Every New Year I take a piece of notebook paper and I draw a graph. The horizontal line represents each year since I was born. The vertical line is numbered 1-10. Ten being a Bo Derek year and One being a horrible twelve months.
The first six years of my life are a straight six. How can you remember if you had a bad day at the office when you’re four? So to make it easy and because I had a good start to life… I give 1966 through 1972 a solid six. Life can’t be bad when you have comic books and Dick Nixon.
I’ve been saving these New Year charts for the last thirty years. I have a folder in my foot locker filled of tablet paper with handwritten charts evaluating how I look back at the years of my life. The X line gets longer with every New Year Chart I draw up.
The funny thing is each year I look back at time with older eyes. The chart from 2018 might have 1977 at a five and 1993 at a seven, but the chart from 2022 might have 1977 at a six and 1993 at a six.
Each year I look back… I might see things differently and evaluate with a different perspective. 2020 might be a four for years to come, but I might look back at 2020 in 2037 and give it a six.
The year my marriage ended might be a five right now, but in 2028 I might give it a seven. The only years that won’t move much are the years I scored a George, a Fritz and a Hazel. Those years will always be eights.
I’ve never had a ten, but I’ve never had anything lower than a four.
Evaluating your life is a solid therapeutic tool. Many variables can make or break the way we look back at our time together.
I have calendars from years gone by with little numbers on the Sunday square. Yes, you guessed it.…. Numbers 1-10.
I look back at the previous week on a Sunday night and write down the grade for the week. Last week had a few kicks in the throat, but it also had some highlights. Tomorrow I’ll probably write down a five for the last week of March.
It’s good to take the time and continue to grade your life. You’ll be surprised how differently you see things the older you get.
I’ve put myself deeper into your regular routine. The Morning Chalkboard is one of the first thing you read when you get up. You’re going to write a number down on the kitchen calendar after “60 Minutes” every week now. Finally, after the Rose Bowl you are going to grab a ruler and a piece of paper and chart out your life.
I hope your chart has more bull markets and less bear markets. In a few years when you have a stack of charts you’ll get a new perspective on how you view your life.
Morning Chalkboard, Sunday Calendar and yearly chart. Three tools I’ve given to you that hopefully make you feel Mo Betta’…..
We have baseball, basketball and rugby this weekend. It’s going to be windy and chilly in Chicagoland today. Good day to put taste in the crockpot and love in the bed.
Chicago Blaze begin their spring campaign today. Play well Gents, with you.
Lastly, make sure to put ketchup on your hotdog, pray for Donald Trump and root for the Packers. Then get on your knees and pray that you don't get FOOLED again.
