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Life event types

This page is a reference guide for the kinds of entries that belong in your life log. It is not an exhaustive list – think of it as a starting point and a prompt. Over time you will develop a feel for what warrants an entry. When in doubt, log it. A few things to keep in mind as you read through these: Link, don’t duplicate. If information lives in another database – books, projects, people, places – link to the relevant page rather than restating everything. The life log entry can be a moment in time that points elsewhere. Write for future you and future generations. Include details you think you’ll remember. You won’t. Write for AI. Detailed, well-written entries become rich context for AI-assisted reviews, pattern recognition, and summaries down the road.

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Milestones & celebrations

The moments that mark time. What belongs here: Birthdays, baptisms, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, retirements, births, deaths, milestone achievements, championships, reunions, holidays, etc. What to note:

• Who was there
• Where it took place
• Details of the occasion – food, atmosphere, traditions, music
• A few favorite photos; scan invitations, announcements, programs if you have them

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Journal entries

Long-form reflection has well-documented benefits – it helps you think, process, and decide. The life log is a natural home for ad hoc journal entries: working through a decision, capturing a moment of clarity, remembering a perfect day. What to note:

• Write freely without concern for grammar or mechanics – this is for you
• For especially long entries, use AI to generate a short summary at the top for easier reference later on
• If you prefer to write by hand, scan or transcribe the entry so it’s searchable

A note on daily journaling: If you journal every single day, keep a dedicated database for it rather than mixing it into the life log. The life log works best as a highlight reel, not a daily diary. Reserve it for the entries that rise above the day-to-day.

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Decisions

The crossroads moments – choosing a college, leaving a job, beginning a relationship, committing to a major project. These deserve their own entry because the decision itself is an event, and the reasoning behind it is worth preserving. Looking back at past decisions – the logic, the fears, the hopes – reveals a lot about who you were and how you’ve changed. What to note:

• What the decision was and what you were weighing
• How you arrived at it – what tipped the scales
• What you hoped it would lead to
• How it actually turned out (add this later as a follow-up note)

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Health & medical

A running medical history in one place is more useful than it sounds – especially when symptoms seem unrelated until you see them together over time. Patterns become visible here that might be invisible otherwise. If you are managing a chronic condition, thorough logging here is especially valuable. What to note:

• Doctor’s appointments: who you saw, what was discussed, next steps
• Diagnoses and treatments
• Medications: what, dosage, duration
• Illnesses – including ordinary ones like colds and flu
• Lab results and imaging (attach or link)
• Surgeries and procedures

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Work & career

Your professional arc, captured in real time. What to note:

• Job changes: start dates, end dates, role, company
• Promotions, raises, performance reviews
• Major projects completed – what went well, what you’d do differently
• Professional decisions and pivots
• Certifications, courses, and skills acquired

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Education & learning

Degrees completed, formal programs, periods of intensive self-directed learning – the chapters of your education. What to note:

• Program or pursuit, institution or context, dates
• What you were after and what you got out of it
• Link to related Knowledge Bank entries if they exist

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Major purchases

Set a threshold that makes sense for you – for example, anything over $500. What to note:

• What you bought, why, and how much you paid
• Warranty information and receipt (scan or attach)
• Manual or product documentation (download the PDF if available)
• Whether it was worth it – add a note a year later

One situation where this record becomes unexpectedly critical: theft, fire, or natural disaster. When you need to file an insurance claim, you are suddenly asked to recall every significant item you own – what it was, what you paid, when you bought it – from memory, under stress, at the worst possible time. A well-maintained purchases log turns that process from a nightmare into a straightforward document you can hand over.

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Home & auto maintenance

Every repair, every service appointment, every contractor who came through. What to note:

• Date of service
• What was done
• Who did the work and their contact information
• Cost
• Receipt and warranty (attach)

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Financial milestones

Not day-to-day budgeting, but the meaningful markers on your financial journey. What to note:

• Paying off a debt
• Reaching a savings or investment target
• Getting a raise or changing your income significantly
• Major financial decisions

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Travel

Trips worth remembering, from weekend getaways to major international travel. What to note:

• Where you went and when
• Who you were with
• Highlights – places, food, moments, people you met
• What surprised you
• A few favorite photos

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Social events

The texture of your social life – the dinners, the nights out, the gatherings that don’t fit neatly into milestones but were worth showing up for. What to note:

• Who was there
• What the occasion was
• The little details – a conversation, a moment, something that made it memorable

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Moves & addresses

Every address you’ve lived at, with dates in and out. This is one of those things that feels unnecessary until you suddenly need it – a background check, a credit application, a legal matter. Having it already logged saves a surprising amount of time. What to note:

• Full address
• Move-in and move-out dates
• Any notes about the place or the circumstances of the move

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World & historical events

The moments when you know history is being made. This will add interesting context down the line about what was going on in the world alongside your day-to-day. What to note:

• What happened
• Where you were and how you experienced it
• What it felt like in real time – before you knew how it turned out

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Natural world & sky

Eclipses, meteor showers, significant weather, unusual natural events. What to note:

• What the event was and when
• Where you observed it from
• What it was like to witness it

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Growth milestones – for children

For parents and caretakers logging on behalf of a child. What to note:

• Developmental firsts: words, steps, reading, riding a bike
• School milestones: teachers, grades, activities, friends
• Personality and interests as they emerge
• Photos and artwork

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Major project retrospectives

After a significant project wraps – building a home, launching a business, completing a renovation, planting a seasonal garden – take stock while it’s fresh. What to note:

• What the project was and when it happened
• What went well
• What you’d do differently
• What surprised you
• Key contacts, vendors, or resources worth saving

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Pets

For many people, pets are as much a part of the family as anyone else. Their lives deserve a thread in your log. What to note:

• Adoption or birth date, breed, name
• Vet visits, health issues, medications
• Funny or memorable moments
• Death and the circumstances around it

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Relationships & people

The relational arc of a life – who came into it, who left, who stayed, who changed you. What to note:

• When and how you met someone significant
• Moments that deepened or changed a relationship
• For people you don’t see regularly – note when you get together.

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Last update: 2026.04.17

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