Back to Work

 January 13, 2026

Marlina’s birthday dinner went longer than usual, especially because so many of our local partners were at the pousada with us. We whispered around the table that we would skip our reflection conversation for the night and do the Order of the Purple Bike induction over breakfast. There was no way to gather as a group and “meet,” so many of us decided to make our way to the river beach below our camp and stargaze. We saw lots of shooting stars and made lots of (secret) wishes, but we also realized that for many of us, our wishes are already coming true right here right now. 

Breakfast included leftover cake and as we finished, we began the induction ceremony of the newest entrant into the Order of the Purple Bike: Guido. Guido is a wild card like no other, but who wouldn’t welcome a truly valuable wild card in their hand? He has unique energy, unique perspectives, a 100% unique laugh, and a unique way of being in the world. He forms his own personal reflection circle, as he is constantly evaluating his behaviors, adjusting them when needed, celebrating them when they are admirable, and exploring what alternatives might be available. He is in a hurry all the time but is working to slow things down and absorb things in the moment. He takes a few risks (nothing dangerous) and is willing to make necessary adjustments if they don’t work out. He has the highest levels of curiosity of all of us and uses his curiosity as a key to connecting with our hosts, particularly by running right out onto the soccer field or into the free kick competition and smiling his way through it all. Guido is creative, receptive, adaptive, and reaching for a form of transcendence that is probably not too far from his grasp. We welcome Guido into the Order of the Purple Bike!

We caught some audio of the howler monkeys (guaribas) today just with a cellphone. We have some more serious mics that would help but we don't have them at the ready when we are getting up in the morning. You'll at least get a sense of the sound, but we assure you that it is much louder here on the spot. It's that hum/growl/roar/machine noise in the background. You might think it's wind; it's not. Thomas says "it's like the sound they use in a movie when they want you to think it's really tempestuous outside." We'll keep trying on the zoguezogues.