Roy’s Sunday Letter for November 17, 2024
** Several writer friends encouraged me to “play with AI.” I keyed 2 lines of a high school senior invited to travel to China for a 3-month study. His strict father was defiant in his response “no, never!” Sent those lines to an AI chat. Within seconds I received a well written and clear one page of a father and son’s predicament. Still shaking my head.
I shared my AI outcome with my 9-person writers’ group. Replies of “scary, no way” and more hesitant comments, “I prefer to stare into the screen, edit and polish, even struggle for the right words of story first and last paragraph, not shifting to a cut & paste modified writer.” AI is and will be an active part of our searches and daily life. This was my 1st AI adventure…what would be yours?
- Over-heard from nearby coffee shop table: “Is football still on TV? Well then, what problems?”
** Medical Lobby Repurposing: Medical lobbies have chairs against the wall and straight lines of chair across open spaces. What if they were arranged in a circle, away from walls. Would circles of chairs lower patient and family isolation, perhaps promote non-medical conservation (photos of grandkids & pets)? We patients could offer and provide informal support as “hang in there.” Circles are central within many spiritual and civic rituals, so why not bring the power and health to repurpose the medical lobby?
** A Sunday Delight: Last Sunday, I walked down the driveway for our print, old school delivery of the New York Times. Then, back to bed with Beth and coffee, sharing stories, and turning pages. These are the good old days!
- A Word for Sunday: Harmony, a meaningful word supporting the blending, weaving, and linking of us, perhaps beaten down by the distractions and noise of this week. We are at our strongest when in harmony with nature’s sounds and beauty as well as the daily routines, rituals that are pleasing, peaceful, and flowing.
The Sacred and the Relational: The year to come will have, as with all years, opportunities, challenges, disruptions, distractions, and still have room for surprises and celebrations. Here are ways, we, together, will best live, experience, survive and thrive, and welcome 2025.
- Pay attention to words, the spontaneous and the planned, not over-whelmed or fully taken over
- Engage, resist, allow in, listen, share, reflect, recall, look forward, forget, find a place for these to fit
- Live individually, within family, workplace offices and hallways, in civic, church, and music groups
- Not a time to withdraw, isolate, separate. We come together, lean into each other, cling, hug...be safe
The November 27th Sunday Letter will be all quotes of Goodness and of Thanksgiving. Beth collects quotes and writes them into her journals. If you have a favorite quote, please send it. Next Sunday quotes of Goodness and Thankfulness.
Roy, strengthening for 2025
Love love your cooment about circles. At the beginning of my contemporary religion classes, I always talk about the importance of circles within early religion formation.
In partnership with the Santa Fe Community Foundation, I led a monthly gathering of Ex. Directors. No tables, no power point. Just a circle of chairs for 35 – 45. The circle worked, Roy
Connecting with the souls in our lives can be healing and is so important in the process of continuing life. A special/sacred word has the power to heal our bodies but also our souls in turbulent times. A glance, a word, a touch, a gesture of love can surround and infuse us with a spiritual soulful healing experience that transfers the threat of death to a LIFE CONTINUED.
I was an AI addict for a period, using it to produce 4 children’s birthday books for 2 grand nieces and 2 grandnephews. I submitted descriptions of favorite activities, book characters and dreams. Each time, in seconds, i had wonderful essays that I could merge with appropriate pictures. I ended up with four wonderful one-of-a-kind birthday presents. I had such fun that I started using AI to help with memoir. I submitted short descriptions of my mother’s hard work of doing laundry and grocery shopping without a car for the 11 of us in the 50s. I was stunned by the outcomes. Never realized what a physically strong woman she was. AAI aure poi tef it out. I have great amazement for what AI does to help me. Please note I am not doing anything with a commercial outcome in mind!!!
You have the right mind and eye for proper use of AI.
Thank you for leading me onward….as always.
To my Sunday Lette readers: I apologize for the poor, hard to read paragraph and lines, I used a Verse option on Word Press. The draft looked OK but not when Published,.
These are good thoughts, although hard to read. I continue to learn, get it right, get it wrong. Roy
Circles might be interesting at a Dr’s office. Personally, being an introvert, it makes me uncomfortable to converse with people I don’t know; so a circle of chairs would not benefit me. I have noticed on FB there is an option to use AI to complete my comment, no thank you, I can do that myself and I find it intrusive that I have to get past that, if I wanted their help I would approach them. I keep trying to figure out how to turn that feature off, but alas it seems that option isn’t available. In an English class where stories must be written, can a teacher tell if it is original or AI generated. Is this progress?
Nice letter Roy.. talk of circles brought back memories of a decade playing football.. the circle huddles, holding hands, were the best..
I collect quotes as well:
” Service to others is rent you pay for your room here on earth.” M. Ali
” A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s self.” Charles Dickens – Tale of Two Cities
” If you can’t find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else.” Marvin Gaye
” There are those that hate. They don’t win unless you hate them.” R. Nixon
and finally..
” When we love, we strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.” Paulo Coelho
This last one would be a good summary of the Sunday letter and one of its goals.. happy Sunday to all.. Go Chiefs !!
Good words for next Sunday
Very helpful and with purpose…..
“Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.” — George Sand (Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil)
Kindness is Timeless—-
Love you and Beth to the moon and back.
Got it
Next Sunday should be good, thoughtful.
we both continue….being th e difference when and where we can…….
My kids are used to AI. will likely become as ubiquitous at mobile phones but have a bigger impact on lives going forward. Hope it is harnessed for the good of others.
I doubt harnesses
Perhaps pointed in the right direction and then hope.
I am not sure where Trust fits into the mix
Let’s keep at it.
Connecting with the souls in our lives can be healing and is so important in the process of continuing life. A special/sacred word has the power to heal our bodies but also our souls in turbulent times. A glance, a word, a touch, a gesture of love can surround and infuse us with a spiritual soulful healing experience that transfers the threat of death to a LIFE CONTINUED.
Peter, proud of you for a good and right Comment.
You are indeed a true Circle in my Village.
Glad for you….glad for us………Roy
I certainly like your concept of seating a hospitals, clinics and other waiting rooms of high stress and boredom. I find taking to strangers who share your space and probably some form of your anxiety, is very helpful. Living in a small town, if you don’t know someone in the room with you, it’s only polite to engage in conversation. After over 40 years in our small town there is always and connection somewhere. Even if you value your privacy as I do, it is so nice to share something with others.
Great experienced and hometown Reply.
Themedical can be sterile and isolating.
Anything to break up the pattern would be good.
You and I will continue to tough each other in real ways….. and that is good.