Journaling - The Write Stuff For You?

@hopeful33250, Hi, Teresa, as a long time journaler, I began keeping a gratitude journal at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak. Learned long ago that using a mundane, college ruled spiral notebook made my journaling more "user friendly" than the fancier ones. And an added benefit was that pages written during times of crisis, anger, and what I might not want another to come upon later made later ripping out those entries easy.

Upon waking each morning, I jot down a few gratitudes and do the same again as I go to bed each night. I work at listing things not mentioned before. Sometimes that proves a more difficult challenge than I can manage. However, the daily twice/day ritual of just recording something is helping keep my focus more positive.

I’m new here and never kept a journal before. After my wife of 52 years passed away in February I began to feel a little isolated even though my children and grandchildren visited at least weekly. Then in March I decided to take a trip to Louisiana to visit my siblings. Leaving Phoenix on March 14 pulling my RV I fully intended to be gone about ten days. Needless to say by the time I arrived here three days later the whole world had been shut down by the COVID 19 pandemic and now I find myself in a rural setting, living in my small RV and mostly isolated. That prompts me to start a journal on my phone. Today is day one.

Good morning @oxbeaux. Welcome to Connect. I am reading your post and feeling heartbroken for your loss. It sounds like you have made your journey one of remembrance and a process for letting go.

How is your health? Have you had to wait for the Covid 19 to stop interfering with your progress?

Ya know @oxbeaux, you have landed in a community of caring folks. We are not medical practitioners, just patients and caregivers who will join hands and hearts with you as you progress to define your life.

You don’t have to be alone. In fact you may appreciate some quiet time...not lonely, just relaxed and in the process of discovery. Most of us on connect have had to confront isolation and the curtailment of social activities.

Would you be able to tell us how your wife passed? How many siblings do you have? Are you in New Orleans or somewhere else in Louisiana?

Personally, I have interesting memories of New Orleans. One was labeled Hurricane Hilda. The other arrival in my life was my daughter, who was born during that frighting storm.

May you be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.

What do you have planned for day two?

Chris

@oxbeaux Welcome and congratulations. I journal intermittently and prefer writing on paper, but do what works for you. I am rather resistant to using my phone for anything other than phone calls and brief messages. I also found Covid quarantining more confining than my usual isolation. My personal behavior did not change much, but not having the input from activities in the outside world really threw me off. I am better now, but this hit me hard and fast and I am not fully recovered emotionally. Come here to talk any day. You will be welcomed by all.

@oxbeaux As in any endeavor, there is always a "day one". Applauding your first day, and the bravery to start. I read your post this morning before heading out to do a bit of yard work. It gave me great food for thought, as my hands were busy yanking at unwanted growth [weeds]. Any form we use to get thoughts down is what works for us that day. Another time we might choose to use pen and paper, or draw out out thoughts/feelings, or cut out images from a printed source. Place a clipping from the newspaper or magazine that speaks to us, then write how it affects us. Mementos that mean something to us. It's all good!

Condolences on your recent loss, and now the big change in your life as you left what was familiar and ventured into your siblings' territory. Has your RV become a welcome respite for you, or are you planning your return to Phoenix area soon? Your journal is literally an open book for you to explore yourself, and your surrounding world.

Thank you for joining us here, please come back when you can. We can pretty much promise to be here and be of whatever support you need!
Ginger

@oxbeaux First of all welcome! Secondly sorry for your loss. Next BRAVO on your special journey in journaling! There's so many nice people here...glad you connected. Please continue to share and how we can be of help.

@oxbeaux Here's some discussions on the topic of journaling to hopefully encourage and inspire you!

My wife passed after a long struggle with COPD. After a bout of pneumonia in late December she was released to home hospice care with the help of Hospice Of The Valley I was able to keep her comfortable and pain free. She passed on February 15th at home peacefully and in the presence of myself and her three daughters.
I’m in SW Louisiana on the Mermentau River. Very rural isolated community in the marsh. Suits me right now

What a blessing for you and your wife to be together which also shows the love. Thank you for sharing by writing. Am touched by your courage.

@oxbeau How is your journaling project going? Your wife's passing then the journey across country have been a profound impact on your life. Do you have a companion pet to keep you company?

I have read that people will keep several journals going at once. One for traveling, one for dreams, one for emotions, one for daily writings, and so on. What does everyone here do?

While I keep a journal for daily writings, I also have one that is used for my poetry and commentary, only. I have decided to go back to a 30 day challenge done long ago. Each day, there is a topic already chosen. Now, to decide whether to use my daily journal or dedicate one special one? While moving a bookcase this weekend, I shifted things and found yet more blank journals. Gosh, I can never complain about not having anything to write/draw in!

To the readers of this thread, how has your journaling been going? What have you noticed your trend is? Morning or evening? How has journaling helped your physical and mental health? Longhand, or computer?
Ginger