Showing posts with label Writing/blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing/blogging. Show all posts
March 31, 2018
March 28, 2018
Random Journal Day Reunion
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.
November 20, 2017
I Know a Real Live Author!
In the process of clearing out my inbox this morning, I found an email from Dawn announcing that her book is now in print and available on Amazon. Accompanying the announcement was a lovely letter of thanks written to all the women she felt had encouraged her and made the book possible. I am so humbled to be included on that list....and even more so to see that she mentioned all of us under "Acknowledgements" in the book.
Of course I ordered her book, Journaling for Discovery and Delight: Creative Prompts for Your Journey, right away. It should arrive Friday and I can't wait. You can expect a full review once I read it.
February 12, 2017
Welcome!
They say you can't go home again or teach an old dog new tricks, but that is exactly what I'm hoping to do here. I've been floating around the blogging world in one form or another since 2001. During the last 16 (how is that even possible???) years I've moved through many phases in my life and just as many blogs in which I wrote about those phases. Some were fairly popular, some not so much, but each had a loyal group of followers. That all changed somewhere within the last 5 years and I've been struggling to find my voice at this point in my life.
I've tried to write serious Christian posts and sometimes found success, but mostly it was a struggle to consistently write something. I took that as a sign it was not meant to be as any time I've ever written Christian posts in the past they flowed easily from God-given inspiration and God provided the readers. The posts I was cranking out lately were simply not being read. If I am going to give voice to Christian thoughts, I want them to be God-given, not my own ideas.
Journal-type posts found their way onto the blog...ramblings about daily life with little substance. My heart just wasn't in those and lack of hits (not that I do this for hits) told the sad story that they weren't resonating with anyone else, either.
Finally, I've fallen into the trap of participating in memes or surveys. They are fun and a good way to meet people online, but they can quickly become a crutch and replace anything of real value.
Truth be told I was very seriously thinking of pulling the plug once and for all on blogging when I was struck, out of the blue, with inspiration. My inner self seemed to be screaming, "WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW!"
So, that is what I'm going to do. I'm going to write about my life, the things I enjoy, and share it with you, dear reader. We will talk of books, antiques, decorating, gardening, cooking, the places I go, the things I do, family, and faith. I am on a quest to learn to live in the moment and enjoy these empty nest years to the fullest and I want to invite to come along with me. I'm not sure exactly how things will take shape, but that's okay. This is a journey with no set destination.
I've tried to write serious Christian posts and sometimes found success, but mostly it was a struggle to consistently write something. I took that as a sign it was not meant to be as any time I've ever written Christian posts in the past they flowed easily from God-given inspiration and God provided the readers. The posts I was cranking out lately were simply not being read. If I am going to give voice to Christian thoughts, I want them to be God-given, not my own ideas.
Journal-type posts found their way onto the blog...ramblings about daily life with little substance. My heart just wasn't in those and lack of hits (not that I do this for hits) told the sad story that they weren't resonating with anyone else, either.
Finally, I've fallen into the trap of participating in memes or surveys. They are fun and a good way to meet people online, but they can quickly become a crutch and replace anything of real value.
Truth be told I was very seriously thinking of pulling the plug once and for all on blogging when I was struck, out of the blue, with inspiration. My inner self seemed to be screaming, "WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW!"
So, that is what I'm going to do. I'm going to write about my life, the things I enjoy, and share it with you, dear reader. We will talk of books, antiques, decorating, gardening, cooking, the places I go, the things I do, family, and faith. I am on a quest to learn to live in the moment and enjoy these empty nest years to the fullest and I want to invite to come along with me. I'm not sure exactly how things will take shape, but that's okay. This is a journey with no set destination.
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