Time lines are an interesting way of looking at life or the history of anything. I frequently use the idea to have my students introduce themselves in class. They create a time line of their life and then present it to other students. You simply put a zero at one end of a line, the present date at the other and fill it in with the most memorable points of your life. It certainly takes more time to do when you are 80 than when you are 18, but the degree of complexity depends on how many memorable events fit in between the beginning of your life and the present date. Different people will think different events are memorable.
It is often interesting to see what we think are the most memorable events. Among the younger students, one event is often “getting their first car.” As students age, it is getting married or having their first child. As we get older, the status things seem to take over, like jobs and promotions and finally it seems to become things like travel and places visited. I sometimes do mine when my students are doing theirs and over the past few years, I have noticed that my most “memorable events” are changing. Getting my Ph.D. which once seemed very memorable no longer seems so. Publishing my first book, does not rank up their anymore either. Doing a timeline reminds me of a charm bracelet. At first, you have few things to put on the bracelet, but after collecting more and more charms, you eventually run out of space.
Time lines are an economical way to look at your life. In a way, they are like a fast scrapbook of your life. Have you ever done a time line of your life? What would your time line look like? Take a piece of paper today and do your own time line. What are the most memorable events of your life? What time line would you like presented at a special ceremony if you were the guest of honor?
Here is your chance to do one. If you would like to share, please post it in the comments section.
Aging Capriciously 
Aug 01, 2024 @ 14:07:05
What an interesting idea, John!
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Aug 01, 2024 @ 14:19:58
Thanks Jane, Road trip is going great. Almost five thousand miles and two months to go.
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Aug 01, 2024 @ 14:25:41
Holy mackerel, that’s a lot of distance covered, John! Glad to hear that it’s going well. And it has to help that there’s a renewed sense of hope politically.
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Aug 01, 2024 @ 15:53:38
Kamala has lived my spirits 1000 percent. I will do all I can when I get back in AZ to help her win. I am glad the Dems finally woke up and smelled the roses. I am guessing Mark Kelly will be her pick for VP and that will be a “Dynamic Duo” to run against the two weirdos. Hope you are having a good summer Jane and enjoying life.
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Aug 01, 2024 @ 18:09:19
I think it was Bidenwho needed to wake up, but at least he finally did. Yes, Mark Kelly would’ve a special pick for a number of reasons. Our summer is unique for us; moved into our new apartment 6 weeks ago and have just sold our house. All of the activity involved has kept us busy! It’s all good!!
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Aug 02, 2024 @ 03:34:17
J:ane, House down sizing. We sold our WIS house about a year ago. Seems as though when we get older we go through more and more domicile transitions. Hope it works out well for you. I know it is a lot of work. John
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Aug 02, 2024 @ 06:58:16
We’ve just moved a mile or so across town, still along the river. It’s perfect! 😊
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Aug 01, 2024 @ 17:52:08
My life flashed before me as I read your blog. 😊 I was left to ponder how many more memorable moments I have left in life, but appreciative of the many I have experienced.
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Aug 02, 2024 @ 03:35:08
Thanks Jeanine. Hope you have room for many more adventures on your time line. John
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Aug 02, 2024 @ 06:56:06
Same thing my therapist suggested yesterday with an emphasis on life lessons learned. This will be interesting.
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Aug 03, 2024 @ 09:48:58
Good luck and have fun with it. Hope you and Robert are doing well. John
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