A Friend

 Question from a Facebook friend:

If you met yourself...

Would you like you?

Would you trust you?

Would you choose you?

I would like myself because I tend to be a good person with good morals. I talk to anyone. I like to be fair and objective and that shines through. Sometimes I am afraid to get too close. I give people their space. I prefer not to con people or to fight. This also means that I can be trusted. I am a good friend. I can work on some areas just like everyone out there. I am not about friends that lie and cheat.

Update

 I don't feel my best today. I am still to complete the form the Social Security Administration sent me. It is a lot of information to provide. It is a lot like working on a school paper.

I received a call from an old friend yesterday. I was happy to hear from her. I planned to call her months ago but didn't because her number was stored on my lost phone. I didn't use Messenger at that time. Our friend's funeral was that same day.

Tired

 I had a hectic week. By the end of the week, I was tired from all the appointments. A lot of activity in the first 9 days of the year! I don't expect things to continue at the same pace. I now have to work on submitting requested information to the Social Security Administration.

Busy day

 It was a busy day. I had two appointments today. The first went very well. I met a new doctor who was just perfect. The second didn't go as well. I was told there is the need for eye surgery. I was disappointed. I wait for further information and will pray over the situation. 

My father helped me to get from place to place (he did not sit in the appointments with me). Between appointments, we stopped at Golden Corral for lunch. The appointments took all day. I have a few more appointments coming up.

Domain Modeling

 Just recently, I spent some time reflecting on 2025 and the improvements I want to make in 2026. I thought of research and my research career (there is a recent post on this) and I thought of other things I could be doing. Another area I could try to develop is domain modeling. I enjoyed the class on domain modeling and patterns during the Analyst training program I was a part of very early in my career. I created several of these models at work. I was surprised to use (related) concept maps for developing literature reviews during a PhD class. I quickly understood the maps and enjoyed creating them. Concept maps are similar to domain models. I excel in this area.

Living a life of purpose

 I really do believe that because I am alive when so many of my friends are dead, I should make the most of the time I have left (hopefully it is decades). I should try to use time wisely, live a good life, maybe carry on the important work others left behind. I must ensure that my living is not in vain. I have no children. I can ensure my living is not in vain in other ways. I found three interesting poems on ways to ensure your life is not in vain:

If I live my life fully and my purpose I attain, I shall not live in vain.
If I can inspire someone to rise and prevent them from falling again, I shall not live in vain.
If I can live without hurting anyone and ease someone's pain, I shall not live in vain.
If I can wipe someone's tears and make them smile again, I shall not live in vain.
If I can release someone from bondage and make them fly again, I shall not live in vain.
If I can live in a heart with a love that forever remains, I shall not live in vain.
If I can leave the world a little better from the time when I came, I shall not live in vain. - Jyoti Prateek 

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain. - Emily Dickinson (https://www.yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=2330)

If I can help somebody, as I travel along / If I can help somebody, with a word or song. / If I can help somebody, from doing wrong, then my living shall not be in vain. / No, my living shall not be in vain. - Lyrics to song by Mahalia Jackson (https://www.daytondailynews.com/ideas-voices/voices-if-i-can-help-somebody-then-my-living-shall-not-be-in-vain/TM4CZOKUKZA7HALFVNNAPCSKGY/) 

I also found this interesting poem:

In Life's Garden
by
Dixie Willson

Count your garden by the flowers,
Never by the leaves that fall—
Count your days by golden hours,
Don't remember clouds at all.
Count your nights by stars, not shadows,
Count your life by smiles—not tears—
And with joy through all your lifetime,
Count your age by friends—not years. 

The Bible has this interesting verse on work that is with purpose (not in vain):

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV).

I am publishing a lot of articles and poems, and so on. I will be remembered for all of this.

Friend

 I was shocked to learn of the passing of one of my friends from high school. It is interesting how life goes. She was also from Linden. I remember we rode our bicycles to Watooka to play tennis on the courts there. I didn't have a lot of experience but I enjoyed it. I didn't see her when I was in Guyana.