Memory’s Backup

 

Everyone carries some form of wisdom, gained through life experiences—whether it's habits that have served them well, words that inspired them, or ways of thinking that helped them navigate adversity. Ideally, we would always remember and apply this wisdom whenever needed. But in reality, we often forget, and such insights rarely come to mind by chance. Because memory alone is unreliable, it’s far more effective to record these helpful habits, inspiring quotes, and useful mindsets in a notebook or similar place. By doing so, we create a personal resource that we can revisit whenever necessary, making it easier to put our hard-earned wisdom back into practice. I only came to appreciate the value of this approach after retiring and beginning to write essays about the lessons I’ve learned in life. It’s never too late to start, and I’m grateful to have realized this now.

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