*TLDR – Too Long Didn’t Read Summary*

I got a calendar that helps me map out my bad days during the year. I have a methodology as to how these days are calculated and I believe people can employ their own ways of divining their numerical rhythm to get a list like mine.

*The Actual Post*

For as long as I could remember, I always wanted a simple, large wall mounted calendar. It wasn’t for the purposes of micromanaging the year but more like being able to articulate macro trends in my life I want to push along or offset.

Last year, a friend of mine introduced me to a life coach/guru that sold a style of calendar she felt I would like. I looked into it and promptly ordered a copy:


picture by: moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

The calendar has worked out very well for me this year. Here it is, photographed sometime in late September with a 28X40 frame & print for scale (I’ve been struggling with a way to hang this beautiful Athena print and Camilla from https://camillawellspaynter.wordpress.com gave me a suggestion on a non-drywall invasive way to do it. Thanks Camilla!). *Also, this is photographed with a rented Nikkor 135 f/2 DC – absolutely stunning detail capture!*

The calendar’s main purpose is to map out the likelihood of negative days occurring for me within the 365 days of the year given my attitudes towards risk and overall schedule. I have my own “proprietary” (I use this term loosely lol) way of forecasting where these bad days will occur so I just needed a calendar to be able to see it.

I have this complicated relationship with probability and overall skill. It’s tough to explain and I’m not really sure I could articulate it without writing a massive word-meatloaf post.


I made a mistake when I first set up the calendar which will make this whole section sound a bit convoluted – but it’ll help you if you decide to purchase this calendar (I’m not affiliated with this company nor do I get any commission). So, as soon as I got the numerical “bad day” list, I started my corresponding calendar day count. However, I made a mistake in counting those blank boxes – now filled in – as actual days when the reason they had no numbers on them was because that’s where the month ended numerically on the horizontal row. I was already up to November when I realized why the count seemed strange and out of whack.

Anyway, those orange post-its (an optional add-on purchase) were miscounted values and as such, I covered them with the stickers. My other friend made the suggestion to take off the permanent marker underneath the sticker with rubbing alcohol but as I was about to do it, I felt like my friend’s advice may have been a sign and that I should keep these stickers on to define those days as instances where I should press my luck – I feel like my friend is very wise and lucky so I follow his observations closely.

You’ll see that aside from the check marks on the days, there’s a written message in the middle of the box:

photo by: moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

“DNE Life” isn’t my stage name as a local hip-hop artist ๐Ÿ˜‚, it stands for Do Not Engage Life. On the days where that’s marked, it reminds me to be especially risk averse. It doesn’t mean I’m going to be curled up in a corner at home, although sometimes I may just do that lol, it just means that I need to be profoundly aware of my surroundings and not to expose myself to unnecessary difficulties. I’m somewhere between superstitious and systematized.

I’ve worked out a percentage, with variance, of how many bad days I’ll have out of the 365 days of the year and I have my computer program spit out numbers between and including 1 and 365. The irony of this methodology is that it is more than likely baseless – but I believe that the only force strong enough to countervail life’s natural entropy is an equal pushing force of quasi-entropy divined from a personal numerical rhythm. I believe everyone has their own unique numbers that they themselves can divine from clues around their lives. *cue twilight zone music* ๐Ÿ˜‚

Soooooooo

My calendar for 2025 has arrived. And sometime this weekend before 2025 commences, I’m going to obtain a numerical list between and including the numbers 1 and 365 to give me the days that I should be very careful of.

Here’s the new blank calendar, different color this year, and with half of my fishing pole for scale:

photo by: moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

There was just enough snow that fell in New Jersey a few days ago that we could get the ol’ plastic toboggan out for one afternoon ๐Ÿ™‚

photo by: moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

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34 responses to “Calendar Man (There Really Was A Batman Villain With That Name!)”

  1. Laura Avatar

    Nice! That snow looks like fun! โ„๏ธ haha and omg I just bought a calendar yesterday! โ€œDo not engageโ€ life isโ€ฆ.super appropriate at times ๐Ÿ˜†

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      ๐Ÿ˜‚ i guess our weekend will involve some calendar customization! hope you’re enjoying your days off. no vacation or going somewhere?

      1. Laura Avatar

        Haha! Indeed it would! I wish I was going on a vacay, I need to plan one soon. Itโ€™s been over a year! Blah. ๐Ÿ˜’ but I definitely am enjoying what I can, thank you! ๐Ÿ˜Š

  2. Laura Avatar

    And yes, have heard of Calendar Man. Had to look that one up a while back to verify ๐Ÿ˜†

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      he was an interesting villain too – with pretty cool costumes lol

  3. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    I read that as โ€œthe big ass owl-andarโ€โ€ฆwow this is very interesting stuff Mike, not so much the calendar but that you can forecast what might be to come, especially if youโ€™re not doing it based on your monthly cycle ๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคญ
    Like I could do the same but it be cheating cause itโ€™s all preset by hormones.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ i didn’t think of it from a monthly cycle perspective. that’s really funny you brought it up! but of course, the cramps and other pains are not funny! :/

      id think there’s a real foundational robustness for basing life engagement on that cycle. there’s other stuff but i’ll get back to you on one of your posts in the comments section. i’m just in and out of the house right now!

