If you want to make people feel extremely special, it's as simple as remembering their name! Do you often meet someone and their name goes in one ear and out the other? Then if you run into them again, you follow the standard script, “Remind me your name??”
Today's mini modern magic trick is called the Notebook of Names, and it's a simple practice of writing down names and details of people you meet (or friends/family that you don't speak with frequently). In this episode, I share the many benefits of doing this, as well as how it has helped my connections with people as a world traveler.
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With love,
Andrea
Andrea [00:00:00]:
Hey, I'm Andrea, and welcome to Magic Monday. Come back every Monday for a bite sized episode, sharing a modern magic trick that will make your life happier and a bit more enchanted. For more magic, come find me on Instagram at DreamLife Connection. I'm so grateful that you're here. Now let's open our digital spellbook.
Andrea [00:00:21]:
Welcome back to another Magic Monday episode. Thank. Thank you so much for being here. Okay, so I have taken a couple Mondays off because I was actually going through a huge transition. I moved from Bulgaria back to Vietnam. I'm here. I'm back, and I'm so, so, so happy to be back in Vietnam. It's actually the third time that we've moved here and I just love being in Vietnam so much.
Andrea [00:00:52]:
I'm actually sitting at my little desk in the room with all my journaling stuff surrounding me and my microphone, and I'm looking out at this beautiful scene, the skyline of Nang, Vietnam. Oh, my gosh. And it's just, I don't know, I feel like my heart is so alive right now. I'm so excited and I'm so excited to also be back in. I have. I'm getting back into my groove, my routine, and I can bring back these magic Monday mini episodes where I share these wonderful modern magic tricks that will hopefully make your life a little bit brighter and a little bit more enchanted. So let's just dive right in. So today's modern magic trick is what I call the notebook of names.
Andrea [00:01:41]:
So I'm sure you've experienced this before. Do you know that feeling you get when someone you met a long time ago remembers your name? Or maybe even further? They remember some small detail about you and it makes you feel so special. I'll be honest, it's kind of sad, but I'm not the best at remembering people's names, especially the small details that they share. Sometimes even the big updates are hard for me to remember, but I don't think I'm alone in that. But this magic trick really helps with this. So here's what you're going to do. Go and get a little pocket notebook. You could even use your notes app in your phone.
Andrea [00:02:24]:
But I am definitely an analog girl, So I like to have all sorts of notebooks in all of my bags and purses, so I like having a little notebook. Plus, I feel like the physical act of writing helps me remember even more because it's a kinetic as well as a visual process that helps with the memory. So this is super easy to do. Whenever you meet someone new you're going to write down their name and something interesting about them that they shared with you, or maybe like a little update that they shared with you. I started doing this several years ago, actually. It stemmed from one of my all time, all time favorite New Year's resolutions. So I can't remember which year it was, but I had a New Year's resolution that I took very seriously and I was very committed to it. And this resolution was meet someone new, do something new, or learn something new every single day.
Andrea [00:03:24]:
And I'm not kidding, that year was absolutely incredible. We meet people all the time, but when you actually have an intention, like my resolution, to meet people every day, I feel like I was connecting on a deeper level with people because I was going out and I was like, all right, I'm going to learn something new, or I'm going to do something new or meet someone new. So I was just more open to connecting with people. And that was a really special year because of that. But I needed a way to remember all the new people I was meeting. I was documenting every day whatever the new thing was that I experienced or learned or whoever I met. And so I had a little planner and I wrote down the names or whatever new it was. And then the next year, I started traveling and I was meeting even more people, and I just ended up starting a notebook just for names and people that I was meeting.
Andrea [00:04:27]:
And it was so fun to run into people and be able to ask them about the small thing that they shared with me. And you know that feeling, I feel like you feel seen and heard when people remember your name and updates. And you don't even have to do this with only new people. You can do this with your friends, especially friends you don't talk to on a regular basis. I know I've made the mistake of forgetting updates and I can even remember one time. Actually, this has happened a couple of times where I've been talking with a friend and I forget the name of the new person that they're dating. And so I wanted to ask my friend about the person that they were dating, but I couldn't remember their name, so I felt really bad about that. So I definitely need to write these things down in my notebook of names.
Andrea [00:05:17]:
I'm not going to lie, I'm not the most consistent. I need to bring it back, especially since I'm in Vietnam now and I'm meeting all sorts of new people in this community. So, I mean, as we get older, we probably don't talk to our friends or even some family members as much as we used to. So it's kind of easy to forget what's going on with them. And that sounds kind of sad saying it, but it's true. I mean, I don't expect everyone to remember my little details, but, man, when they do remember those details, I feel like gold. So I want to return the favor. But also, like I said before, by writing it down, it helps memory recall.
Andrea [00:06:02]:
Especially if you physically write it down. You'll have that image in your mind, and you can recall the name and info easier without even looking in your notebook. We always assume we can remember names and updates, but more often than not, that info usually slips away from our minds. I mean, life happens. It's okay. We get busy. We forget things. So I definitely, definitely recommend going and getting a little pocketbook and call it your notebook of names.
Andrea [00:06:30]:
And the bonus. This is one of the best parts of doing this magic trick. The notebook of names becomes a really special keepsake. Because think about a year from now, and then you can look back through your notebook of names and see all the connections you've made. Sometimes you don't even realize how many connections you make until you reflect and see them all listed in front of you. And you never, never know years later. I know this has definitely happened with me multiple times. You can run into people on this list years down the road, and it'll be such a magical moment when you can call them by their name.
Andrea [00:07:13]:
I promise. So, to wrap this episode up, let's do the quote of the week. And it comes from the wonderful Brene Brown. So her quote is, connection is why we're here. It is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. Amen. So in this notebook of names, I know you're writing down names, but you're not just recalling a name. It's almost like a mini little celebration, a new connection.
Andrea [00:07:46]:
So that is a really exciting magic trick that you can start right now. So thank you so much for being here and for listening, and I hope you have the most magical week, and I will see you next week. Bye bye.
Andrea [00:08:03]:
Thanks so much for being here. If you want to infuse more sparkle and whimsy into your life, head over to DreamLife connection on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to my Magic Monday newsletter where I'll send you exclusive content, free downloads, and stories. As a wandering Nomad add, you'll also gain access to the archive filled with modern magic tricks and resources. Remember, magic is real and it's everywhere. And you are the magic. Have a great week and see you next time.