A journal is also a tool for self-discovery, an aid to concentration, a mirror for the soul, a place to generate and capture ideas, a safety valve for the emotions, a training ground for the writer, and a good friend and confidant. -Ron Klug
I've kept a journal since I was eight.
In my first entry I described the way my baptismal jumpsuit was three sizes too big, forcing me to roll the pant legs a few times. As soon as I entered the water, I became a giant water balloon, standing precariously on my tippy toes. When I stepped out, my suit became a suction cup, emptying all the water into my mother's high heeled shoes.
Since I've married and had kids and life has officially "begun"
(isn't this what we've always waited for?),
I've slowed down in my journal writing.
Shouldn't it be the other way around?
I do need to write now more than ever, but not because I have so many adventures on a daily basis (unless you consider racing out the back door with a dripping booster seat while yelling "Remember when I asked you if you needed to go?!" an adventure worth writing about),
but rather because I NEED IT TO BE SANE.
Writing is cathartic.
It really heals me.
When I was young, I thought that the ideal age was seventeen. That's when I'd finally have things figured out, know basically who I was and what I wanted. What?? I guess I'm always figuring out who I am. Writing in my journal helps me do that. It's so familiar and comforting and non-judgemental. When I keep things up in my head too long, I start to tear myself apart and look at every flaw. On paper, it makes more sense. Being human is okay and acceptable. Did you yell at your kids today? Ok. Let's talk about it. Spill the details and once you see them on paper, it'll make you laugh. Then tomorrow you'll remember this entry and maybe you'll see the bigger picture more easily.
(And yes, you need to stop eating so many Cadbury mini eggs.
They make you ornery.)
I finished a journal today. It was the one I started when David and I got engaged. It ended with my marathon. I pulled out my new journal tonight, cracked it open to the first page and let it all out.
Love that.
Cheers to a good journal.
Cheers to Cadbury eggs.
Cheers to the dream of starting p90x again and getting rid of Cadbury egg flabbiness.
goodnight.
In my first entry I described the way my baptismal jumpsuit was three sizes too big, forcing me to roll the pant legs a few times. As soon as I entered the water, I became a giant water balloon, standing precariously on my tippy toes. When I stepped out, my suit became a suction cup, emptying all the water into my mother's high heeled shoes.
Since I've married and had kids and life has officially "begun"
(isn't this what we've always waited for?),
I've slowed down in my journal writing.
Shouldn't it be the other way around?
I do need to write now more than ever, but not because I have so many adventures on a daily basis (unless you consider racing out the back door with a dripping booster seat while yelling "Remember when I asked you if you needed to go?!" an adventure worth writing about),
but rather because I NEED IT TO BE SANE.
Writing is cathartic.
It really heals me.
When I was young, I thought that the ideal age was seventeen. That's when I'd finally have things figured out, know basically who I was and what I wanted. What?? I guess I'm always figuring out who I am. Writing in my journal helps me do that. It's so familiar and comforting and non-judgemental. When I keep things up in my head too long, I start to tear myself apart and look at every flaw. On paper, it makes more sense. Being human is okay and acceptable. Did you yell at your kids today? Ok. Let's talk about it. Spill the details and once you see them on paper, it'll make you laugh. Then tomorrow you'll remember this entry and maybe you'll see the bigger picture more easily.
(And yes, you need to stop eating so many Cadbury mini eggs.
They make you ornery.)
I finished a journal today. It was the one I started when David and I got engaged. It ended with my marathon. I pulled out my new journal tonight, cracked it open to the first page and let it all out.
Love that.
Cheers to a good journal.
Cheers to Cadbury eggs.
Cheers to the dream of starting p90x again and getting rid of Cadbury egg flabbiness.
goodnight.
7 comments:
I feel like I could have written this! I too look forward to my next good work out (and the end of cadbury mini egg season so I just don't have the option anymore)...and you've inspired me to write in my journal too- the one that only has one entry worth of paper left that I started the week before Kyle & I got married. You just made me smile:) and...good luck with the potty training!! Glad I'm not quite there yet!
you are so stinking cute. and you are such a good writer! your new blog is going to be such a hit just because of your talent. love you girl!
i love you. i just stinkin' love you! i love your thoughts and articulation and candid nature. hey, and the fact that you journal with two kids. actually, i journal every sunday with keith, but i've found recently that pen and paper journaling frustrate me because my thoughts and all i want to get out of my system can't keep up with my used-to-typing hands, so i'm going to start journaling online through ldsjournal.com or even just email to myself or something. if you have any ideas, let me know. because you're right--writing your thoughts and events is really, really therapeutic and helpful in this quest to reach our potential. love your public entries so i can learn from you!
Hey I want to 2nd what that other Janelle said.
I love your thoughts and feelings. You make me feel more sane just reading that other people out there aren't perfect!
Love ya! Thanks for the real
Your cousin...
Marlene
I love journaling, that was one of our many interests in common on our mission. Remember we'd read entries to each other every once in a while? I've slowed down a bit since i got married two. I skipped writing on our engagement...or sealing and i'm still so mad at myself:)
That picture is beautiful, and says it all. Write on my friend!
Ditto to "Cheers to a good journal.
Cheers to Cadbury eggs."
But if you ever talk about Flabbiness again, I may need to smack you!
p
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