Die-Hard Journal-Keeper
Someone at work today asked me why I didn’t seem to be so worried over the economic crisis or the election. It was so nice to have the opportunity to share my “secret!”
I keep a journal. I’ve kept one since I was in grade school, but got consistent with it 23 years ago. I could write thousands of words on how beneficial the act of journaling has been, but I’ll restrain myself today. J
My journal is my biggest emotional release. It is the repository of all my fears and worries. There’s a magic in writing them down; it allows me (for the most part) to leave them behind or walk away less burdened.
My journal contains prayers, pleas, humorous incidents, story, article and blog ideas, notes about friends and family. It has become the keeper of creativity, connection, and communication.
Tears, joy, excitement, the blues, all of these find a way onto the pages of my journal. On those pages reside reflections on life, introspection on who I am now and who I am becoming, and large doses of gratitude for my many blessings.
This is not to say I never land in a blue funk or don’t lose my temper. I sure do! I know my journal mitigates the worst of it, though. After 23 years, as I waxed and waned with my journal, the differences in my attitude and emotions are quite noticeable to me.
I am afraid if I were told I could never journal again that I’d end up in one of those fancy white jackets (you know…the kind with the sleeves that buckle in the back, lol) staring at padded walls. Fortunately, I’m free to journal my heart out. Whew!
Now, if I could only journal away sleepiness and stretch my day, I’d have it made!
Hm. I have one of those journals. Except that it’s online and it kind of freaks people out.
It doesn’t freak EVERYONE out, Matthew, lol. Just some people. You shocked the heck out of me with a short post. I thought I was on the wrong blog! However, that post was really well done, buddy. Blogger Dad is right in that respect. Having to limit your words does improve our prose and teach us how to focus on the message.