You don't always have to try something new
Rediscovering dusty memory boxes and old notebooks
I discovered an old notebook last week.
I found it in my blue memory box. The box was covered in a thick layer of dust, and I had to resist the strong urge to blow that dust off like they do in the movies.
Sitting on the floor with my notebook, I opened a random page and found lots of scribbly handwriting in blue ink. I had used the notebook for practicing Object Writing.
Every morning, I would set a timer to 10 minutes and choose a random object to describe in as much detail as possible through my senses:
Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, body, and motion.
(The body sense is like the feeling of your stomach rumbling of hunger, and the motion sense is like dancing through a room trying to avoid bumping into others.)
If you write only through your senses – if you “show don’t tell” – your readers make your writing about themselves.
You describe old trees swaying in the wind and filling the forest like a cathedral with their fruity smell, with the same wind tickling your face and stroking your hair, and tiny birds chirping merrily above your head.
When you describe it like this, it’s very hard not to be there.
I’ve written my last entry in October 2021, almost one and a half year ago. After that, I had stopped.
Sitting on the floor with my notebook, I found this to be exceptionally sad. I remember being overwhelmingly happy during the writing sessions, and some of the writing I found was just delightful.
I’m now doing the exercise again. This type of writing gives me so much pleasure that it’s one of the highlights of my day. And I get to do it first thing in the morning!
Sometimes it’s not about trying something new.
It could likewise be about rediscovering something precious from the past.
✏️ Retro
(Like always, you can download the Notion template to take structured notes.)
What goals did you set for yourself last month, and how well did you achieve them?
Make a list of your goals (even if they were only implicit) and score them from 1 (low) to 10 (high). You are not allowed to pick a 7. Take notes as you go.
Is there something that is blocking you?
What held you back last month? What can you do to avoid this next month?
What did you learn?
Did you learn something about yourself, your environment, or about the work you do?
🔭 Planning
What are your top 3 priorities next month?
Why are they important to you?
What goals do you set for yourself in light of these priorities?
To beat procrastination, make sure to split every higher-level goal into small subgoals.
What are potential obstacles or challenges you may face?
How can you prepare for them?
🌈 Bonus
What hobby, habit, or activity could you take up again?
What brought you lots of joy when you were younger? What have you lost sight of? What part of you is currently stowed away?
🙏 Thanks!
Thank you for being part of Mental Garden.
I encourage you to take out your dusty memory boxes, your old notebooks, paintbrushes, guitars, or pencils – and continue where you left off.
With gratitude,
Marc
PS: I learned about Object Writing in a book about songwriting called “Writing Better Lyrics”. Use the website objectwriting.com for getting a fresh prompt.