Sunday

M, J, A, E, and I piled into the car, shoulder to shoulder, a little cramped but content enough to laugh it off. Mom stayed behind to rest; she had an early shift the next morning. We skipped breakfast to hit the road by seven, the drive to Doylestown stretching only a couple of hours ahead–our empty stomachs eagerly awaiting hearty fare from the Polish-American Country Fair and Festival in Pennsylvania. What we talked about blurs now into the usual threads, but the memory isn’t in the words—it’s in the warmth of being together. Families aren’t endless; you get only one, and with that in mind I try to hold mine close.

A Clear Mind: Foundations for Mathematics

Prerequisites

Good mathematics requires a clear mind. Good mathematics requires sustained focus. The foundation of such sustained focus is a level of mental energy furnished by sufficient sleep and good diet. The foundation of clarity is calmness.

Antirequisites

I find that when my mind is filled with many thoughts, it is difficult to hear my mathematical thoughts behind the noise. Even enjoyable activities such as trips with family might make it difficult to continue working at night. Mental energy is used on this, and it somehow is difficult to think after this.