A long time ago, in another blogging life, I met a blogger named Dawn who loved journals, diaries, and planners as much as I do. She also loved God and the beach. We became fast blog buddies.
Over the years, Dawn's blogging and passion for journaling evolved into something much bigger. While my own blogging stagnated, she began reviewing journals (you really should watch her cute YouTube videos), hosting giveaways, writing great poems and having them published, leading how-to journaling boot camps, and this past November her first book, Journaling for Discovery and Delight, went on sale!
Along the way Dawn united other journalers she had met and created a community. That group of journaling bloggers met up under the name of Random Journal Day. Each month Dawn featured a different journal keeper. You can view my month here. Along with the featured journal keeper, others linked up and shared a post from an archived journal. Eventually, life and busyness took everyone in different directions and RJD fell by the wayside.
This month Dawn invited all of us to an RJD reunion. She has provided links to many of the group's past posts and provided a place to link up to share about our journaling journeys. I had forgotten what wonderful writers these ladies are and I'm honored to be included among them.
I'm not sure where this post is going, so I thought I'd begin by answering the prompts Dawn gave us.
How many journals do you have in your archives? Do you harvest your journals? How often?
I have 5 journals in my "archives." That's not much to show for a lifetime of journaling. It is, however, 5 more journals than I had back in the days of RJD. The reason why I didn't keep my journals can be found in the same post I mentioned above. It's a pretty big deal that I'm saving them again.
As for harvesting my journals for writing ideas, I don't. I do go back and read them again fairly often, but I don't use them to fuel my blogging. I never have.
Over the years, Dawn's blogging and passion for journaling evolved into something much bigger. While my own blogging stagnated, she began reviewing journals (you really should watch her cute YouTube videos), hosting giveaways, writing great poems and having them published, leading how-to journaling boot camps, and this past November her first book, Journaling for Discovery and Delight, went on sale!
Along the way Dawn united other journalers she had met and created a community. That group of journaling bloggers met up under the name of Random Journal Day. Each month Dawn featured a different journal keeper. You can view my month here. Along with the featured journal keeper, others linked up and shared a post from an archived journal. Eventually, life and busyness took everyone in different directions and RJD fell by the wayside.
This month Dawn invited all of us to an RJD reunion. She has provided links to many of the group's past posts and provided a place to link up to share about our journaling journeys. I had forgotten what wonderful writers these ladies are and I'm honored to be included among them.
I'm not sure where this post is going, so I thought I'd begin by answering the prompts Dawn gave us.
How many journals do you have in your archives? Do you harvest your journals? How often?
I have 5 journals in my "archives." That's not much to show for a lifetime of journaling. It is, however, 5 more journals than I had back in the days of RJD. The reason why I didn't keep my journals can be found in the same post I mentioned above. It's a pretty big deal that I'm saving them again.
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| Thought you might like to see where I do most of my journaling. I do love this spot. It's filled with all my favorite things. |
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| This is my summer journaling spot. Because I don't work during the summer, I begin most days here with my Bible, my journal, and my camera. |
As for harvesting my journals for writing ideas, I don't. I do go back and read them again fairly often, but I don't use them to fuel my blogging. I never have.
How has journaling brought delight into your life?
It's the one place I feel completely free to be myself, to let it all hang out so to speak. It's also where God and I spend a lot of time hashing things out and all my time with God is pure delight!
It's the one place I feel completely free to be myself, to let it all hang out so to speak. It's also where God and I spend a lot of time hashing things out and all my time with God is pure delight!
What have you discovered through journaling about yourself, others, life etc?
Only everything! Seriously, my journals are where I work through things and admit things and stress over things. My journals have always been my emotional dump, that place to unload stuff and sort through what's really important and what's just my emotions getting the best of me. Journaling about a situation helps me see it more clearly and consider it from all sides and that helps me to see where others are coming from, to consider their motives and feelings.
Over the years as my faith has grown, my journals have changed, too. At first I kept separate journals for life and for prayer or Bible study. Then I started keeping it all in the same journal but distinct entries. These days it's all happily blended and muddled up together just like life.
As for what I've learned about myself, I don't know where to start. I often write about what I'm studying in the Bible and as I start writing words begin to flow and thoughts begin to form. God is a tough task master and he has shown me many areas over the years that I need to work on and then we work.
IN what ways has journaling enriched your : daily life, career, mental or physical health, spiritual life, and relationships?
Let me get the career question out of the way first. It hasn't enriched my career since I don't have one. I have a job. There's a difference. I'm not seeking a career, either. There was a time when I wanted to be a journalist or maybe even a writer of books and articles, but the door has never opened and I don't desire it these days. It doesn't seem to be God's leading for me and I'm okay with that.
As for my daily life, I believe I'm a calmer, more patient, and thoughtful person than I used to be. Journaling helps me settle down and get centered. It helps me to think through things and organize things and often shows me where I am off track or way out of line. All of that has been a balm to my mental state. These days I am much happier and filled with the joy of the Lord.
My physical health surely benefits from the release of stress and pent up emotions and I like to think, well...I hope, my relationships are better because I process irritations and hurts on paper and then forgive, rather than let them fester or blow up at the one I'm irritated with.
We've already covered spiritual benefits, I think. All that work God and I do on the journal pages has sure made me grow. Often, when it was the last thing I wanted to do.
Others use their journals to jot brief bits of inspiration, beautiful poetry, a scripture that speaks to them, or a bit of revelation from God. Me? Like Forest Gump and his box of chocolates, I never know what I'm going to get. I just start writing and God takes it from there. It's rambling and free-form and often full of run-on sentences that would make my college journalism professors cringe. It can be messy (I'm dangerous with a glue stick) and I've been known to fall asleep while writing, leaving an ink trail running off the page. It's really a lot like me...messy, imperfect, but trying to get better and loving the journey.
