Chapter Forty Two: Brainstorming

It is week 42, which I guess means we are supposed to figure out the answer to the universe and everything in between. No pressure. Buckle in, keep your hands and feet inside the ride, and thanks for being back again.

This week has felt like a quiet turning point. We have officially given notice that the one year mark of our project is coming to a close at the end of January. That makes everything feel a little heavier and a little sweeter at the same time. I have been thinking a lot about the people here in Guyana and how welcome I have felt since day one. Working with a smaller team means you really get to know people. You learn how they think, how they problem solve, and how they show up for each other. As an international person coming into this space, that kind of openness and care is not something I take lightly. It has made all the difference.

Now I find myself slowly starting the process of saying thank you. Checking in with people. Letting them know how much I have appreciated their help on projects, tasks, late days, and last minute chaos. We have been able to do some genuinely cool things together locally and internationally. Not everything followed the original plan, but that is part of the work. What matters to me is that the team feels strong and that there is a clear trajectory forward. Sitting with the board earlier this week and sharing updates made me feel proud of what we have built and supported together.

At the same time, my brain has already started drifting toward what is next. I have been thinking a lot about technology, especially prototyping and simple coding tools that let you build ideas without needing a full development team. The idea that creativity can be enabled in new ways through these tools feels exciting. I do not have every skill, but I do have ideas. Being able to move them forward on my own, even in small ways, feels powerful. I am also thinking more deeply about strategy and what it means to do less but do it better. That balance between creative instinct and real organizational impact is something I want to keep working on as I head toward 2026.

The Good
The Christmas decorations around the office and across the city are slowly going up, and it really is starting to feel like the season is close.

The Challenge
Trying to stay focused while thinking about going home for the holidays and still closing out everything properly here.

What’s Next
I want to spend part of the holidays experimenting with some small prototypes and creative ideas. Fingers crossed something cool comes out of it.