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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.

healthytoday | @healthytoday | Nov 11, 2020
In reply to @georgette12 "@gingerw , I definitely think that writing feelings down often releases the energy that has built..." + (show)
@georgette12

@gingerw , I definitely think that writing feelings down often releases the energy that has built up inside us. And definitely think tears are healing. My issue is that I don't want to let myself cry...in relation to those feelings and memories of past events. Cause I'm already holding myself together by a thread. But using color and art and non verbal modalities would be something I think I could try without fear of intense emotion. I think it's so interesting to hear all these ideas.

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A therapist once suggested I watch a sad movie now and then, to get myself to cry. Good advice. Movies that are overly sentimental get me to cry too. When you think about the Greek Myths, and the story of the medusa and how to kill the medusa you couldn't look directly at her, but only indirectly. The young warrior who's name I forgot, Persius? He killed her by holding up his shield and her reflection was shown in the mirror of the pollshed shield, and then he beheaded her. tt's a metaphor. Facing your issues directly doesn't work for you, must face them in reflection or metaphor of some type, it would seem.

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georgette12 | @georgette12 | Nov 11, 2020
In reply to @healthytoday "A therapist once suggested I watch a sad movie now and then, to get myself to..." + (show)
@healthytoday

A therapist once suggested I watch a sad movie now and then, to get myself to cry. Good advice. Movies that are overly sentimental get me to cry too. When you think about the Greek Myths, and the story of the medusa and how to kill the medusa you couldn't look directly at her, but only indirectly. The young warrior who's name I forgot, Persius? He killed her by holding up his shield and her reflection was shown in the mirror of the pollshed shield, and then he beheaded her. tt's a metaphor. Facing your issues directly doesn't work for you, must face them in reflection or metaphor of some type, it would seem.

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Such good ideas...and reminding us of the story of Medusa helps..
I'm going to look that up today.
The issue of facing fears indirectly is helpful to work with...I'm working right now with flashbacks that create anxiety and they do seem to be getting worse. Gosh, I'm still working stuff out at the age of 76! I'm getting pretty tired! Thank you for sharing.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 11, 2020
In reply to @healthytoday "In my early 30's, a friend gave me a journal. I liked the idea since I..." + (show)
@healthytoday

In my early 30's, a friend gave me a journal. I liked the idea since I did lot's of art. I began to write out my feelings which were plenty. Then I added drawing and collage and designed as I went along. I still do this now and then, and am almost 73. Due to some head injuries over the years, my memory is only so-so. I find going back and reading from the journals an enjoyable event especially when I feel as if I didn't do much. I did lot's. It's helpful to have the chronicle. Of course, as an artist/teacher, I also have paintings and ceramics of mine and others. I decided about 10 years ago to start distributing my stuff. What to do with all these journals? I'd like to share the content with my daughter and granddaughters after I leave this incarnation, so I tore out my stormy pages of anger at myself and spouse. Kept just the good stuff, poems and art and some chronicles.

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@healthytoday Thank you for your thoughts! I have all my journals, written over 50+ years now. And beyond that, there are the sheets and pages that turn up almost everywhere ;)) I have no children to leave anything to. The poetry I think I would like to pass on, or that is my idea today. That will take dedicated effort just to gather, as they are heather-and-yon, interspersed in journals, on memory sticks, on hard drives.
Ginger

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marjou | @marjou | Nov 11, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@healthytoday Thank you for your thoughts! I have all my journals, written over 50+ years now...." + (show)
@gingerw

@healthytoday Thank you for your thoughts! I have all my journals, written over 50+ years now. And beyond that, there are the sheets and pages that turn up almost everywhere ;)) I have no children to leave anything to. The poetry I think I would like to pass on, or that is my idea today. That will take dedicated effort just to gather, as they are heather-and-yon, interspersed in journals, on memory sticks, on hard drives.
Ginger

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@healthytoday While your gathering your poetry and journals maybe consider self publishing for others to enjoy.

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Nov 12, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@healthytoday Thank you for your thoughts! I have all my journals, written over 50+ years now...." + (show)
@gingerw

@healthytoday Thank you for your thoughts! I have all my journals, written over 50+ years now. And beyond that, there are the sheets and pages that turn up almost everywhere ;)) I have no children to leave anything to. The poetry I think I would like to pass on, or that is my idea today. That will take dedicated effort just to gather, as they are heather-and-yon, interspersed in journals, on memory sticks, on hard drives.
Ginger

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When you look at the arts (journeying), and see it as a tool to help you relieve anxiety and gain psychological insight, then the poem, drawing is just the tool used. It doesn't need to be saved. The process of doing the activity is the value. The finished product isn't that big a deal unless it feeds others with your language of spirit. But the main point, tis your process. I think that is what my art and writing is all about.

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Nov 12, 2020

Many years ago, we had a ranch in New Mexico. To relieve my existential pain (depression, anxiety etc.), I built the garbage bin with cement and aluminum cans. What a pleasure it was to create this.
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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 12, 2020
In reply to @healthytoday "Many years ago, we had a ranch in New Mexico. To relieve my existential pain (depression,..." + (show)
@healthytoday

Many years ago, we had a ranch in New Mexico. To relieve my existential pain (depression, anxiety etc.), I built the garbage bin with cement and aluminum cans. What a pleasure it was to create this.

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@healthytoday Gosh that is a productive and cathartic use of your emotional state, not to mention "funky"! How ironic that you chose a garbage area to contain those feelings.
Ginger

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Nov 12, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@healthytoday Gosh that is a productive and cathartic use of your emotional state, not to mention..." + (show)
@gingerw

@healthytoday Gosh that is a productive and cathartic use of your emotional state, not to mention "funky"! How ironic that you chose a garbage area to contain those feelings.
Ginger

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That is ironic, bringing order and humor to the garbage area.

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Nov 12, 2020
In reply to @marjou "@healthytoday While your gathering your poetry and journals maybe consider self publishing for others to enjoy." + (show)
@marjou

@healthytoday While your gathering your poetry and journals maybe consider self publishing for others to enjoy.

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yeah, maybe.

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Faithwalker007 (Renee) | @faithwalker007 | Nov 13, 2020

Journaling is hard for me. I end up falling asleep. Maybe it's because I don't sleep at night, but still

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