The advice of writing in the morning before one does anything else is just too difficult for me. I have to do so many things before I can finally feel comfortable enough to write, and if I think I need to write asap, I will drive myself crazy.

Nietzsche and Kant might be saying the same thing when they emphasize different points. Nietzsche made his point on the responsibility of leaders, whereas Kant wants everyone to be responsible for his life, but basically, they both think one has a place in the world, and the person is not to neglect his responsibility.

Maybe I can jot down some notes in the notebook as ideas come to me, and then go back to elaborate on the ideas. If I can review an edited journal and edit another one in the morning, schedule a post for my blog in the afternoon, write what’s on my mind at night, like now, I would be sufficiently productive.

I need to get out and exercise more. I enjoyed playing tennis with E in Hawaii. I don’t get out of my home when I am in Japan: I don’t walk that much, and I just keep getting fat. It’s a bad cycle, and now I am not happy with how I look.

The thought of a student I know practicing on a broken keyboard because she doesn’t have a piano made me want to practice everyday.

The more work and energy you put into something, the better chance you will get better at it eventually. Whether an action is manifested in conscious or unconscious thoughts, actions produce outcomes. I will only know what I have written until it’s been written; I only hope it’ll be good energy.