Something happened yesterday.
I only realized this morning, as I was thinking about what to write for today’s post...
“Oh crap. I forgot to write yesterday’s journal entry.”
Since March 2, 2025, I’ve been journaling my daily reflections on a 3x5 index card every evening. For over four and a half months, I showed up—every night—sat at my desk, and wrote ~80 words to capture the day.
For over four and a half months, I never missed a day... Until last night.
Meaning
So what now? My streak is broken. What does it say about my routine? My discipline? My self-worth?
Honestly?
Nothing.
It’s just a day. It’s fine.
I wrote the entry this morning instead. It was a little harder—trying to remember the details of the day before—but I got it done.
String
I get it. Routines are powerful. Streaks are motivating. And when you break them, even by accident, it can feel quietly devastating.
But you know what? Life happens.
We miss. Things slip. The only thing that matters is what we choose to do next.
Reflect (Don’t punish)
These days, when I miss, I don’t beat myself up. (At least, not anymore. I’ve done that enough.)
Instead, I use it as a check-in.
“Why did I miss?” “Am I overwhelmed?” “Is this still helpful?” “Have I gotten what I needed from it?”
These questions help me get honest about what I’m doing—and why I’m doing it.
Sometimes the routine is still useful. So I keep going. Sometimes it’s not. So I let it go.
That’s how a lot of my routines have evolved over the years. Some fall off. Some get stronger. Some change shape.
It’s all part of it.
Shift
Next week, I’m heading into vacation—time away from my desk, my index cards, my pens and stamps, my little command center where I do all the things.
And I can’t help but think about what happened a couple years ago. Back then, I had a daily learning and note-taking routine. I was traveling and thought, “I’ll just restart when I get home.”
The truth is: I never picked that routine back up again. Not the next week. Not the next month. Not in years. That notebook? Still unfinished. Sitting in my closet.
But here’s the thing: Did my note-taking fall off a cliff? Did my learning stop? Did my whole system collapse?
No. No. And no.
It evolved.
Whatever stuck, got stronger. Whatever faded, made room for what was next.
Keep moving
So, will I keep writing daily blog posts and reflections next week? Hopefully. We’ll see.
But if I miss? That’s okay too. Because when I miss, I pause. I reflect. And I figure out where I want to go from there.
The day you don’t show up? That’s still part of the story.
That’s not a failure. That’s just… adjusting course.