The process of maintaining a "second brain" can become burdensome, transforming from a tool for clarity into a mausoleum of outdated thoughts and frameworks. Erasing past notes allows for a fresh start, freeing oneself from static categories that hinder curiosity. Reflecting on sobriety reveals that past systems and notes may not provide solutions for future growth. Insights gained through experience hold more value than recorded thoughts, suggesting that letting go of clutter aids in moving forward personally and intellectually.
I deleted every Apple Note I'd synced since 2015. Every quote I'd ever highlighted. Every to-do list from every productivity system I'd ever borrowed, broken, or bastardized.
Instead of accelerating my thinking, it began to replace it. Instead of aiding memory, it froze my curiosity into static categories.
I felt a tightening in my chest. Not sadness, not nostalgia - a kind of existential lag. I could see how each iteration of my self was trying so earnestly to build a roadmap to something better.
What got me sober, what got me through the first one, two, three hard years - none of it was in those notes.
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