> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.amandamashburn.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Life Event Types > A reference guide to what belongs in your life log and details to capture. This page is a companion piece to the [Life Log Collection](/pages/collection-life-log). # 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. ## 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 ## 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. ## 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) ## 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 ## 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 ## 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 ## 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. ## 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) ## 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 ## 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 ## 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 ## 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 ## 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 ## 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 ## 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 ## 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 ## 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 ## 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. *** Last update: 2026.04.17 ***