5 Things to Write Down
September 26, 2025
To Inspire:
Well, here we are. October begins next week, and the fourth quarter of the year always goes so quickly. I just received my first “it’s X number of days til Christmas!” email from a major retailer – it’s 90 days, by the way. Before we know it we’ll be making plans for New Year’s Eve and writing new resolutions.
In an effort to slow things down a tiny bit, think about sitting down and writing a little – or a lot – of your story. It’s always interesting to go back and read things you’ve written, remembering things and seeing how you’ve changed and grown over time. To get you started, here are five things you should sit down and write down before the end of this year.
What would your younger self like about present-day you? Most of us can rattle off a list of disappointments, but what about you and your life right now is better or bigger or brighter than you could’ve imagined? Where have your traveled? What have you accomplished? How amazing is your family or cat or friend group? Write down the things in your life that years ago you would absolutely love.
The 2025 Watched It/Read It list. What are you reading right now, or what incredible book did you read this year? What is your favorite 2025 movie? There’s so much great TV available now – what series have you watched that you’ve recommended to all your friends? Writing down these things year after year will show, over time, how your tastes and moods change.
The most unexpected compliment you got this year. Maybe a child or grandchild said your dessert is the best thing they’ve ever tasted. Or a friend offhandedly told you they wish they had your fashion sense. Maybe a complete stranger complimented your parallel parking. Save up all those kind words for when you need a kind word and the world is not complying.
That one quote. What’s your favorite saying? Something that can always inspire you when you run across it. Or maybe you have it on your refrigerator or your wall. The one that makes your worst day seem better. Write it down and see if you’re as inspired by it next year!
The best surprise of the year. This could be anything – a surprise birthday party, your team won a big game, a friend surprised you with a visit. Big or small, what surprise helped shake up your year? These are things that we can forget so easily, so writing them down and continuing to appreciate that joy is so important.
One more thing to consider thinking about and writing down – your bucket list. Whether or not you have an official “bucket list,” there are certainly things in your mind that you want to do someday. Are they all still things you really want to do? When I was young, skydiving seemed like an amazing thing to try. Today I have accepted that I prefer to stay safely in the airplane and can cross skydiving off my mental list. It’s okay to have new things to inspire you and release with peace the things that no longer fit.
This does not have to be a big exercise, just jot down a few things to commemorate the year. Imagine the reflection and fun next year – or in 10 years – of looking back at where you were and what you were doing in 2025. We need to take time to celebrate our great lives and this is one little way to do that!
Written by Michelle O’Brien, Manager of Marketing & Communications