The daily list thing I found interesting— as for a brief period of time, when I was in the 8th grade and first started keeping a diary/journal of sorts, I had two. One, where I just listed the basic things I did, and then another where I wrote in more detail. This made me think of cross referencing the two, but it turns out, I had not real rhyme or reason to when I wrote in the longer version— as I don’t seem to have expanded upon any of the things I wrote in the list form. Here is a random day: Monday, March 17, 1997, (I was 13 and in the 8th grade and do not remember this day) okay day, stayed after, passed, got trip slip, came home, did homework, watched tv, had fun, got in trouble, no tv, (word I cannot read), bye. Would love to know what I got in trouble for, what does stayed after mean? After school? What was I doing where I had fun, before I got in trouble? So many questions. I don’t think back then, I had the wherewithal to imagine my 40-year-old now self, rereading these random notes! I will say one things the same— my terrible handwriting! That I struggle with reading. Anyway, thanks for the newsletter! I always enjoy reading what new thing you tell us to noice.
Great prompt. Writing down what I did during the day helps me focus on forward motion rather than on everything I didn't get done. I almost always look back and notice I did more than I thought, and some things become more important because they are written down.
FWIW, I've been using a list format for keeping daily notes. My notes use a mash up structure of Matthew Dicks’ “Homework for Life” and Billy Collins’ “Lists of Twenty.” Keeping a daily note forces me to be more present and it’s useful when I want to remember exactly when something happened.
The Andy Warhol of our time! The older I get the more I realize I am a visual learner. I love strong graphics. They convey instant information and a feeling and sometimes a yearning too.
I must have read your article in The NY Times because I remember being fascinated by an artist who would make art of her credit card statements and lists of everything she bought. I resist this practice (making daily lists) because of the “weight” it creates. When I return to old notebooks and journals I tear up and throw out all the pages. I don’t like a lot of history hanging around and I enjoy imagining I create every day fresh.
Love the idea of a list. It feels like less pressure and commitment than journaling.
Thank you ROB! Appreciate you endlessly and thanks for the opportunity!
Heart emoji! ;)
The daily list thing I found interesting— as for a brief period of time, when I was in the 8th grade and first started keeping a diary/journal of sorts, I had two. One, where I just listed the basic things I did, and then another where I wrote in more detail. This made me think of cross referencing the two, but it turns out, I had not real rhyme or reason to when I wrote in the longer version— as I don’t seem to have expanded upon any of the things I wrote in the list form. Here is a random day: Monday, March 17, 1997, (I was 13 and in the 8th grade and do not remember this day) okay day, stayed after, passed, got trip slip, came home, did homework, watched tv, had fun, got in trouble, no tv, (word I cannot read), bye. Would love to know what I got in trouble for, what does stayed after mean? After school? What was I doing where I had fun, before I got in trouble? So many questions. I don’t think back then, I had the wherewithal to imagine my 40-year-old now self, rereading these random notes! I will say one things the same— my terrible handwriting! That I struggle with reading. Anyway, thanks for the newsletter! I always enjoy reading what new thing you tell us to noice.
Super interesting, and LOL about the handwriting! Thanks for this :)
Great prompt. Writing down what I did during the day helps me focus on forward motion rather than on everything I didn't get done. I almost always look back and notice I did more than I thought, and some things become more important because they are written down.
These are all good thoughts -- thanks much!
Thanks for including my icebreaker Rob! Anyone else out there want to step into MC Escher’s Relativity or Renoir’s Boating Party? That looks fun!
Thanks for the Icebreaker -- a great one!!
FWIW, I've been using a list format for keeping daily notes. My notes use a mash up structure of Matthew Dicks’ “Homework for Life” and Billy Collins’ “Lists of Twenty.” Keeping a daily note forces me to be more present and it’s useful when I want to remember exactly when something happened.
Thanks Scott, and thanks for those references :)
The Andy Warhol of our time! The older I get the more I realize I am a visual learner. I love strong graphics. They convey instant information and a feeling and sometimes a yearning too.
I must have read your article in The NY Times because I remember being fascinated by an artist who would make art of her credit card statements and lists of everything she bought. I resist this practice (making daily lists) because of the “weight” it creates. When I return to old notebooks and journals I tear up and throw out all the pages. I don’t like a lot of history hanging around and I enjoy imagining I create every day fresh.