I have become the keeper of the family stories, some of which include the journals of my grandfather who farmed the Cowichan from a hundred years ago. The entries would have been shocking for family still back in the old country but mundane after a few years for those living it here. I am grateful for these stories and their simple statements of the harshness of everyday life for them. Their priorities and choices which built a path to where I am now.
Thank you for this! I finally started keeping a journal this year and I have already been amazed at how much I forget and how quickly. I started reviewing it once a month and I'm shocked to see I was writing about the same thing maybe 2 weeks ago and 2 months ago and I had completely forgotten. I also see different tones, different emotions, and very different levels of anxiety as I read the different posts. Just found your substance, looking forward to reading more!
I read this as an archived post, so thank you for linking to it in the January newsletter! As it happens, in clearing out a bookcase several weeks ago, my husband found a unused bound notebook with a cloth bookmark and a band to keep it from flopping open, and gave it to me.
It seems momentous to start writing in it, but, oh, how I regret not keeping a journal over my lifetime! I need to be less rigorous about thinking I need to have entries be cohesive or written at the same time everyday, etc. I plan to follow your advice of just 15 minutes a day and will see what I end up writing about.
I also read this as an archive, so thank you. I have so many journals and envelopes of paper after 40 years of journaling that I am now trying to makes sense of. What set me off was a visit from two granddaughters for the weekend and the 12 year old, who knows my habits went looking for markers, funky paper and stickers in my studio. The next thing I know she has commandeered the dining room table with all the stuff including glues, fancy pens, water colour paints, brushes and assorted add ons. She pulled out her hand made journal added paper and just stared working on it. It was an inspiration to keep going. She is lucky to go to a School Of The Arts. It would have made my school days earlier.
I very much enjoyed and appreciate your words on journal keeping.
I have become the keeper of the family stories, some of which include the journals of my grandfather who farmed the Cowichan from a hundred years ago. The entries would have been shocking for family still back in the old country but mundane after a few years for those living it here. I am grateful for these stories and their simple statements of the harshness of everyday life for them. Their priorities and choices which built a path to where I am now.
Thank you for this! I finally started keeping a journal this year and I have already been amazed at how much I forget and how quickly. I started reviewing it once a month and I'm shocked to see I was writing about the same thing maybe 2 weeks ago and 2 months ago and I had completely forgotten. I also see different tones, different emotions, and very different levels of anxiety as I read the different posts. Just found your substance, looking forward to reading more!
I read this as an archived post, so thank you for linking to it in the January newsletter! As it happens, in clearing out a bookcase several weeks ago, my husband found a unused bound notebook with a cloth bookmark and a band to keep it from flopping open, and gave it to me.
It seems momentous to start writing in it, but, oh, how I regret not keeping a journal over my lifetime! I need to be less rigorous about thinking I need to have entries be cohesive or written at the same time everyday, etc. I plan to follow your advice of just 15 minutes a day and will see what I end up writing about.
I also read this as an archive, so thank you. I have so many journals and envelopes of paper after 40 years of journaling that I am now trying to makes sense of. What set me off was a visit from two granddaughters for the weekend and the 12 year old, who knows my habits went looking for markers, funky paper and stickers in my studio. The next thing I know she has commandeered the dining room table with all the stuff including glues, fancy pens, water colour paints, brushes and assorted add ons. She pulled out her hand made journal added paper and just stared working on it. It was an inspiration to keep going. She is lucky to go to a School Of The Arts. It would have made my school days earlier.