Roughly two decades ago I came across the concept of "YayMe.txt".

This fella described how he keeps a file on his computer, and everyday when something nice happens he'll open up that text file and write down the date with whatever the nice thing was.

It might be that he rode his bike to work that day instead of driving the car. Or a client who sent a nice email to show their appreciation. He just keeps adding to the YayMe.txt file, so that over time it becomes a compendium of good things that have happened in his life. Mostly, things that reflect on himself.

Because we have no trouble reminding ourselves that we are too old, or too fat, or too bald, or too slow, or lack skills, or lack confidence, or whatever. We do this all day every day without even trying. YayMe.txt is a way to try and remember that there are good things in your world, and that for the most part you are one of those good things.

Two decades later I have a file in my notepad titled "YayMe.txt", where I drop screenshots of those emails and posts and whatever else that marks today as a good day. I start a new one each year, because the note file gets very full.

#YayMeDotText
@ewen This is so wonderful and it's incredible that you have kept it going so long. I suggest a similar thing to early career folks at work so they have meaningful things to include in their self-evaluations (while rarely remembering myself). I should adopt this for myself. Thanks for always sharing great perspective and your overall positive (and authentic) vibe.
@shom
I used to keep what I called a "To Do List".
It was a Wordperfect document, an outline.
Top level was project. Next level was current task. Next level down was completed tasks, with levels below each for notes, research, "how I did this", etc.
WP had the ability to collapse outline levels selectively (unlike Word 😝), so it could be printed to fit in a pocket planner.
It was really a To Do archive holding everything, including the good things. 😀
@ewen

I have that terrible habit of removing things from the ToDo list instead of ticking them off. They leave my consciousness, and so does the reminder that I completed a task!

But my brain needs to declutter to survive.

@ewen I do a weekly page for work (OneNote since it's shared) and use the TODO check boxes and only bring forward things that didn't get done. If I notice I'm bringing the same thing forward week after week, then I just leave it behind one Monday. It's still there if I need it but it's clearly not important and now it's not cluttering my brain. My poor brain doesn't need more challenges!
@dancingtreefrog