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Mentor

Journaling - The Write Stuff For You?

Posted by Ginger, Volunteer Mentor @gingerw, Jun 19, 2020

Long ago –okay, for me, it was long ago!- it was common for a young person to keep a diary, a place to write down the heartaches and giggles of growing up, the trials and tribulations of school, friendships, sports and activities. Sometimes it was a locked book, so that we felt secure knowing our secret thought remained a secret.

How times have changed! While I no longer keep a classic diary, it is no less important for me to write down thoughts, ideas, and heaven-knows-what, on a regular basis. Nowadays, the common name is a “journal”, and seems to appeal to every segment of society. There are an abundance of ways to do this, and so many reasons why. Although I prefer longhand, many people use a computer, and there are any number of prompts/styles/methods.

Let’s explore this together!

Do you journal? What prompted you to start? What would you tell someone who wants to start?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 28 10:27am
In reply to @samcal9977zz "Poetry Prompts (free) from Writer's Digest Magazine... https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/poetry-prompts" + (show)
@samcal9977zz

Poetry Prompts (free)

from Writer's Digest Magazine...
https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/poetry-prompts

Jump to this post

I really like these poetry prompts, @samcal9977zz, What creative ideas. I'm going to try a few.

REPLY
1 reply
pvctom2021 | @pvctom2021 | May 1 10:44am

Hello to all

Well, it’s midweek and I awoke this morning in a state of fear and dread…Everyday seems the same now…I am constantly worried about my wife’s medical conditions and the lack of Quality Care that she’s receiving…her nephrologist has blown it on a couple of occasions with looking at the wrong lab results given to him, he has prescribed combination meds to help her kidneys because of her BP…all of these meds in combination were immediately questioned by the pharmacist and they called his office….etc…these are serious mistakes…the wrong dated labs, then the cardiology department not getting back to her on a 14 day monitor that she wore and is still symptomatic…I can’t wait until the 7th of May when we go up to Ft Belvoir Hospital to her cardiology and dermatology appointments…a couple of weeks ago we were hoping for a summer little cruise to Bermuda and maybe 🤔 in September a group of seniors trip to Ireland…but May 7 comes first…I can no longer convince my wife to go to the ER or hospital stay, and after the last time in both places , I can’t blame her….my AA meetings are no help…when I try to even just mention some of my worries about my situation and how my anxiety is causing problems with serenity, I get the usual have you prayed about it, are you doing the steps, have you turned it over…!! I am praying that all is well and still have hope that these are situations that can and will be resolved…but it’s heck on the old nerves 😟 and mental wellness….so I come here to write my thoughts and prayers and fears and hopes…there’s an old part of ‘the Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ that goes “like one who on a lonesome road does walk in fear and dread, because he knows a frightful fiend does close behind him tread”…. I am having coffee now, then I’ll get going and say a short prayer for anxiety to be replaced with serenity and that all will be well..to all who come here have a safe peaceful day and night..
🙏pvctom

REPLY
1 reply
samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | May 2 9:34am
In reply to @hopeful33250 "I really like these poetry prompts, @samcal9977zz, What creative ideas. I'm going to try a few." + (show)
@hopeful33250

I really like these poetry prompts, @samcal9977zz, What creative ideas. I'm going to try a few.

Jump to this post

Yes, Writer's Digest magazine is quite a resource for writers. Have a nice day!

REPLY
samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | May 2 9:37am

"Magnetic Poetry" online game...

create your own "Magnetic Poetry" poems...
https://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/original/kit/
Magnetic Poetry is a toy and creative writing aid consisting of individual words—often related to a particular theme or topic—printed on small magnets which can be creatively arranged into poetry on a refrigerator or other metal surface.The informality and spontaneity Magnetic Poetry has endeared it to educators in creative writing.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 3 2:17pm
In reply to @samcal9977zz ""Magnetic Poetry" online game... create your own "Magnetic Poetry" poems... https://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/original/kit/ Magnetic Poetry is a toy..." + (show)
@samcal9977zz

"Magnetic Poetry" online game...

create your own "Magnetic Poetry" poems...
https://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/original/kit/
Magnetic Poetry is a toy and creative writing aid consisting of individual words—often related to a particular theme or topic—printed on small magnets which can be creatively arranged into poetry on a refrigerator or other metal surface.The informality and spontaneity Magnetic Poetry has endeared it to educators in creative writing.

