reimagine your story.
notes from a professional over-thinker.
I’ve rewritten this intro 203 times. I’ve spiralled for hours after forgetting a name. I’ve worried for days before presenting a client’s project – even though I knew it was a killer.
Over-thinking used to cripple me, but now it’s my profession.
As a writer I curate, create, and craft ideas. Thinking deeply for long periods of time (sometimes too long) used to be an anxious reaction, now it’s a superpower.
I’ve reimagined my story, and now I get to use story to help others reimagine theirs.
– Joel M. Harrison
subscribe to ChapterOne, my weekly notes:
It Only Takes a Second
It only takes a second to transform your life. Most of us mindlessly, aimlessly run through life while our heads are obsessing over the past or worrying about the future. But if we actually take stock of what's happening right now. In front of our eyes. In our hands....
Milestones aren’t bullshit (1827 days)
I didn't think I was the type to care for milestones… Until a couple of months ago. We're sitting in a team meeting at work, talking about personal and business wins for the week. My personal win? Cara and I just passed 18 years of being together! But the part that...
The Algorithm is Like an Empty Garden, You’re The One Planting Weeds
People are complaining about how the algorithm is creating problems. How it's accelerating depression. How it's dividing people. How it's propelling negativity, and loneliness. I have some bad news. It's actually you. The algorithm isn't content. It's a reflection on...
The Difference Between Sound and Noise
A sound is simply a movement of energy in the world - just a happening. When we label something a sound, it has no other connotation. However, when we label something a noise, it's a sound that we’ve decided is undesirable. It's amazing how we do this with nearly...
It’s Time We Talk About Adapting to Climate Change
As I sit at my brothers house for the 6th day in a row, I wonder how well humanity is actually dealing with climate change. We've been evacuated from our home in West Kelowna, and the wildfires are still raging through the city. I'm not referring to the long-term...
Specialists and Generalists
I used to think I was scattered and inconsistent. That I was less worthy because I have tried many things and didn't hyper-specialize in one thing. But now I know that's bullsh*t. The world needs specialists, and it needs generalists - here's why. The problems we face...
A Clouded Heart Can’t Change The World
A clouded heart craves happiness but will never kiss the sunAnd even the noblest intentions continue casting shadowOnly through seeing with a pure heart will one find peaceWhere the light is not sought, but radiates with ease In this, one mustn’t expel effort to...
Rise With Randomness
In the randomness we writhe And yet chaos breeds a time That we cannot merely run from But can actually build our home on. When we run from disorder We forget the chance to be the sorter, To be the one who surfs with the waves Instead of the drown one, we can save....
Why I Switched from Notion to Roam Research (and now to Obsidian
I definitely didn't think I would move out of Notion, it's so powerful, simple to look at, fun to use, integrated with everything, and had so many possibilities. But more me was the definition of beating around the bush. But it's not so easy to give up the holy grail...