  4. Nancy Homlitas Avatar

    When you work this all out, are you not hexing yourself with a bad day by predetermining it? Why not just plan on countering it by being your happy-go-lucky self and skipping through the tulips on those predicted horrible no good days? If you don’t know you’re supposed to be miserable on a given day, maybe you won’t be. I’m clueless about this. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      youโ€™re right about that Nancy and i have thought of it from that perspective alot.

      because i didnt want to make the post too long i omitted some points; one of them mainly about these days also serving as a restraining/resetting device for me. too often, our nature is to grow into favorable times without taking a look around us to see if there are things weโ€™ve done or said that may have been hurtful to others or harmful to us in the long term. our joy during these times actually seeds the circumstances for our pain in the inevitable downturn. all we see is expansion of our vision and not necessarily what the sheer weight and responsibility of that vision could do if even a minor change in circumstances occur.

      on these days, you will generally find me talking to people a little more respectfully, giving more people the benefit of the doubt, and being more conciliatory and facilitating towards the circumstances of others.

      when these days are generated via computer, the goal is that they serve as a halt for any negative underlying personal trends that havenโ€™t surfaced in my life yet or that they make me understand that while I may be in a favorable light now, everything can suddenly change just from one negative interaction or one small omission/mistake.

      hope youโ€™re having a great Friday! let me know if you want to know more, Im happy to explain my pseudo-science ๐Ÿ˜

      1. Nancy Homlitas Avatar

        Thank you for the additional information, Michael. That helps clarify why you’re doing it.

  5. Danny*Fantod Avatar

    Interesting, and some cool Athena-related art.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      glad to see you stop by Danny! thanks!

  6. The Creative Chic Avatar

    Oh, this looks so interesting. I’m definitely going to check this out more. Snow! Thank you for sharing this! It looks beautiful, Michael!

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      I figure you’d like the photo Jennifer! snowy tidings from up north ๐Ÿ˜€ (although most of the snow has melted away already. hopefully we’ll get more and i’ll have some other shots for you!)

      1. The Creative Chic Avatar

        Thank you, Michael. I love this picture! I have to live my snow life through my friends up North, just until I can see it again! I hope you’re well. Happy Saturday from rainy Florida!

        1. Michael Williams Avatar

          raining up here too! ๐Ÿ˜€ enjoy your Saturday!

  7. Hazel Avatar

    I made a monthly calendar for myself, wrote there what I’ve done in a day or what’s my schedule is like walking or finishing a book. I love it. I think I like this big 2025 calendar you’ve mentioned. Unfortunately, as of now, my room is too small to put that. But, thanks for sharing, Mike. It sounds amazing! May your 2025 be full of joy, hope, and success (internally and externally).

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thanks for visiting Hazel! i should note they make wayyyy cheaper copies of a calendar like this along with more manageable sizes that are still in the “jumbo” designation.

      i’m hoping for much positivity and good fortune for you going into 2025!

      1. Hazel Avatar

        Yes, I hope and pray, too, Mike. A big thank you to you.

  8. ibarynt Avatar

    That is a calendar I need, don’t need ๐Ÿคฃ. I’m stealing the DNE life.

    I like the abrupt digression to the snow.
    Have a good Friday night Mike, whatever is left of the day ๐Ÿ˜€.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      hi Iba! ๐Ÿ™‚ haha, i’m glad the DNE life stood out for you lol.

      enjoy the rest of your Saturday and hope it’s been just the right amount of excitement and rest!

  9. NocturnalTwins Avatar

    Some people may laugh at these calendars but they work. You can’t see the entire year on a phone or computer that easily.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      true! also, thanks for the pointer about the rubbing alcohol, it did work for a couple that I put the stickers back on.

      i’m setting up the 2025 one this weekend

  10. Ann Coleman Avatar

    I’m still looking for a good purse calendar. Clearly, I’m one of the few people who still want one!

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      good luck in your search Ann! id think they sell a good durable one in Amazon since that’s where I recently bought my long-bifold wallet, another item they want to pull us away from in our technologically progressive age. i was told this was the new quiet-luxury item as it connotes that you carry cheques with you. as you can imagine, I am not a popular guy at the supermarket checkout ๐Ÿ˜

      1. Ann Coleman Avatar

        Great idea, I’ll check Amazon! I used to find them at Barnes and Noble, but no more.

  11. camilla wells paynter Avatar

    Fascinating! And you still have time to toboggan! ๐Ÿ™‚ Glad I could help give Athena her proper respect. Happy New Year!

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thanks Camilla! yes, the toboggan session was nice even if only for an afternoon ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. misifusa Avatar

    Wowsza Mike – that’s a BIG calendar! But all the better to see the year at once! I like your DNE life meaning…fascinating!

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thank you! i admit i was a little shocked when I first rolled out that 2024 one but it’s been nice to get a good view of the whole year! lol, yes – the DNE life seems to be a big hit lol ๐Ÿ˜€

      1. misifusa Avatar

        I love that you’re sharing your DNE life…that’s how we all learn – by sharing what you know, what works for you and how to you manage the year! Keep up the great work!

        1. Michael Williams Avatar

          looking forward to learning from you as well!

  13. Chuckster Avatar
    Chuckster

    This is fascinating! In a recent letter home my Grandson, on a Mission in Brazil, keeps a chart of his โ€˜joyโ€™ level each day. After 4 months he found interesting conclusions. Rainy Days brought his joy level down. And social success ratcheted it up. I was frankly amazed at his perseverance in tracking such things, like a scientist. I confess, I am much more random on how I encounter life. I think he would appreciate your calendar immensely. ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      that’s a great idea for a tracker. in fact, there were books I read over the years (a self help book by Og Mandino) that suggested a tracker of that nature. i think, as a personal tool, it’s very helpful. there’s alot of ballyhooing about data and data analytics but i’m starting to think there may be – at least – some type of value there! thanks for your thoughts!

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