I have a sweetheart. A sweet tooth. A sweet spot. To live. A borrowed dog for Valentine’s Day and too much on my mind. I found a $10 bill on the ground after days of manifesting that very scenario. It could have been any amount. I wasn’t specific. Wow. The universe is sending signs and gifts as signs and the gift of time and “no, I am not retired” –maybe it is the chocolate croissant and double espresso con leche that massages the anxiety or leads me to eat 1/2 a bag of potato chips for lunch –well more than the 16 chips allotted by the recommended serving size on the back of the package. Salt and olive oil. Savory on the tongue. Lick my fingers.

Water. Wine. Wonder. Walk the dog. Walk myself. Walk into the future.

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The sun is shining on all the fallen angels. Life is a blessing.

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The Gift of Time vs Productivity

I love my life despite this self-induced anxiety I’m bemoaning. Or trying to understand. The gift of time whispers not so gently with reminders, and some enthusiastic cheering from the sidelines:

–YOU CAN DO IT– Let’s go let’s go. . .L E T S G O

• You CAN fulfill your desires to manifest creative abundance and financial support in a manner that provides a life of purpose while nurturing the deep-seated need for freedom
• You CAN live fully without fear of lack
• You CAN love out loud or as quietly as you need
• You CAN keep traveling and dreaming — ever grateful for each opportunity
• You CAN walk brightly into the future and embrace the challenges
• You CAN write freely without fear of ridicule, humiliation, or the need to monetiz
• Open your heart
• Feel free
• Be you
• Trust

All that said, today I’m trying to focus on self-education: Duolingo, WordPress, TinyPNG, or Ewwww (or others) to compress images without taking time to resize them all before the upload to my blog. In the age of Aquarius, I expected more. Ease. I google. Get an app. Okay. But do I need an API key? How much does it cost? Or is it free? Automatic? What part do I play? Am I only afraid of the future? Or failure?

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I raise my hand to ask the teacher but no one is standing at the front of the room. I’m manic. Breathe.

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I found the teacher in the room. Just for fun and in the vein of education/walking into the future AI reiterates my thoughts:

In the digital age, the pursuit of knowledge and skills through self-education is both admirable and essential. Your focus on learning platforms such as Duolingo and WordPress is a testament to your dedication. Additionally, seeking tools to optimize your blog by compressing images—like TinyPNG or EWWW Image Optimizer—demonstrates your savvy in streamlining your workflow.

Now, while these services often promise simplicity, the initial setup can come with a barrage of questions. Should you need an application like TinyPNG or EWWW Image Optimizer, understanding the nuances of each is important.

Let’s break it down:

• API Key: Services like TinyPNG require you to obtain an API key to use their service programmatically. This key often comes free with certain usage limitations.
• Costs: While some basic plans are free, higher usage volumes or additional features might require a paid plan. Always check the pricing tier that aligns with your usage needs.
• Automation: Tools like EWWW Image Optimizer can automate the process of compressing images upon upload to WordPress, requiring minimal action from you.
• The Role You Play: As the user, you interact with these applications by setting initial preferences and perhaps managing the occasional oversight. Your primary role is to ensure the tool’s settings align with your desired balance between image quality and file size.

Lastly, it’s natural to have trepidations about the future or the possibility of failure when adopting new technologies. However, remember that each tool you master is a step toward a more efficient and empowered future in the Age of Automation. Embrace these aids as extensions of your capabilities; they are not replacements but enhancers of your creative expression and intellectual growth.

Beauty is everywhere. . .in this I believe. And that is enough. For now.