A Sentence A Day Keeps The Mind at Bay

April 9, 2026

Writer: Isabel Rosenberg

Editor: Noa Chorowsky

“Oh my goodness, I finally experienced runner’s high along with basically everyone on the team; it was beautiful.”

“Calling my camp friend today was such a highlight, miss her, but I was particularly inspired to call after finding a pillow hidden in the back of my closet that still smells like camp.”

“Shoutout to Ms. Lane, because on the bus ride to school, I overheard the driver and a passenger speaking in Spanish, and I understood almost the whole conversation, freshman-year me would be in shock.”

“While waiting for mom to pick me up from dance, I roamed the neighborhood and stumbled upon a new cafe that opened up a few blocks south of the studio; the chocolate croissant was fabulous.” 

“I walked down the high school halls for the last time as a student while the superintendent made the final announcement, already feeling nostalgic.”

Days in high school would end with a sentence –1,460 sentences, one written every day. Those sentences sometimes captured big wins, like graduation or a dance solo, but more often captured small moments, like a good snack at home or petting my dog in the backyard.

As graduation hats were thrown, duffel bags were packed, and final hugs were exchanged, I moved into my college dorm. Without my cross-country team by my side, a morning Spanish class to look forward to, or high school friends to roam the halls with,  I downloaded apps like Strava, Duolingo, and Snapchat. 

Nights were no longer characterized by the calm reflection that comes from mechanical pencils and paper, but instead were characterized by the glowing screen time that comes from phones and notifications. I would first press Duolingo to maintain my Spanish streak. Then, I opened Strava to analyze each mile’s pace from my morning run. Next, I checked Snapchat to stay updated on all my friends' private stories. And sometimes, when I felt overwhelmed, I would scroll through the Photos app to remind myself who I was; usually, I didn’t find what I was looking for. The story told through my photos didn’t feel real since the images captured curated moments, leaving many others out. Soon, my days became dictated by metrics on apps, not my own reflection. 

I found myself missing the way sentences forced me to celebrate, reflect, and remember daily milestones, whether monumental or mundane. With every sentence written, I was able to slow life down, adding a bit more meaning. 

After blowing out my birthday candles a couple of days into my second semester of college, I headed to the store to buy myself a gift: another sentence-a-day journal, so I could reclaim my story and find a way to capture all the moments, both big and small.  

“The chocolate chip cookies from the dining hall were warm, so I wrapped a couple in napkins and ate them on my way to Hatcher.”

“Last night was truly a ‘dance like nobody’s watching’ moment. It was so much fun: the lights, the music, and the energy we brought.”

“Surviving my first STATS exam means closing all the tabs on my computer and heading to sleep early – two things I haven’t done all week.”

“My friend and I could not stop laughing while we brushed our teeth and listened to Olivia Dean.”