Annual Review of Unused Notebook
A beautiful notebook. Still blank. Still waiting for a thought worthy of it.
Annual Review of Unused Notebook
Review Period: The Year Now Ending Subject: The Moleskine Purchased in January Entries Written: Zero Condition: Perfect
Executive Summary
The notebook is in excellent condition. This is the problem.
Q1 Review (January – March)
The notebook was purchased in January with the specific intention of becoming a daily writing practice. The notebook was carried in a bag for fourteen days. The notebook was not written in.
The first page felt too significant for a Tuesday grocery list. The first page felt too significant for meeting notes. The first page deserved something that reflected the occasion of starting.
The occasion was never defined. The first page remained blank. The notebook remained in the bag.
In March, the notebook was moved to the desk for better accessibility.
Q2 Review (April – June)
The notebook occupied a position on the desk beside other objects. Daily work developed around it. It became a reference point for the desk's geography: objects to the left of the notebook, space to the right of the notebook for the water bottle.
The notebook had not been opened.
A colleague visited the workspace in May and complimented the notebook. The notebook was described as "a gift." This was technically true.
Q3 Review (July – September)
An attempt was made. A pen was found. The notebook was opened to the first page.
The first page was very white. The pen was very black. The potential first entry was too small for the page. The entry was written in a different notebook, an older one with some existing notes, where the stakes were lower.
The blank notebook was returned to its position.
Q4 Outlook
The notebook will not be written in this year. This finding carries no judgment.
Removing it from the desk would disrupt the established geography. Cleaning starts preserving the arrangement of objects around it. Removing it later will feel more disruptive than keeping it.
The notebook will be kept.
Next year's review will assess whether a second blank notebook has been acquired. This is probable.