Journaling - The Write Stuff For You?

In this season of celebrations, we can often react differently than others might expect us to.

Are you still journaling? Have you thought about starting to journal? If you have read back on your entries, do you see changes in yourself/ your writing style, your prompts? Interested members like me, would love to know!
Ginger

Hi group,
And I hope all is going well.
I started to record my morning anxiety with a voice recording on my iPhone…there are so many ways to do a daily diary or a journal now.. I am old now..77 to be exact, and I remember when I used to love to collect beautiful pens and stationary…gosh, I had a couple of beautiful Parker pens, a Mont Blanc and some Cross pens.. would enjoy writing my words on paper..I even had Smith Corona electric portable typewriter that was housed in it’s color coded case…
And then, as the years went by, I tired of it, or moved into a new realm of thoughts and feelings…but my wonderful and not so wonderful memories are still crystal clear in my head…I shall continue on this thread later when I can think of something to say that has something to do with my daily journal of the anxiety and fear upon awakening that brought me here..but for now I am voice recording my daily journal on my iPhone voice recorder…it is very handy…safe holidays to all..
pvctom

Hello !
As I write essentially my whole life in my journal collection I keep them where absolutely nobody will even stumble across them.
I had series one where I spat out every everything... since it is nameless they are going into trash after i soak them in water to obliterate them --- not recycling !
Series two is more formal, discreet and a nicer notebook.
Thank you !

Hi, Ginger

I began journaling in the late '80s; that would mean I've been journaling for almost a half-century. I quake to think it's been that long! (I'm 78.) I tell friends I began journaling before Julia Cameron's Artist's Way and her suggestion that all of us write "morning pages," three pages, longhand, every day. Cameron became––and remains––so popular that, to this day, when I tell someone that I do daily journal writing, they'll invariably say, "Oh, yes, your 'morning pages'." I used to say, "No, no, no!" but I've given up protesting; now I simply smile and say, "Uh-huh, yes, that's right. My 'morning pages'." 🙂

Happy holidays, Ginger!
Ray (@ray666)

@ray666 I recall taking an "Artist's Way" class in a bookstore back in the mid-90s. I have that book and the accompanying workbook. I also have several of her other books, which I found more to my taste, about writing. I discovered and realized I have been a writer/journaler/poet [but didn't know it!] since a very young age, probably in grade school. To me, the concept of 26 letters in the our alphabet, a fistful of punctuation marks, and off you can go! is simply fascinating.

While I have attempted to write most days, deciding the "when" has been a conundrum. I was following Amit Sood, M.D. Year of Healing https://www.resilientoption.com/ This week, once again, I am committing to writing most days while hooking up to dwell fluids for my dialysis. I am a "captive audience" at that point LOL I write longhand, and in my activity bag that travels with me is always a few pages from my binder/journal that uses A5 size paper, along with crochet, Kindle, and drawing materials. Thoughts/insights often come to me at some weird inopportune times!
Ginger

You clearly have found ways to be resilient in difficult situations. I’m wondering about Amit Sood's courses that you mention. Might you share more about how these have helped you. Thank you

@loll The daily insights my inbox gets makes me think, and often offers a jumpoff point for a daily journaling thought. Having a chance to look at the same situation from a different viewpoint, getting out of my own way as it were, gives me more options to resolving conflicts that my mind sets up for me. Thank you for asking!
Ginger

Good morning, Ginger (@gingerw)

I, too, have a slew of Julia Cameron’s books around here (“around here” is an indicator of my terrible job of organizing my books). I certainly didn’t mean to belittle her when I said I used to balk at friends assuming my journaling was due entirely to Cameron’s influence. In truth, I applaud her for leading so many people to the benefits of daily journaling. First-of-the-day journaling has become so much a part of my everyday routine, getting up and getting my day underway, that I can’t imagine a morning without a half-hour’s pre-cereal & toast journaling.

And I, too, write longhand. Like so many of us journalers (“journalers” is more straightforward, “journalists” could be confusing), I have auditioned dozens of pens over the years, from pricey fountain pens (nice, but messy) to one dollar and pennies use & toss pens. I’ve settled on UniBall Vision Elites, black ink, medium point, as my favorite; I’ve stuck with the Vision Elites for the past 5-6 years.

My journals (as you might guess, I have a shelf lined with “old” journals after all these years) are good ol’ inexpensive school Composition notebooks, the sort most everyone recognizes: black, with white squiggles, and handy reference tables on the inside back cover, should you, in the middle of a busy day, need to convert millimeters into inches or short tons into metric tons … things, in 50 years of journaling, I’ve never had to do. 🙂 )

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

Hello group,
I did a recording journal again today..yesterday was an ok morning for the senior morning anxiety..some apprehension but not as deep..our Christmas Day was quiet but peaceful…today or I should say this morning, the fear was back and it was quite unnerving…I recorded my feelings again.. while I drank a cup of coffee.. said a short prayer to alleviate my fears and worry and prayed for peace through this day.. drove to the mall and to my surprise it was not overcrowded.. I did my walk and took in the sights and silently counted my blessings…IT HELPED.. I am home now and ready to do a recording track of electric guitar music…something that I truly still enjoy.. I hope all of you had a peaceful Christmas and the day after…🙏
pvctom

I've kept journals for over 40 years. I reread them constantly noting the trajectory of my life. Now I also keep an activity and gratitude journal. I write poetry, short stories, short plays and personal essays.