Jump to this post

@samcal9977zz I have the original magnetic poetry kits, little tiles. An old tin pie plate serves as a "board", and I keep a small notebook nearby to write down what is created!
Ginger

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 3 2:21pm
In reply to @pvctom2021 "Hello to all Well, it’s midweek and I awoke this morning in a state of fear..." + (show)
@pvctom2021

Hello to all

Well, it’s midweek and I awoke this morning in a state of fear and dread…Everyday seems the same now…I am constantly worried about my wife’s medical conditions and the lack of Quality Care that she’s receiving…her nephrologist has blown it on a couple of occasions with looking at the wrong lab results given to him, he has prescribed combination meds to help her kidneys because of her BP…all of these meds in combination were immediately questioned by the pharmacist and they called his office….etc…these are serious mistakes…the wrong dated labs, then the cardiology department not getting back to her on a 14 day monitor that she wore and is still symptomatic…I can’t wait until the 7th of May when we go up to Ft Belvoir Hospital to her cardiology and dermatology appointments…a couple of weeks ago we were hoping for a summer little cruise to Bermuda and maybe 🤔 in September a group of seniors trip to Ireland…but May 7 comes first…I can no longer convince my wife to go to the ER or hospital stay, and after the last time in both places , I can’t blame her….my AA meetings are no help…when I try to even just mention some of my worries about my situation and how my anxiety is causing problems with serenity, I get the usual have you prayed about it, are you doing the steps, have you turned it over…!! I am praying that all is well and still have hope that these are situations that can and will be resolved…but it’s heck on the old nerves 😟 and mental wellness….so I come here to write my thoughts and prayers and fears and hopes…there’s an old part of ‘the Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ that goes “like one who on a lonesome road does walk in fear and dread, because he knows a frightful fiend does close behind him tread”…. I am having coffee now, then I’ll get going and say a short prayer for anxiety to be replaced with serenity and that all will be well..to all who come here have a safe peaceful day and night..
🙏pvctom

Jump to this post

@pvctom2021 Having anxiety and maintaining sobriety or an even-keeled manner can really be a challenge. It becomes a slippery slope that you'd love to get insight on, but perhaps others in your program don't want to "go there". It takes courage to see the frailties and obstacles of your life. and to want to address them. Good for you for standing steadfast in the face of it all.
Ginger

REPLY
1 reply
pvctom2021 | @pvctom2021 | May 3 5:13pm
In reply to @gingerw "@pvctom2021 Having anxiety and maintaining sobriety or an even-keeled manner can really be a challenge. It..." + (show)
@gingerw

@pvctom2021 Having anxiety and maintaining sobriety or an even-keeled manner can really be a challenge. It becomes a slippery slope that you'd love to get insight on, but perhaps others in your program don't want to "go there". It takes courage to see the frailties and obstacles of your life. and to want to address them. Good for you for standing steadfast in the face of it all.
Ginger

Jump to this post

@gingerw

Thank you Ginger for such a wise and kind reaction…it’s people like yourself and others here that make me feel much better about myself and better off for being part of Mayo Connect.. I hope you are doing well and may you have a peaceful safe weekend.
🙏pvctom

REPLY
samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | May 4 2:26am
In reply to @gingerw "@samcal9977zz I have the original magnetic poetry kits, little tiles. An old tin pie plate serves..." + (show)
@gingerw

@samcal9977zz I have the original magnetic poetry kits, little tiles. An old tin pie plate serves as a "board", and I keep a small notebook nearby to write down what is created!
Ginger

Jump to this post

some poetry for you...

Live Poetry Readings

Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival
https://www.grdodge.org/our-work/dodge-poetry/
+++

You Tube Channel of past festivals
https://www.youtube.com/@grdodgepoetry
+++

The biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival is the largest poetry event in North America

The four-day celebration of poetry has been called “poetry heaven” by the 1995–1997 US Poet Laureate Robert Hass, “a new Woodstock” by the Christian Science Monitor, and “Wordstock” by The New York Times.[citation needed] The festival has been sponsored by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation in even-numbered years since 1986.The festival immerses audiences and more than five dozen internationally acclaimed poets in discussions, readings, and conversations focusing on poetry. Events are held all day and evening in performance venues accommodating anywhere from 100 to over 2,000 people. Each day, ten or more separate stages simultaneously offer different activities. The 13th biennial festival took place in Newark, New Jersey at NJPAC, Newark Symphony Hall, and other venues around the city. The 14th festival took place in the city October 11–14, 2012.
The 11th festival, held from September 28 through October 1, 2006, at Waterloo Village in Stanhope, New Jersey, attracted nearly 17,000 people.

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