Working on a story recently, I had to remember the year I had taken a particular overseas trip. Since I couldn’t recall the exact year easily, I decided to type up a few notes.
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The end result, by the time I had finished, was a personal timeline overview of my life so far.
All I did was make up a simple three-column table. In the first column, I typed in each year since I was born. The second column was for my age that year, and the last wider column was a bullet point list of significant events that happened during the year.
The bullet point list included which company I was working for at the time, where I was living, who I was living with, who I was dating or involved with, what overseas trips I had taken, significant births and deaths, family and personal milestones, etc. Anything important to my life at the time.
Trying to remember a random date turned into an interesting and thought-provoking exercise. When you look at the highlights (and low points) of your life spread out over a couple of A4 pages, it can be quite a revelation.
So how did I feel looking over my completed list of life events? Well, that turned out to be the point of the whole exercise.
It brought up a lot of different feelings and emotions.
I smiled and laughed out loud as I read some items, and felt great sadness at others. I realized with equal parts awe and fear just how quickly one year can pass by and how precious each year is.
Related post – What To Do When It Feels Like Time is Flying By
It came as a surprise to realize that some events that felt like they happened a ‘couple of years’ ago were more like ten years. I felt moments of total joy and feelings of accomplishment and pride. There were also pangs of disappointment and yes, the odd feeling of regret along the way.
Related post – The Myth of a Life with No Regrets
There were plenty of what the hell was I thinking moments. More than I would care to admit, in fact.
I now view them as symbols of how much I have learnt and grown, and not just stupid mistakes. Some of those ‘mistakes’ also led to the most significant and joyful parts of my life.
Giving your memory a good workout is another positive aspect of this exercise. For me, there were a lot of I had forgotten about that fabulous moments.
My list is private and personal. Though I am talking about the list here, I certainly won’t be showing it to anyone. It is something just for me.
Just to be clear, this is not a time for wallowing and getting bogged down in the past; quite the opposite, actually.
It is a stepping stone to the future.
For me personally, it was about the amazing experiences, both good and bad, I have had along the way and understanding how they all contribute to helping me achieve my goals and dreams today and tomorrow.
I hope you try this exercise and do up your own personal timeline.
If you are looking for a book on how to use your time more effectively, grab a copy of Time Magic: Reclaim Your Time, Reclaim Your Life by Melissa Ambrosini and Nick Broadhurst.
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