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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.

cathypeirson | @cathypeirson | Feb 11 6:06am

I’m 71 and a retired executive. I always have 2 art journals in process. One I write in and the other is just art, generally with a theme. Enjoy!

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pvctom2021 | @pvctom2021 | Feb 11 8:25pm
In reply to @gingerw "@pvctom2021 Having a way to vent is a good thing. We each have a chance to..." + (show)
@gingerw

@pvctom2021 Having a way to vent is a good thing. We each have a chance to develop what will work for us, and modify that as the need arises. Getting out to exercise in fresh morning air, or journaling, or chatting with the neighbor about his struggles, will help deflect the feelings we might be having ourselves, and can help us a lot!

Like you, I have a pretty pronounced "hole" scar in the middle of my forehead from a skin cancer over 20 years ago. At the time I was still working full-time, and told people they removed my third eye LOL! Since then I have only half an eyebrow due to another surgery, and recently had MOHS on my nose. Skin cancer seems to be so frequent for me. I have a cool looking jagged lightning scar near my throat and collarbone from MOHS surgery 4 years ago.

You have more courage than you give yourself credit for. You have shared with us your struggles, and that indeed takes a lot of bravery. I have no doubt you have helped others in their journey!
Ginger

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Hello to all

Well the weekend is over and another week gets ready
to roll…thanks to all of the members for your positive reactions and support…I have been maintaining my step count via walks at the mall and my morning anxiety 😥 was not as bad today…I still have to get going or if I lay in bed, I don’t do well…tomorrow I contact cardiology and confirm my appointment for Tuesday…wish you all a good day and night and a safe week ahead…it’s good here..
🙏 pvctom

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mayoscout | @mayoscout | Feb 13 6:45am

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

Yes, I journal. It started by recommendations from doctors, therapists, and my wife who were advising me to do it for years. At first, I was advised just write down thoughts and memories from combat so I could get them on paper. Since then it has morphed into more of a daily journal entry that I do early in the morning. It is part of my routine to get me started for the day. I write in a composition notebook. Due to a hand issue I can only write about half a page on most days which is unfortunate. I use that little bit of space to write down whatever is clouding my brain in when I wake up. I take those thoughts and try to leave them in the journal for the rest of the day.

To anyone who wanted to start, I would say try to start small by getting your current thoughts down and move on(sorta like meditation). Repeat that the next day and see where it goes...

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1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 13 7:27am
In reply to @mayoscout ""Do you journal? What prompted you to start? What would you tell someone who wants to..." + (show)
@mayoscout

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

Yes, I journal. It started by recommendations from doctors, therapists, and my wife who were advising me to do it for years. At first, I was advised just write down thoughts and memories from combat so I could get them on paper. Since then it has morphed into more of a daily journal entry that I do early in the morning. It is part of my routine to get me started for the day. I write in a composition notebook. Due to a hand issue I can only write about half a page on most days which is unfortunate. I use that little bit of space to write down whatever is clouding my brain in when I wake up. I take those thoughts and try to leave them in the journal for the rest of the day.

To anyone who wanted to start, I would say try to start small by getting your current thoughts down and move on(sorta like meditation). Repeat that the next day and see where it goes...

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Hello @mayoscout,

I appreciate your thoughts about journaling. I really like the idea of "start small." Often, when I start a new project, I look at the big picture, rather than seeing it as process of small steps. I have a sense that this will help others who look at 8 X 11 page and walk away feeling like, "I can't or don't want to do that."

I'm guessing that for you, journaling is a way of releasing the memories from combat so that they don't cloud your current life. Any other tips on journaling that you would like to share?

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1 reply
samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | Feb 13 10:16am

Putting things down on paper always helps. It is different when the thought or idea "lives in your head."

When Abraham Lincoln was studying the law, in his early days, he used to read the text out loud, because he felt that adding the sense of hearing to the concentration work, accented his ability to retain material.

Putting things on paper allows you to "witness" if you will, your own thought process, have a look at your thinking, almost from outside yourself.

So, yes, I think it is enormously helpful.

If folks want, you can Google around. Some places offer courses in Journal Writing, or Memoir Writing...

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1 reply
samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | Feb 13 10:22am
In reply to @gingerw "I wrote my first poem when I was 5 years old. It was a fascinating discovery..." + (show)
@gingerw

I wrote my first poem when I was 5 years old. It was a fascinating discovery to see how 26 letters could be arranged into a seemingly endless variety of words, describing my world around me and what was going on.

It wasn't until I got out of high school that I discovered my father had been keeping a journal since his junior high school years. He even made a special wooden box to hold his paper and pens. He chronicled many moves, a mother's death at his young age, and his time serving in the US Navy during WW II on the USS Enterprise. He also kept detailed daily postings of weather on the header of each page of his books, and the goings-on of his marriage and growing family. He kept track of his kids as we ventured off and started our own lives, and told of the heartbreak of my mother's dementia and her long-tenured journey of Silence. I had always hoped to receive his journals after he passed, but it was not to be.

