6. Journaling

Photograph by Trumpetvine

I'm inspired by all of the great journal writers I've discovered online in the last few months and so I decided to buy a new journal today. I'm hoping that soon it will be filled with great stories, pictures, bits of paper and lots of color. You may think of journaling as this difficult or depressing practice or maybe you've tried to journal but just couldn't stick with it. I think journaling can be a lot more fun if we just let go of the "rules." Who cares if you journal every day? What if you just filled up your journal with things that made you happy today? Or maybe your journal could be the place where you work out a plan for how you'll start that new business or a place to keep notes about the books you read. Journals can be great "dumping grounds" for all of our grievances but they can also be sacred spaces for our dreams, plans and goals. In the past, I've kept journals about cooking (recipes, cooking classes, & successes/disasters in the kitchen), travel (dream destinations, road trip ideas, beautiful photographs), and art (information about museum trips, exhibits, artists, and new books). Journals can be illustrated, made up of torn paper and magazine clippings, pen & ink drawings, rubber stamping, paint and glue. Or they can be traditional, with page after glorious page of gorgeous handwriting.

Take a run to the bookstore and browse the journals. Which one jumps out at you with its cover design? Is it serious embossed leather? Does it have cartoon characters on it? Maybe it's all about serenity with flowers or waterfalls or Buddha? Is it tiny so that it fits in your purse or pocket? Or perhaps you think the bigger the better for your thoughts and artwork. Whatever it is, choose the one that best fits how you feel right now, the one that brings a smile to your face. Buy it. And then write your first entry immediately, maybe right there in the store or in your car. Make a promise to yourself to not follow rules and to not pay attention to the "right way" of journaling. Instead, doodle, have fun, write what you feel and paste whatever you like into the book. Have fun with it and create your own sacred space for all of those amazing thoughts and inspirations. Here are some of my favorite journals, sketchbooks and writing ideas. Maybe they will inspire you to take your new journal to the next level:

52Q

Besottment

Joyce Carol Oates

Adebanji Alade

Susannah Conway

Wreck This Journal

Trumpetvine