I should make more entries reporting on my various failures and errors. What tends to happen is that I make a mistake, or totally screw up, and then I push forward because there is very limited value in beating myself up over my high failure rate.

This response creates a problem. Because I attempt to move forward, and do not dwell on my failure modes, I end up lacking an accurate record of past error. I am uncertain as to the therapeutic value to be obtained from such an error record. I am conscious of creating all sorts of problems and then having these vanish from memory. I am not sure that accepting this loss of self awareness is a positive element in making a recovery.

Here are a number of major errors from recent memory.

Things Lost – The Shoebox Problem

Today I bought a heavily discounted pair of walking shoes from MEC (MEC is Mountain Equipment Co-operative. I have been a member since the year it first started, and have a ridiculously low member number). Plus, I bought a pair of gloves and a micro light to be used to make myself visible to cyclists when I am out on the trails after dark. All the purchases went into the shoe box. I then went to the post office to mail a letter. Having done so, I then walked away, leaving all my purchases behind. I was more than half a block away before I realized I was no longer carrying anything. I had this sense that I should be carrying something. Dumb founded at this dawning awareness, I had to stop and review all of my activity for that day, and make an attempt to reconstruct all of my movements. I remembered having made a bulky purchase and that I was no longer carrying the bulky purchase. This realization resulted in my backtracking my course in the attempt to locate the shoe box. It was found sitting behind the counter in the post office.

Things Forgotten – The Running Water

Earlier this week I started running water into the upstairs basin. Then I went off to do something else. I returned to find water pouring from the basin in a cascade to the floor. This is an error I have committed several times previously. I must pay more attention to the task and avoid any attempt at multi-tasking as I become completely distracted.

Things Lost – The Watch Cap

My wool watch cap has gone missing. I’m very disappointed at this loss. It was made from a wonderfully thick and scratchy wool, was extremely warm and far better than the presently available merino wool watch caps which appear to be constructed from the wool of sissy sheep. Where, or when, the watch cap disappeared is unknown to me, other than I donned it as I went outside and it was not on my head when I came back.

Things Forgotten – The Spoiled Food

Left more food out on the counter overnight. I have trained myself to check and ensure the stove is off before I retire. I have yet to train myself to also scan the counter for food items that should be refrigerated.

Things Forgotten – The Payment

I cannot be sure, but I strongly suspect that I left Dr. H’s office without making payment. I can find no check record detailing a recent payment.

Things Lost – The Letter

I had a letter from the audiologist stating that I should attend their office for a no-cost follow up check. This letter was dated October. I found it this week and want to schedule a visit. But the letter has since vanished.

These are events from the past few days. There are other recent events that have already escaped from memory. I am unsure how to deal with these error events. The only useful thought is to create a voice record for each error event and then work to define a daily living process that prevents that specific error. Such a project will take a lot of work. It is something to be addressed once I have completed all of the required TAQ submissions as these presently occupy the majority of my time and they must be completed.