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I read that question in a blog recently (sorry, I tried to find it again but didn’t have any luck). That was easy for me to answer — it’s curiosity. As I’ve said, my mantra starts with,

Stay curious and open to life.

Why is that so powerful? It keeps me from being bored, and it keeps me from becoming depressed as I spend a few hours every day keeping up with what is going on in the world. If there is something constructive I can do, then of course I do it. Otherwise I have more interesting things to think about. Like my balloon:

Seven weeks old

And my bean plant.

The two pods on the left have completely shriveled up, but they haven’t dropped off yet. Here’s picture of them from a different angle.

And the recent flower on one of the plants on the right is trying to produce another pod:

We will have to see what happens next.

Another example of curiosity as a superpower is when time- and thought-consuming problems come up. I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been training myself to have an alert mind in a relaxed body, but in fact what I’m really aiming for is a curious mind. When we get really curious we automatically turn on our parasympathetic nervous system and relax. We get into the flow state and concentrate on the process rather than worrying about outcomes. That means we gather information and retain it, and we practice our problem solving skills. Our effort compounds as time goes on and we get better and better at it.

Anyway, that’s what works for me. Do you have a superpower? If so, what is it?

February 7, 2026

I always go to our doctor’s web portal when either Andy or I have lab tests. And the last time I looked his up, for some reason I checked to verify my September 28 appointment for my next physical. It wasn’t there even though I had a piece of paper telling me the time and date. I left a message at their office to mention it, and I never heard back. I wasn’t concerned because I figured it was just a mistake putting the data on the website.

But when I phoned to ask them for the note excusing Andy from jury duty, I asked them to verify my appointment. They didn’t know about it.. We made a new appointment for October 1st, and that one is on the portal now so presumably it’s safe.

They are shorthanded, so I’ll try to double check in the future, just in case.

Anyway, Andy picked up the note saying he is not a candidate for jury duty due to medical conditions. He paid the office the $25 fee, and when he got home I took a picture of the note and uploaded it to their web page. Just in case I took a screenshot saying the upload was successful:

Does that sound a bit paranoid? I think not. Mistakes do happen.

February 6, 2026

 

 
Jury Duty Update: I phoned our doctor’s office yesterday and asked that she write a letter to get him excused. They phoned back later and said it’s waiting for him to pick it up — presumably he will do that today and we’ll scan it and send it off.

February 5, 2025

Speed Bump

This reminds me of Zoe. She does like to have her voice heard.

February 4, 2026

Bound and Gagged

Andy has been summoned for local jury duty, by postcard:

Apparently if person doesn’t have access to the internet they can phone and get help, but unlike the process for me when I was summoned for federal jury duty,

I scanned the QR code using my iPad and the two of us answered the questionnaire there. Andy will talk to our doctor and let her decide if he should opt out.

Anyway, another little adventure with modern technology.

February 3, 2026

For higher resolution, click on the picture.

Pearls Before Swine

Do you think pig has the right idea about success, that it’s the ability to enjoy your day? It works for me. It reminds me of

 
and

 
I can’t always do that, of course, but I often can — and even when I can’t enjoy a chore I can practice staying centered, patient, and effective. If I can’t even manage that, at least I’ll learn something from trying.

February 2, 2026

Moderately Confused

I feel the opposite of the woman in the cartoon — I have trouble believing it’s already the end of January. And that (meteorological) winter is two-thirds over, and that tomorrow is Groundhog Day already.

What about you? Does time seem to be zipping by, or does it seem that winter will never end?

February 1, 2026

The balloon is drooping more, but it is 5 weeks old:

The bean plant is over 3 months old and is still gradually fading away.

The bean pods were filling out, then started withering:

The blossoms on the plants on the right didn’t do anything except drop off, but it looks as if a new one is forming.

I wasn’t expecting much, but it’s been fun to see what they do.

January 31, 2026

These comics were drawn in October, 2015 — a long time ago.

Stone Soup

Stone Soup

I had to go back to old posts to remember what that time was like — a lot has happened since then. Phil reminds me of the phrase “do the work of worrying” — he’s asked if he worries about the future and he says he thinks about it and prepares for it, but he doesn’t waste time or energy fruitlessly worrying. He focuses on things that he can influence or control.

I posted the comic when it first came out because I thought it was a great illustration of how to handle worry. Nowadays when I try to keep track about what is happening, it’s not just about the future, it’s about the destruction and cruelty that is going on right now. So it’s not just about preparation, it’s also trying to figure out if there’s anything, even if small, I can do to make a difference now. That’s a big change in just 10 years.

January 30, 202

but it’s getting closer!

Bliss

Enjoying what we have, while we still have it. Doing the best we can with what we have left. And I wouldn’t trade my life with anyone. 😀

January 29, 2026