The internet is both a terrible and wonderful place. I’d been in a funk for about a year or so. I hadn’t written much and I finished even less. It was a symptom of course. I’d found myself moving into a bad head-space. Things weren’t great for me. There was a lot of stress in my personal and professional life. I was spinning my wheels. I was getting so good at failing, that I stopped trying.

At a point I was near my lowest, I discovered No More Zero Days.

A few years ago, this guy posted on Reddit about his struggles at university and life in general. You can read the original cry for help here. Another guy replied with the most epic advice ever.Read this now. I’ll wait.

The result was a movement called No More Zero Days. It’s based on these four pillars:

1. No More Zero Days
   Promise yourself that you will do one thing every day that takes you one step closer to your goal(s)
2. Be Grateful To The Three “You”s
   Past Self: Thank your past self for the favours they did for you
   Present Self: Do your future self a favour – they deserve it!
   Future Self: Your absolute best friend, and a great person.
3. Forgive Yourself
   It’s okay to fuck up. Forgive your past self, and be a better friend for your future self.
4. Exercise and Books
   Get your heart rate up and try to read when you can. Also the easiest way to avoid a Zero Day!

Life is far from perfect and I still struggle in many areas of my life. I’m still not writing very much and I work hard to make my goals and the people in my life matter. In short, I’m okay.

I don’t have Zero Days. I write every day– even if only a few words in my journal. I do my very best to live in a place of gratitude and forgiveness. I move, read and learn.

There’s something else too. Inpart one, I said living a life of grand wordsmithery can damage one’s calm. It’s important to remember it can also be a source of strength and power. I use journalling as an instrument of reflection and self-awareness. It gives me perspective. It reminds me to be grateful and to forgive. It flexs my writing muscles every day. I weave together the story of my life and of those around me. It sharpens the saw and I hone my craft.