Only everything! Seriously, my journals are where I work through things and admit things and stress over things. My journals have always been my emotional dump, that place to unload stuff and sort through what's really important and what's just my emotions getting the best of me. Journaling about a situation helps me see it more clearly and consider it from all sides and that helps me to see where others are coming from, to consider their motives and feelings.
Over the years as my faith has grown, my journals have changed, too. At first I kept separate journals for life and for prayer or Bible study. Then I started keeping it all in the same journal but distinct entries. These days it's all happily blended and muddled up together just like life.
As for what I've learned about myself, I don't know where to start. I often write about what I'm studying in the Bible and as I start writing words begin to flow and thoughts begin to form. God is a tough task master and he has shown me many areas over the years that I need to work on and then we work.
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| This was last year's journal. God was a particularly stern taskmaster last summer and I had much to work on. |
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| The entry on the left side is a list of do's and don'ts of the Christian life from Romans 12. |
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| Some bright, happy pages. |
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| This page with a picture of a jewelry box filled with sparkling gems was an entry about choosing our treasures with wisdom and maturity. |
IN what ways has journaling enriched your : daily life, career, mental or physical health, spiritual life, and relationships?
Let me get the career question out of the way first. It hasn't enriched my career since I don't have one. I have a job. There's a difference. I'm not seeking a career, either. There was a time when I wanted to be a journalist or maybe even a writer of books and articles, but the door has never opened and I don't desire it these days. It doesn't seem to be God's leading for me and I'm okay with that.
As for my daily life, I believe I'm a calmer, more patient, and thoughtful person than I used to be. Journaling helps me settle down and get centered. It helps me to think through things and organize things and often shows me where I am off track or way out of line. All of that has been a balm to my mental state. These days I am much happier and filled with the joy of the Lord.
My physical health surely benefits from the release of stress and pent up emotions and I like to think, well...I hope, my relationships are better because I process irritations and hurts on paper and then forgive, rather than let them fester or blow up at the one I'm irritated with.
We've already covered spiritual benefits, I think. All that work God and I do on the journal pages has sure made me grow. Often, when it was the last thing I wanted to do.
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| This is my current journal. Isn't it pretty? It's leather and ties shut. I found it in a clearance bin at Barnes & Noble for a mere $9! Can you believe it? |
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| Here's a peek inside. |
Others use their journals to jot brief bits of inspiration, beautiful poetry, a scripture that speaks to them, or a bit of revelation from God. Me? Like Forest Gump and his box of chocolates, I never know what I'm going to get. I just start writing and God takes it from there. It's rambling and free-form and often full of run-on sentences that would make my college journalism professors cringe. It can be messy (I'm dangerous with a glue stick) and I've been known to fall asleep while writing, leaving an ink trail running off the page. It's really a lot like me...messy, imperfect, but trying to get better and loving the journey.
How wonderful. I always want to journal but I can never think of anything to write. And I live journals and I have several I have started that never really went very far. Maybe After reading this I’ll start again. I inow I want to. We’ll see jow it goes. I need to go check your friend.
ReplyDeleteI have days when I have trouble thinking of something to write, but most days that's not a problem. My entries are usually several pages long. I am a very wordy girl! Do check out Dawn's blog. She has all kinds of tips and links to other journalers. Her book is a great place to start, too. The biggest thing to remember is that your journal is only for you (unless you choose to share it) so it doesn't have to be as perfect as those ones you see on Pinterest and it can be about anything. Just start writing about your day or something simple and see where it takes you.
DeleteStacy:" All of that has been a balm to my mental state. These days I am much happier and filled with the joy of the Lord." I can relate.When I was going through some heavy things, I started writing in a steno-pad just to gain perspective about where I was in my life. I'm going to start following you. I like what you say.
ReplyDeleteWelcome and thank you. Writing in my journals really is my therapy.
DeleteStacy, I am so glad you now have 5 journals accumulated. I read your linked post and was, well, kind of outraged at the invasion your privacy suffered. This kind of thing can be so stifling of any flow of writing. Where I have had uncertainty about certain people keeping out of my journals, I have stashed some away in a locked file cabinet. If that doesn't work, you can always keep your journals on your computer and log in and out with a personal password no one else knows when you write or read later. I know clattering away on a keyboard doesn't have the same feel and flow as pouring out your feelings and thoughts onto paper thru the pen in your hand, but at least it would give you the freedom to be open, vulnerable, and authentic in yur journaling. So glad to meet up with you here, Stacy. Happy journaling!
ReplyDeleteI was pretty upset at the time, myself, but the kids have moved out and my husband behaves himself these days. It also helps that our kids have grown up and matured and aren't causing the kind of turmoil and grief they were at that time. My writing isn't such a painful emotional purge these days.
DeleteThank you for visiting and for the encouragement...and a couple of great ideas for privacy. Happy journaling and happy Easter!
Hi Stacy! I loved reading this post and am so thankful you came to play! Your journaling journey continues and that is great. I love that you only have five...I have so many they are sort of cumbersome to store...I am so grateful we connected in the early days, and I don't have as much time on the blogging end of things but sure love seeing my dear old friends here for this reunion. I love how you say journaling has made you a calmer more thoughtful and patient person...awesome. I also love that 9 dollar journal! I love the B&N journals and they go for 30 ish bucks so that you got it for 9!!! Yeeha! Hope you had a happy Easter! HUGS! Thank you for your presence in this party and my life!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading everyone else's posts, I've come to realize I have a few more than 5 journals. I never really think of planners and such as journals, but they are snippets of life. I'm glad we connected back in those early days, too. Our friendship is something I treasure.
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