On a Saturday, I spent about four hours on a project, working on the Stage 5 harness and operator UI and fixing reported issues. I used four time boxes for the last two hours. Before that, I worked without a plan, picking up tasks as I went.
I built the Stage 4 harness the same way. I knew what I wanted to achieve, took a step, and checked whether it moved me closer. I didn’t wait for the perfect workflow or implementation. The harness improved as I used it.
A Different Turn at the Park
Later, I went to the park for a walk. It was a beautiful, milder day, so I waited until the heat eased. I took a left at the entrance instead of my usual right, and the trail brought back a walk from about two years ago.
That day, I saw a man walking ahead of me, his eyes on his phone. About ten feet behind him was a little girl, with another girl close to her age a few feet behind her. I assumed they were his daughters, though I don’t know that. The girls sped up to catch up with him, then drifted back when squirrels or something else caught their attention.
For several minutes, I didn’t see him look back, slow down, or speak to them. He kept scrolling. His pace didn’t make it look like he was rushing somewhere, but I had no idea what was happening in his life or on his phone.
I don’t want to judge a stranger based on a few minutes from behind him. I did catch myself wondering whether he might someday wish he’d paid more attention to those walks. That thought says as much about my own priorities as it does about him. Childhood passes quickly, and we can’t replay the ordinary moments we missed.
Catching Myself
The memory makes me pay attention to my own phone habits. When I walk, I want to look up and notice the trail around me. Sometimes I have a reason to check my phone, like waiting for a call or message. I try to find what I came for and put the phone away.
Sometimes I keep reading or scrolling after I’ve found it. I’m trying to notice that sooner.
With the harness, I don’t wait until every detail is right before taking the next step. With my phone, I want the same kind of intention: know why I picked it up, and put it down when I’m done. I want to remember that while I’m still on the walk.
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