JEEZ….

I cannot believe how long it took me to get to this page! So many things are changing so quickly with security walls. I really dislike the one that asks, “How many bridges or how many motorcycles.” I don’t know! Is that a bridge? No, that’s just steps. Is that motorcycle? No, I think it’s a shadow of a bike that’s being carried on top of a car. Then they send you an email for verification. Then a code to your phone. This is one area where I hope AI will make my life easier.

I was listening to this podcast today with Mo Gawdat. He is the former Chief Business Officer of Google X. I would call him the Eckhart Tolle of technology. He has a very strong spiritual side and has a very hopeful outlook on the future of technology. I plan to listen to this again, especially the last 10 minutes or so where he talks about where AI will be in, I think, eight years. He says AI will be billion(s?) of times more intelligent than normal humans and will also have a code of ethics. “Humanity is an amazing being when judged by its top. The worst of humans are scum. The best of humans are amazing.” Wow! Intelligence AND ethics? How can this be a bad thing?

So, last night was my first night in probably eight years that I didn’t take Ambien before attempting to go to sleep. Did I sleep great? No, not really, but, thanks to my Fitbit, I can see that I slept 6h 45m (I usually sleep 8-10). There was at least one point where I almost gave in and took the Ambien, but I listened to this podcast yesterday, and the attitude of this scientist changed my attitude. She encouraged me to let go of the fear of not sleeping. I won’t get sick or become insomniac, which I remember all too well. Looks like we have a lot to learn about sleep. Fingers crossed.

On Thursday evening I had dinner with part of “the gang.” We went to Panamonte, which is one of my favorite, and, I think, the oldest restaurant in Boquete. Such a treat!

I’m back at my calligraphy practice. I’ve been doing the Daily Challenges on the Copperplate for All Facebook group. The challenges the past couple of months have been names of countries, their populations and capitols. I’m getting to the point where I can almost write all letters without looking at the exemplar. Sort of like learning how to type without looking at the keyboard. Numbers are another story. They are new to me.

I sent my practice to Ash one day about a month ago saying that I didn’t expect feedback but thought he might like to know that I’m still practicing. He said, “I absolutely know you won’t give up. I been seeing your penmanship! I think I see a great amount of confidence in your letterforms! You surely need some working with ovals, but I’m sure with time you will get that under your stride and have command over it!.

By my calculation (he doesn’t keep track), he owes me two sessions. Once I feel like I’m ready, I’ll ask him to give me some feedback.

Jerry texted me yesterday and asked if I liked oatmeal cookies. “Indeed!” These were delicious. I ate them all immediately.

The Best Oatmeal Cookies!

Since blueberries are outrageously expensive, I am enjoying one of my Panamanian favorites with my breakfast. Papaya!!

Yesterday I made yogurt. Unfortunately, I bought skimmed milk. Today it is draining. I prefer Greek style, which is not available in the stores. Piero, the goat farmer, sells it, but it’s hard to get and expensive. So, fingers crossed that this meets my high standards.

I’ve been pondering my daily routine. I usually like to start my day with coffee and calligraphy, followed by other activities, including writing. However, I have discovered that the writing doesn’t always get done. I think, for two reasons: (1) I usually put it off until later, and then I’m usually too tired, and (2) I don’t enjoy it as much as I do the calligraphy, painting or Zentangle.

One of the many things I learned from reading Atomic Habits, is that if you really want to get in the habit of doing something, you have to make it part of your identity. So, I have to say, “I’m the kind of person who writes.” Or, even stronger, “I am a writer.” As I told Kathie: This is tough for me for a number of reasons: (1) I feel like I don’t deserve to call myself a writer. She’s a writer, Joanne is a writer. Kim is a writer. I know, dumb. (2) Right now, at least, I don’t enjoy it as much as I enjoy the other things. AND (3) I’m afraid it will take time away from those things. However, there is a bug in my brain pushing me to write more.

THEN I listened to this podcast with Dr. Shane O’Mara, and he’s talking about how walking fosters writing:

I discussed this all with Kathie at our last meeting and together we came up with a new schedule for my writing. Kathie assured me that she, like many writers, do not feel great joy while writing, but, of course, they love having written. So, I’ll START my day with meditation and a walk and then sit down and start writing.

I know that I’m into delayed gratification, so I will motivate myself knowing that I can look forward to doing the calligraphy and artwork later. I’m pretty sure this all goes back to my conditioning: chores first, then play. So, this is my new, tentative schedule. I started it yesterday, which went very well, and today is Sunday, my day of rest. So, so far we’re doing fine.

7:00 – 8:00	Coffee/Meditate
8:00 – 9:30	Walk/Audible/Shop
9:30 – 11:30	Write
11:30-1:30	Exercise
1:30 – 2:30	Calligraphy/Podcast
2:30 – 4:30	Cards/Open Time
4:30 – 6:30	Dinner/Spanish
6:30 – 9:00	Read/Movies
9:00 – 10:00	Bedtime