Life doesn’t have a soundtrack swelling at the big moments. You have to notice them yourself.

Films tell you when something matters; real life gives no signal at all. The important afternoon arrives looking exactly like the unimportant ones, which is why people recognize turning points years afterwards and not while standing in them. The noticing is a job you have to do yourself.

Try one deliberate pause a day, where you name what is happening while it is happening. Last home game, final week of this job, dinner with everyone still in the house. It takes five seconds and nothing else will mark them for you.