I tried doing debugging the boring way and it worked that actually stuck

The detail that surprised me was how much the train station changed the outcome. Same plan, different setting, completely different energy.

Part of me wanted the fancy version with all the tools. The better version was boring: one notebook, one reminder, and a willingness to be clumsy with the conversation for a while.

I tried this in São Paulo with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.

My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 3 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.