Journaling and taking notes serves several purposes

Journaling and Taking Notes Serves Several Purposes

• Let this note initiate an arc about engaging in invisible work; this topic continues to surface in my discourse.
  • I mention it in discussions within the community. During the previous challenge, it was one of the central themes. The second challenge will focus entirely on revealing one’s work.
  • But now, I wish to begin with the Ancients: specifically, Aurelius and Seneca, who consistently practiced self-observation through morning and evening meditations.
  • The primary distinction between them was that Aurelius wrote solely for himself, to satisfy his inner reader, pacify his inner critic, and perhaps to contemplate his actions more deeply. Seneca, on the other hand, wrote for similar reasons but with the awareness that someone, someday, might read his work.
    • Thus, he maintained more structured notes—or so I believe.
• Anyone, from a programmer to a teacher, should keep track of their actions. I don’t even need to mention scientists, whose primary activity often involves observation and documentation of phenomena they engage with.
• Journaling and taking extensive notes three primary purposes, at least according to Groeneveld in Creative Programmer:
  1. Self-examination. I wholeheartedly agree with this; it’s the origin of my habit of reflective note-taking.
  2. Gaining and connecting knowledge. The practice of note-taking helps formalize one’s insights. Whether they intend it or not, note-takers deepen their understanding of their work and make meaningful connections across their activities and accumulated knowledge.
  3. Retaining knowledge. Written ideas outlast their time. Seneca aimed his writing at future generations, rather than merely his contemporaries.
• Seneca’s goal was to influence others through his writings; he wanted his ideas to be preserved, refined, and shared.
• The big question is: why?
  • Why would anyone aspire to write for some form of publication?
  • This is one of the first questions that novice note-takers grapple with. The answer lies in a simple proclamation that I’ll explore later:

Quote

Stop being a lurker; become a creator

Stop Being a Lurker; Become a Creator

• Consistent note-taking has its own benefits, such as helping to build a repository of ideas and keeping things fresh and innovative. Now, I have another “egg to throw into the basket.”
  • This repository of ideas and consistent effort help bridge the gap between being a lurker—someone who only consumes without contributing—and a creator, who actively adds something to an ever-expanding body of personal knowledge. This knowledge is contextualized and refined for specific purposes; it can be shared with others and adapted for various uses.
    • There are several ways to share personal knowledge: a YouTube channel, social platforms, podcasts, etc.
    • But my preferred medium is a personal blog on a static site generator.
  • If you’ve done any kind of work, there’s no shame in sharing it, regardless of quality. The only work to avoid is silent work—the kind that nobody knows about.
• At this point, many people start lamenting that they are not writers, researchers, or scientists. They think they’re just coders, teachers, doctors, etc. To this, I must object.
  • No matter who you are, you can make your work visible: code, books, lesson plans—all are written in letters. If you wrote them, someone else can read them.
  • I, for one, actively participate in various online communities and discussions. Members of these communities sometimes share insights of such value that it would be a crime to scroll past without a second thought.
  • For them, their ideas seem self-evident, but only to them. The vast majority still have a long journey ahead to reach the same level of understanding.
  • ==How is it possible for one person to possess such knowledge while others do not?==
• The answer, as with many complex matters, is simple: they are fluent in their knowledge; it is internalized.
  • Internalized ideas are those that a note-taker has engaged with extensively and possesses deep familiarity with. Not all of these ideas are necessarily good, but some form the foundation of the note-taker’s belief system, guiding their thinking, reflection, and contemplation.
• Code, books, and general wisdom are all articulated in letters, words, and sentences, each of which will eventually be read or heard by others.
  • Taking notes is an excellent way to organize one’s thoughts and ideas, introduce rigor, and create opportunities for refinement with the help of external readers and listeners.

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ID: 202410271210 Source:: Friend:: Child:: Next:: The path from the lurker to the creator lies through the valley of action, Being a creator not a lurker brings unreachable joy to anyone who is used to thinking with his head

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