What the heck did I do last month? What did I do last week? What did I do today? Do you ever ask yourself those questions?
The last three years, I’ve written in a diary nearly every day. It takes me about 10 to 30 minutes to recount the day’s main events and then ramble about my reflections and feelings. I also try to take a selfie photo each day to go along with the diary entries that I type into my iPhone or computer.
I write because I want to make sure the memory of each specific day is not lost. Life keeps feeling like it’s going faster and faster, and sometimes I have trouble recounting what I did just hours earlier, let alone years ago.
I think I’m hung up on a fear that I am squandering my one precious life on this earth. It’s important to me to know that each day mattered. What would “mattering” entail? To me, a day that mattered would mean I created something, learned something, tried something new, or helped someone. Spending time with loved ones also makes my days count.
While writing this blog, I looked up what I did on June 9, 2018,—three years ago today. I was on my bachelor party weekend in New Buffalo, Michigan, a special day that I hadn’t thought about for a long time. I also read that on June 9, 2020, I almost sold a Tschudin grinder, did a great podcast interview, made dinner with my wife Stephanie, and watched a Chicago Bulls documentary.
In 2021, I also started writing down at least one new thing I learned each day. Yesterday, I learned from a colleague that a thread whirling live tool attachment for a Citizen machine could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000. I also learned from a business partner that putting sugar in bread dough slows down yeast activity, because “yeast likes to eat sugar.”
I think my paranoia about squandering my time on earth may represent a longing for greater purpose. Maybe if I was fighting for a human rights cause, maybe if I was raising children, perhaps then I would worry less about my days being lived to their potential. If I felt like I was doing more things that left a tangible mark on the world, maybe I wouldn’t feel like I needed to document every day.
Do a lot of people ponder this stuff all the time? Would most people find my daily ritual unnecessary?
I have to stop writing now. It’s 12:30 PM, and I haven’t even documented June 8, 2021, yet.
Question: What makes a specific day significant for you?
8 Comments
Noah, keep in mind that every day I connect with you is fuller because of it. I am certainly one of your biggest fans.
Thanks. Loved ones are one of the most important things to make days matter. I suppose the most important. 🙂
Amazing to think that so many blog posting you have made and I have read in that time!
I am most interested what you use for your diary software that allows you to work on both a PC and Iphone with attached pictures.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much Bam! Hearing that makes me feel like I am making a difference. I’ll put that in my diary this evening.
The software is just the standard Notes that come with the iPhone. I have a mac computer so it syncs. It’s not great, but it’s pretty simple.
Not sure if you have Windows PC you can do that. I’m sure a program like Evernote could do it.
Keep reading my friend!
“The unexamined life is not worth living” . . . Socrates
Your daily documentation is a good way towards addressing that sentiment.
Indeed, if one is not regularly asking “what the bloody heck am I doing with my life?” they might not be pushing themselves hard enough.
A YouTube channel recently posted the following –
1) Know what you want
2) go after what you want
3) Want the results you are getting. If not, examine 1) closely and revise.
You and Noah have added much value to your readers – thank you for your efforts.
Michael
Thanks so much for the tip and the compliment. They make my day.
Some times growing up we do not know our purpose in life it will come to all of us After being a supervisor / set up man / teacher on B&S screw machines / Davenports / Acmes / I will be leaving my job after 35 years with company I hope that the men i leave behind have learned enough from me to keep the company going with that i have done my job in my life My new life will begin with no time clock a husband to my wife and love my family and a happy grandpa to all my grandkids Noah you will be find life has a way of leading you
Thanks for commenting Jimmy. It sounds like you are confident that you have made a mark on the world. Best of luck in the next stage of your life’s journey.