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This is the first sunrise of the New Millennium.
Take Note!
Everyone knows that when you get old you get
forgetful. In my case the situation will be even worse because I've always
been absent minded. And to make matters worse I have a bad habit of tuning
out most of what is going on around me. To address this problem I have
developed a process that might work for others who have similar problems
and inclinations.
Simply get a notebook, get several notebooks. Make them small notebooks
that you can stick in your pocket. Now you only have one thing to remember
write things in your notebook. You also have to remember where the notebook
is, but that problem can be solved by tethering the notebook to your body,
like idiot mittens. Alternately if you wear the notebook around you neck,
people can write you messages when your not paying attention to them. Some
of these might be angery but it will be an outlet for them and make it much
less likely that you will be physically abused.
When a thought, task, date occurs to you write it down in your notebook.
This is especially true of retirement planning. As you figure out your
retirement budget write it down for future reference. As you learn what you
health insurance is going to cost write it down. As you make plan
retirement activities write them down. As you think of item that you want
to buy write them down. As you think of places that you want to visit write
them down. As your wife gives you endless lists of things to do, pretend to
write them down.
Which reminds me, give similar notebooks to your spouse, family and
friends. Ask them to write down any ideas they might have about what you
can do in retirement or ideas of possible concerns or issues for you to
worry about in retirement. I did this and I found that there were several
good ideas that I followed up on. Just recently I looked back at the old
notebooks and discovered that the items that I had recorded in my notebook
formed the primary structure for my retirement.
I
also believe that the act of writing helps to clarify my thinking. When you
convert thoughts to words written on a page it serves as a filtering and
clarification process. Your logic get scrutinized. Your facts might get
googled. Your daydreams might get shattered in favor of reality.
I have always worried that
some of my best ideas were lost and forgotten because I didn't write them
down. Don't let this happen to you!
Oh yes, I nearly forgot to
mention that on the inside of the front and back covers of the notebook
write down your name, address and phone number just in case you forget.
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