The Way of Water: Writing and Retention

August 13, 2024

Life is short. Too short to forget, too short to let precious moments slip away. That’s why we must preserve them.

I could bore you with my organizational failures over the years or go on at length about the importance of documentation. Instead, I will briefly touch on each as I explore the holistic importance of writing from a more personal perspective.

In my professional life, regardless of my role – whether as a programmer, machinist, or the more recent quality control – I’ve been repeatedly and often not so gently reminded of the importance of writing. There were times when I’d write a program, confident upon the next run that I didn’t need a set-up sheet. But then, inevitably, I’d realize my mistake – too little, too late, wasting precious time. Or the all too common and even now too often, ‘Yeah, I can do that, no need to jot it down, I will get right on that…’ and without making a note, completely forget it later, leading to a moment of panic. Worst of all is now there is another ‘new’ task, this time jotted down, to complete before days end. These ‘oops’ moments over time must have finally got through my thick head somewhere and led me to appreciate the value of writing in capturing and retaining important information. My Life is one of many messages, to myself, to others.

As I navigated through the complexities of life, I have found solace and clarity in writing. Yet, when people in my professional and personal life asked me why I have been so vigorously writing and now publishing, I was initially taken aback. ‘Why not?’ I would think to myself, even indignantly. The question seemed almost absurd to me. Writing, in a short time, had become such an integral part of my life, a way to capture and retain the rushing river of experiences, that the thought of not writing felt like trying to hold water in my hands.

But as I encountered this question more frequently, I began to see it not just as a challenge, but as another invitation to introspection. It forced me to pause and reflect on the value that writing truly brings to my life.

It wasn’t just about documenting experiences or sharing insights. It was about understanding myself better, about making sense of my journey, about finding patterns in the chaos of life. Simply put solidifying self. It was about retention, yes, but it was also about revelation.

And so, I write. I write to remember, to understand, to share, to explore. I write because in the act of writing, I find myself, remember who I am. And in sharing my writing, I hope that others might find a bit of themselves too, as I do when I read.

From this introspection, I found myself drawn to a deeper exploration of writing, leading me to title this piece ‘The Way of Water’. This title is not merely a poetic flourish, but a metaphor that encapsulates my philosophy of writing. It is important to note that I found this analogy somewhere, it is not solely my own. I have seen it somewhere before in some fashion. So, though this embellishment is my own, forgive me to whomever credit is due and should you the reader know the original source of this idea, do let me know so I may give credit where it is justly deserved.

So without further ado let’s ‘dive in’ to the Way of Water: Writing and Retention.

Imagine, if you will, life’s experiences, knowledge, and feelings as your own river of water flowing into the deep Ocean of Human Experiences.

This river is rapid, ever-changing, and full of depth – much like our lives.

Talking about our experiences is like trying to hold water in our hands. It’s there, shimmering and real, but it slips through our fingers, lost before we can fully grasp it. We can see it, feel it. It does the job but it’s always slipping through our fingers, drop by drop.

This is the transient nature of spoken words – they’re heard, then they fade, much like water dripping from cupped hands. Carried but only so far.

Now, consider writing on the other hand. Writing is like finding a bucket, a jar, or any container, and filling it with water from that flowing river.

The water stays there, not leaking out except by heat or time, but it is initially captured in its entirety.

It’s a snapshot of the river at a moment in time, preserving its unique state for us to revisit and reflect upon.

Writing is a form of retention, as well as instructions for spoken words.

It allows us to capture our river before it dissipates into the Ocean of Obscurity.

We get to keep it, one container at a time. And if we have the audacity to share it…

It’s an ancient way to preserve and share all that we experience, know, and feel.

So, as I said above already I write. I write to remember, to understand, to explore. I write because in the act of writing, I find myself. And in sharing my writing, I hope that others might find a bit of themselves too.

The Ocean of Human Experience is vast and deep, endless really, and there will always be more to explore before losing it in the depths when we inevitably depart. Until then, however, we persist and pursue excellence.

How do you collect and capitalize on your experiences?

As we navigate the river of our experiences, it’s important to have tools that help us capture and retain the water.

One such tool that I’ve found incredibly insightful is ‘Homework for Life’, a concept introduced by Matthew Dicks, a renowned storyteller and author. Dicks encourages us to note down something worth remembering each day, no matter how mundane or ordinary it may seem. Over time, these notes become a rich reservoir of personal experiences and insights, a treasure trove of stories waiting to be told.

If I were to distill the essence of this article into a mathematical formula, it would look something like this:

Living + Talking + Writing = Retention = Growth.

Writing allows us to capture our experiences (Retention), and through reflection and sharing, we Grow. It seems like a simple equation, but one with profound implications.

So, act. Try out ‘Homework for Life’. Start noting down something worth remembering each day. It could be a conversation, an observation, a realization, anything. And then, if you feel comfortable, start sharing these experiences. Write about them, talk about them, let them out into the world. You might be surprised at the value they bring, not just to your life, but to others’ as well.

Remember, the river of life is often a white-water rapid, but with writing, we can capture a piece of it.

So, let’s start filling some containers, for in the act of capturing that river of life, we not only preserve our experiences but also discover the depths of our being.