So, I guess my journaling came generationally to me. Over the years it was natural to pick up pen and paper, recording what was going on in my heart/head/world/life. My poetry and observations on life are in a separate book, or books as it may be. My journals where my soul gets poured out, are in their own. I have written about heartache and heartbreak, job insecurity, and the everyday things that everybody goes through. I have written my way through natural disasters, cross country trips and camping, illnesses and the discovery of who I think I might be. I write in longhand mostly or print. I choose not to use a computer because then it is so easy to hit the delete key and erase what you're truly saying! Besides that, I took some handwriting courses so I can look back at old entries and see what my thoughts really were and where my head really was at. Very enlightening!

I am looking forward to hearing from others.
Ginger

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I thought you might enjoy this:

Poetry readings from the Dodge Poetry Festival (the largest poetry festival in North America).

Had had poet laureates, Beat Poets, more...

https://www.youtube.com/@grdodgepoetry
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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Feb 13 11:13am
In reply to @samcal9977zz "Putting things down on paper always helps. It is different when the thought or idea "lives..." + (show)
@samcal9977zz

Putting things down on paper always helps. It is different when the thought or idea "lives in your head."

When Abraham Lincoln was studying the law, in his early days, he used to read the text out loud, because he felt that adding the sense of hearing to the concentration work, accented his ability to retain material.

Putting things on paper allows you to "witness" if you will, your own thought process, have a look at your thinking, almost from outside yourself.

So, yes, I think it is enormously helpful.

If folks want, you can Google around. Some places offer courses in Journal Writing, or Memoir Writing...

Jump to this post

@samcal9977zz I have found that reading aloud what is on a written page accesses a different processing part of our brains. Auditory and visual combined can give us even more insight. And as we read aloud, inflections and pauses can give a whole new meaning to a simple written statement. Such is the power of words!

There is no absolute "right" or "wrong" way to journal or write. There is only what is right for you, at that given time. Subject to change at any point. That's the beauty of it all. Emptying my head by putting words on paper lets me make space for more.
Ginger

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mayoscout | @mayoscout | Feb 14 5:24am
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @mayoscout, I appreciate your thoughts about journaling. I really like the idea of "start small."..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @mayoscout,

I appreciate your thoughts about journaling. I really like the idea of "start small." Often, when I start a new project, I look at the big picture, rather than seeing it as process of small steps. I have a sense that this will help others who look at 8 X 11 page and walk away feeling like, "I can't or don't want to do that."

I'm guessing that for you, journaling is a way of releasing the memories from combat so that they don't cloud your current life. Any other tips on journaling that you would like to share?

Jump to this post

I would say some other things that I have learned over the years is do not beat yourself up if you do not get an entry in for the day or that you were only able to write down a word or two. Accept what you are able to do that day, appreciate it, and move on.

I have a habit tracker. One of the habits on there is journaling. I used to look at the tracker and get upset with myself on days that I missed journaling. Now when I see it I've learned to accept that it just happens and to be ok with it. It has made journaling overall much more pleasurable thus allowing me to finally build enough of a habit where I do it quite regularly now.

Also, do not be afraid to write down whatever is on your mind. If it's bad, get it out and move on. We all have things that cross our minds that we do not like. Get it out on paper and walk away. Your brain will process on that in the background so there is no need to keep it in the foreground affecting your day.

I may have other things that but is what I can think of off the top of my head right now.

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pvctom2021 | @pvctom2021 | Feb 16 11:33am

Hello to all

My cardiology appointment was moved to March 26 th from this past Tuesday…. Yesterday I went back up to Ft. Belvoir community hospital for urinalysis tests and blood work..
My wife stayed home guarding the fort, but was as always there on the other end of my cellphone..and what did we ever do or I ever do before them??…I picked up my meds and did the I 95 treak back to Fredericksburg….my mail had a letter from the psychiatrist visit from a week or so ago that went awry .. I don’t think it represented what happened during the visit nor how it ended…the letter wants me to respond to a written request for her to release my medical records and my medical condition? to my new provider…what new provider and what medical condition could she be referring too??,.. I only just briefly, before being rudely cut off, mentioned to her about my morning fears and anxiety…and that’s all…

Anyway, this morning upon awakening, my rush of adrenaline or cortisol had me thinking that this was a horrible thing or something terrible was around the corner…I gathered myself, said my quick morning prayer, for God to remove my fear and anxiety, and give me peace, got drsssed came out did some coffee, house choirs and journaled what I’m doing now.. I feel better and will soon be off to the mall for a walk and a few waves to various merchants.. and my wife and I will exchange valentines cards and open her gift later today…and I hope that all here had a nice Valentine’s Day and will enjoy a peaceful weekend…this is a nice place..🙏 pvctom

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xpax | @xpax | Feb 16 1:02pm

Journaling has been a venting pastime for about ten years now. It would be nice to have a lock on them but that is way too many keys !
Usually when I need to express something in an email, it works out much safer to put it in the journal. It holds things I can't say, or express and so makes me feel muçh better.
Get a readily obtainable book of a quality, hopefully with lots of lines reaching each side of the ruled pages.
I cannot imagine computerizing it, handwriting achieves a better mind-writing connection in thoughtfulness for me. But, e n j o y !

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