Journaling

In 1999, I was gifted a book that started me on my adventure of writing things down.  Then, I didn’t know about the word “Journaling”.   Writing was a way to capture my thoughts and document things I wanted to remember later.  That stuff was a combination of a lot of things.  It could be motivational phrases from books or life events, and my little book became a catchall for pictures, obituaries, or anything I felt I would want to remember later.

I’m a very positive person, so I started from the half-full side, and on Good Friday, 2 April 1999, I made my first entry. 

Over the past 24 years, I have carried my book through multiple moves and locations.  My entries have been varied.  Some were inspirational thoughts, some were about leadership, and other entries would be my musings.  I have found it interesting to look back through my entries over the years only to rediscover that the advice I wrote down and gave myself back then still applies to me today.

I also enjoyed humor, and in July 2013, I wrote down the following:

Advice From a Tree

Stand tall and proud,

go out on a limb,

remember your roots,

drink plenty of water,

be content with your natural beauty,

and enjoy the view!

The beauty of journaling is there is no right or wrong way.  Journaling is personal to you.  It can be like a diary, a list of things that bring you joy, or a list of goals you want to achieve.  Your journal doesn’t need to follow any certain structure.  It is yours to add to any way that you want.  For me, my journal is more of a memory book because my writings reflect what was going on during that period in my life. 

I’m excited about the blank pages that are ready to be filled with my thoughts, emotions, and things that inspire me in this last chapter of my life!