A week in the Caribbean away from my family and thinking about my work has been recharging and peaceful. Although I am an active participant in conference sessions, I don't talk much to people outside of the sessions. I have little interest in being part of that attention-seeking thing that people do at conferences. I also find that it takes so much energy to be around all these people that I just seek quiet and solitude during the off hours. Today, rather than going to a session and another bad luncheon, I'm going to swim and walk on the beach. It will be months before I'm able to be by the ocean again, and I have loved falling asleep to the sight and sound of the waves outside the window.

I have not done as much writing as I would have liked. I still have time today to finish what I started yesterday, and that is on my agenda. But in general, I feel a sense of peacefulness and well-being that has eluded me lately.