Retrospective notes are not revisionist history.
That distinction matters.
Older writing can reveal patterns.
It can show continuity.
It can make the current thinking feel less random.
But the current lens should not pretend the old artifact knew everything it means now.
That would be dishonest.
The better move is to label the note clearly.
Source date.
Compiled date.
Current interpretation.
Original artifact.
Then the reader can see both layers.
What was said then.
What it seems connected to now.
The point is not to rewrite the past.
The point is to make the evolution inspectable.