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Oh Leonardo's to-do lists! I first came across these in Walter Isaacson's biography. My favourite is "Describe the tongue of the woodpecker" - woodpeckers have amazing tongues: https://abcbirds.org/blog21/woodpecker-tongues/

I remember thinking that his to-do list is the antithesis of SMART-goals. "Draw Milan" is Specific and perhaps Measurable, but barely Achievable, Relevant, or Time-Bound. We should all have less-SMART goals like Leonardo's.

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They're entirely new to me, and I love them. Agreed re the woodpecker thing – one of my favourite bird facts to delight/disgust children.

And absolutely yes to less-SMART goals.

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It seems unfair to single out particular editions of Six Things but I am going to. Both this and last week (happy birthday btw) I felt the six things were even more magnificent and full of joy than usual. My memory may also play a role here.

Must give a shout out to bird migration - I see it, I look out for it, I cherish it but little do I think about it in all its glory. Thank you.

Good luck tomorrow.

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I am also hoping to see a waxwing this year and your picture made me laugh out loud. That’s very much my experience of birdwatching.

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I fell in love with Leonardo at around age ten - the day I came across, "The smallest feline is a masterpiece". His notebooks are extraordinary. I often think it must have been very, very difficult for him. He wanted to know so much...and paint.

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