{"id":30978,"date":"2023-09-05T14:58:49","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T19:58:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dayoneapp.com\/?p=30978"},"modified":"2024-09-30T14:33:34","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T19:33:34","slug":"streak-story-aaron-thomason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dayoneapp.com\/blog\/streak-story-aaron-thomason\/","title":{"rendered":"2,000 Days with Aaron Thomason"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For the past 2,000 days\u2014a staggering span of over five years\u2014Aaron Thomason has not missed a single day of journaling. This journey has not just been about maintaining a streak; it’s an exercise in self-accountability, an archive of personal evolution, and a vault of day-to-day trivia and philosophical musings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether he’s dictating into his phone during a morning jog or hastily typing out thoughts on his iPad before bed, Aaron has built a habit that is as flexible as it is steadfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long have you been keeping a journal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I started journaling in the early 90\u2019s and have been consistent with it for the past fifteen years or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes journaling important to you? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Journaling is a great way for me to keep from being bottled up, and it\u2019s an even better way to try to be honest with myself and to hold myself to account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you usually journal about?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I write about whatever\u2019s on my mind\u2014whether it\u2019s reflecting on the mundane or the grappling with philosophical questions. Some days I ruminate, some days I vent, some days I rant. Some days it\u2019s asking as many questions as I can. I shoot for anywhere from 800-1,500 words, and I take a picture almost every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When do you journal each day?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I really don\u2019t have a set time. Sometimes I will write first thing in the morning and sometimes I write after lunch. I might do a voice memo on my phone while walking, running or bike riding, or I might do dictation in the parking lot before work. A lot of times it\u2019s writing on the iPad right before bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What tips or advice would you give others who want to build a journaling habit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just put *something* down\u2014it doesn\u2019t matter what it is. Don\u2019t judge it and don\u2019t try to edit it, just type or talk and watch the streaks grow. And create different journals! I keep a journal for my running, one for my music practice, one for novel writing ideas, one that I keep great quotes in, and I also keep a Sun Journal that keeps track of whether the sun comes out or not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have you learned from keeping a journal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve learned that I love writing, but more than that just putting my thoughts down. Some days I\u2019m extremely lucid and some days I make no sense at all and it\u2019s all good. I\u2019ve also learned that my memory can play tricks on me and having a record of what happened and what was on my mind at the time can be really mind-blowing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your favorite thing about the Day One app?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I love everything about Day One, but I think the convenience and ease-of-use are my favorites. It\u2019s extremely easy to get an entry going and the interface is simple and beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How has Day One helped you journal consistently? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just knowing that my streak will end if I don\u2019t create an entry, lol!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living the Examined Life Through Journaling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Aaron’s unwavering dedication to journaling serves as both a therapeutic outlet and an analytical tool, and why he believes, in the words of Socrates, that “An unexamined life is not worth living.” From the convenience of the Day One app to the lessons learned about the fallibility of memory, Aaron’s narrative unfolds as an inspiring testament to the impact of one small, daily act of introspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n