@fairydogmother wrote:
I've always been a writer at heart, despite a 46 year nursing career. Recently I decided to take a break (probably permanent) from the cesspool of Facebook. Social media, while useful for some things like seeing my friends photos of family and events, has no other value to me. In fact it has created a stress level that I never expected. The political divisiveness, the unveiling of ugliness in people I formerly counted as friends...the continual reposting of urban legends, the "I bet nobody will share this" memes. Ad nauseum. I've been reading more (novels mostly), and suddenly had a creative urge to begin a journal. I bought a beautiful one online, it arrived today. My husband said what is the purpose if no one is supposed to read it. My answer: it's a creative outlet, a vehicle for self-expression, emotional catharsis, stress relief. He laughed when I gave an example of what he would write- "went to the pistol range. Came home. Drilled a hole".
haha nailed it! So do any of you indulge in journaling? Where and when do you write? Is there a routine you like to follow, i.e. using special pen, have a particular beverage, writing in the same location? Would love to hear your experiences 🥰
@fairydogmother I've journaled since junior high (almost daily) with a few breaks here and there. I have hundreds of finished books stored in boxes in the attic. I write 3 pages each morning when I wake up usually with a cup of coffee, at my desk when it's quiet. I like to light a candle or at least set aside this time to myself with no distractions. My artistic side does take over and I sometimes use different colored pens (***try them on a back page to be sure they don't soak through like a Sharpie does) or sketch or tape in a photo of my children at various stages of life, birthday parties, fortune cookie papers I like, words that have meaning from a magazine or a book...just cut it out and keep a glue stick handy.
Now I also include photos of grandchildren, letters they write me or valentine cards, invitations from my wedding, the kids' weddings, birthday cards.....Sometimes my journals are just large spriral notebooks from the Dollar Store and other times, beautiful leather bound books from Amazon. I keep a red ribbon hanging down the page where I stopped to save time when starting to write again.
There's a wonderful book to read called THE ARTIST'S WAY about journaling 3 pages a day and how to begin the practice of doing those 3 pages a day and committing yourself to it. I recently reread it. There are many videos on YOUTUBE re: journaling, too that give you "prompts" if you get stuck about what to write about..."What Am I Grateful For?", "What Do I Wish I Had Done Differently In My Life"...those are some of mine. I also filled many pages when my younger brother passed away suddendly at 49 and when each parent passed away. So many feelings. I also pasted in photos of them and a few of them with me as a child. For me journaling has been like therapy. It's a way to relieve anxiety or sadness on paper by getting it out or share feelings of happiness. Sometimes it's just a TO DO list if nothing else.
A journal is free flowing thinking...Don't worry about punctuation, making full sentences, or even making sense. I'm sure after so many decades of journaling, that's why I use so many "...." and "etc.". It's just your thoughts at that moment going from your mind onto paper without any rules or preconceived notions.
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