Journaling - The Write Stuff For You?

@marjou I have enjoyed having penpals for the last 63 years. It has been such a pleasure/treasure. I hope you can find a good penpal. I got some of mine from “International Penfriends”.

@dederickve P.S. I was 15 when I got my first penpal. I am now 78. It’s amazing how meaningful it can be !

@ray666

I love what you wrote about journaling and could not agree with you more...that a transformation takes place. I didn't realize this until I had journaled for years...that a transformation actually takes place to put you in a more positive frame of mind for the remainder of the day...as you said, it is powerful and miraculous. I knew this was happening (I could feel it) but I could not describe it words. You have defined it eloquently.

Madelyn
Temecula, CA

Hi, Madelyn (@madelynewing) I've found that there are two kinds of transformation that take place as a "gift" of regular journaling. One is the gift of daily transformation, as you so perfectly put it: " … put[s] you in a more positive frame of mind for the remainder of the day." The other transformation––one I'm so pleased to have happened to me––is more over-arching, with any luck, a transformation lasting a lifetime: I simply cannot NOT journal, every morning, no matter how thick my morning fogginess or how grumbly my joints. I've no choice: feed the cat, fill the coffee cup, grab notebook and pen and go to work! Or to put it another way: Go to pleasure! Here's wishing you a beautiful day, Madelyn! –Ray (@ray666)

Dear Ray:

Thanks for writing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your transformation being both a daily experience as well as a "lifetime" change. I really had to think about this. I must say, I agree with you. It's not just a daily transformation. For example, I believe that my journaling has reduced my anxiety. When I get everything "out on paper," I feel more calm. I also have found that when I read my journals from recent years, it increases my self awareness. I see patterns in my behavior (both good and bad). I see where I need to focus and change.
I can't say my physical health has improved with journaling, but my mental health certainly has improved and I am able to better cope with my own health issues. I also believe that improvements in mental health lead to improvements in physical health, so it's a win win situation.

One thing that annoys me about journaling is this: When I read journals from the past, I see that I have not achieved certain goals that I've had for a long, long time. Then I tend to beat myself up and feel like a failure.
I do think it's good to "look in the mirror" though, so I embrace this with the realization that I am master of my destiny. I will change when the time is right and I'm ready. At least I'm looking in the mirror. A lot of people don't look in the mirror.

Julia Cameron wrote an excellent book entitled "The Artist's Way" that I read long ago. I think she mastered journaling at a very early age and I enjoyed reading her book and getting tips. Julia recommends writing three pages early each morning. Three pages seems too long. I usually write one or two pages, and that's enough.
Yet on some days, the pen doesn't stop flowing, so I just write until I feel & know it's time to stop.

All the best to you. It's been a pleasure to exchange thoughts on this subject. You have given me some things to think about that I never considered previously. Journaling can be "a transformation lasting a lifetime."
In other words, once you start journaling, you can't stop - you enjoy the ride and transformation (or change) is to be expected and embraced.

All the best,

Madelyn
Temecula, CA

Ginger & all,
I have taught writing all of my professional life, to many different groups & have my own trove of composition books, which are always fun & interesting to read later on.
When my spouse complained about his Physics students not getting some of the material, I suggested journaling...Whoa! "That is just for those Humanities types.." BUT, he tried it & low & behold the students did better, he got to understand them better, & the dept. actually revised the college course based on the feedback gleaned from the journals!! HURRAY FOR HUMANITIES!!
(as we are, after all, HUMANS....) K

I have journaled in fits and starts over the course of my life with large gaps of time in between writing. I write, but wish I was talented enough to embellish with doodles and art.

My husband of 40 years has late moderate Alzheimer’s Dementia. I am his caregiver now and pray that I will be able to care for him in our home until the end.

Most of the time I’m ok and plug along with the many responsibilities, the necessary shouldering of much that he used to do as my partner. What gets to me now and then is the wonderful discussions about ideas, art, theatre, books, that we used to share.

Some nights when I can’t sleep, instead of having a pity party of one, I vent in my journal. Sometimes, I just need to write down my feelings or what’s worrying me so that I can reread it and better understand what’s going on with me.

I AM grateful for many people and things and try to always include those in my journal to remind myself of those blessings when rereading. I am grateful to Colleen for reaching out and telling me about this group.

There are many of us carrying many different kinds of burdens, none easy. May we all find strength in each others’ burdens and sorrows and moments of joy.

I send my love and encouragement to each of you tonight.

I have heard and read a lot about journaling and how helpful it is. However I am leery about doing this for a reason. I do not want to put down my innermost thoughts on paper for fear that someone might read them after I am gone. Is this a legitimate fear?

@wifecaregiver51 Being able to relieve our mind/heart of a burden will often allow us to get some much-needed rest. Journaling can help with that. There is nothing that says we need to draw, and nothing says we can't. Stick figures. Stickers that say what we find comfort in, a quote we read someplace. Be gentle on yourself.
Ginger

@thisismarilynb Some of us would like others to read our missives, our poetry. Others don't want that to be a possibility.

If you want to write, write! If you want to destroy your writings each change of the season, or every month, or each birthday, then do that. Personally, I have journals going back decades. They have not only my thoughts at the time, but poetry I have written. I haven't really considered what it will mean to someone once I am gone. My dad was a journaler all his life, and he had his diaries destroyed.

What fears do you have if someone reads what you write?
Ginger