If you were to write a book, what would the title be?

Not too long ago, I was reading over my old notes and journals. And I started thinking about the arc of my life so far. (Queue eye roll, I know. But stay with me).

For me, the title of my autobiography would be “The long process of becoming”.

It’s taken a long time to get from here to there. And I’m still going.

I believe that we are all works in progress. We are all journeying towards a deeper version of ourselves. And it isn’t something that happens overnight.

Whenever I look back and think about how I’ve changed, I find reminders that I am still the same person. Just more so.

As a lifelong documenter, I had an uncanny penchant for writing my thoughts down in a way that kicks me in the pants years later. (Many times in yellow pads, but thankfully more digital for the past two decades).

In these missives from a younger self, I recognize them as the seeds of what would come. I see a mirror of my current self in these old notes. But with more depth and conviction.

My younger self decided to kick me in the pants a few weeks ago.

That kick was 15 years in the making: a laundry list of the values that were the most important to me at the time.

As an exercise in reflection, I thought it would be a fun to revisit this list and see how well it still fits.

Just like an old sweatshirt discovered in your storage closet, somehow it still fits just right. A list that would make Ted Lasso proud.

• Here’s that list:

So why share this here?

First, to encourage you to write things down. The only way to reflect is to have something to look at.

Second, it’s to remind us that we’re always becoming ourselves, just more so.