I have a terrible memory. After a few years, I forget so much about my past—not just memories, but also good habits, values, and perspectives on life. I tend to change my lifestyle, often forgetting and abandoning habits that once served me well.
This blog isn’t meant to be useful in the traditional sense. It didn’t even start as a blog; it’s more of a time capsule, a place to capture a snapshot of who I am for my future self. But I’ve decided to share it, because I’d be happy if my story or thoughts could inspire someone else.
Unzipping Memories with a Madeleine
Sometimes, I come across something that acts as a memory trigger—a small object or a moment that unlocks a forgotten piece of my past. Take Facebook memories, for example, one of the most common “anchors” we all know.
I joined Facebook on December 25, 2008. I was 13, still a child. When I look back at what I wrote, the complaints about middle school or the memes I shared, I barely recognize myself. But then again, being a teenager is a strange time, and people change a lot. I did too. So, reading things I wrote 16 years ago often makes me cringe.
But it’s not just Facebook. Sometimes family stories or anecdotes from friends act like Proust’s madeleine, unzipping, bringing back moments I had completely forgotten. It’s not always unpleasant—sometimes, it’s a very positive memory—but it’s still disappointing that my brain had erased it.
I mentioned “unzipping memories,” which is the closest description of how my brain works with these forgotten moments. Something small triggers the memory, and then more details start to surface until I have a clear picture in my mind. The memories are there, somewhere, but the question is: where?
In the past, I used to share my personal thoughts on social media, but now I take a more private approach. Unfortunately, this means I don’t have much of an archive from the past 7 or 8 years. I have memories, but they could easily slip away. I’d regret that.
What Will I Write About?
The main goal of this blog is to serve as a time capsule where I can record my thoughts, perspectives, and life and work hacks that I don’t want to forget. I hope to revisit this in a few years and better understand who I was in 2024.
Since 2017, I’ve stuck to a fitness routine that I’ve never given up on. I want to document that for my future self.
Since 2022, I’ve been living as a digital nomad, and I want to write about that experience too.
Last year, I started investing. I want to track my strategies here to reflect on my successes and mistakes in the future.
When I read a book, I want to remember its lessons forever.
Why Write in English?
You might be wondering: why am I writing in English? The answer is simple: I want to improve my English writing skills.
My relationship with the language has been a mix of love and hate, which I think is pretty common among Italians. In high school, I didn’t really study English. There were so many other subjects that I didn’t put much effort into it, especially since my teacher was lenient. The curriculum was also strange: we studied English grammar in Italian (!) and focused on old English poetry, like Shakespeare or Chaucer. So, while I could read Shakespeare, I couldn’t order food at a restaurant or ask for directions!
In Italy (and Spain too), we don’t get much exposure to English media. Everything is dubbed, and our dubbing is actually very good! But this habit prevented me from properly learning English. Hearing someone speak English used to make my brain shut down—it was like hearing meaningless sounds.
I graduated high school without really knowing English. At university, I had to take two marketing exams in English, which were a real challenge. After I finished my studies, I made a decision: I had to become independent and learn English. For two reasons: to travel without limitations and to open up job opportunities abroad.
Now, I’m finally fluent, but I still need to practice. As a digital nomad, I have plenty of chances to speak English with others, but I also use Cambly for an hour a week to keep it sharp. As for writing… well, I don’t get many opportunities. But my philosophy is: if the world doesn’t offer you an opportunity, create one! And that’s how this blog, entirely in English, was born.
My goal is to come back to this post a year from now and say: “Wow, my English was so bad back then, but look how much better it is now!”
This is my first blog post. Stay tuned!
