_level' setting to 'DEBUG' in the core ")
+                        ("configuration (mycroft.conf)"))
 
     @intent_handler(IntentBuilder("HelloWorldIntent").require("HelloWorldKeyword"))
     def handle_hello_world_intent(self, message):
-        """Skills can log useful information. These will appear in the CLI and
-        the skills.log file."""
-        self.log.info("There are five types of log messages: " "info, debug, warning, error, and exception.")
-        self.speak_dialog("hello.world")
+        """
+        speak_dialog() is an OVOS skill method that safely handles
+        formatting and speaking a dialog file and its translated dialog
+        back to the user.
+        """
+        # wait=True will block the message bus until the dialog is finished
+        self.speak_dialog("hello.world", wait=True)
+        # this will speak the string without translation
+        self.speak("hello english folks")
 
     def stop(self):
         """Optional action to take when "stop" is requested by the user.