My blog archives show that on January 23, 2011, after a few years of posting irregularly, I wrote my first post of a still-unbroken streak. This post is number 3,764. I posted twice many days, such as my during my North Korea trips.

Friends had recommended I start a blog for years. I began thinking I contained a few dozen ideas worth posting about, maybe 50, at least as far as I remember.

Instead, I learned a few lessons that I’ve applied throughout life.

First, writing, being a skill, or set of skills, improves with practice. That is, the more I wrote, the more I learned to write. Learning to write includes thinking of topics, observing life, prioritizing other things, reading, and so on.

Second, discipline on what you care about creates freedom. Writing daily, and the sidchas that followed, liberated me from wondering if I was living the life I wanted. Making the important parts automatic meant no insecurity or worry if I was stimulating myself enough physically, intellectually, or emotionally.

Third, habits eventually become as easy as brushing teeth. My unbroken twice daily brushing habit stretches a lot farther than ten years. In that context, starting my tenth year writing doesn’t seem that much.

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I’ve spent a few dollars a month to host the site—one of my top returns on investment. I’ve gotten out more than I put in on time too.

Good luck with your habits too.

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