journal daily

Guess this is my life at the moment – only on 43things once a month. Life has been so hectic the past few months.

I have even fallen off the wagon on my journaling. I am taking a class – have to travel an hour each way to the 2.5 hour class and then the work for the class is another story! Hitting the learning curve has been challenging, but rewarding. I has left little time for other interests (i.e. 43things, redbubble, and email). Combined with repair issues at home and family emergencies, time has been at a premium.

Tomorrow I start anew. My pens (I have always loved many colors of pens – illuminates my mood when I write) and my notebooks are waiting. I have a lot to share with my old friend.

I have been thinking a lot about changes I have made since the first of the year. The journal provides a wonderful record of the day to day process of change. It give a great deal of insight into how I embrace or avoid the changes I attempt to make in my life. I think journaling is a positive force in the changes I have been able to make since the first of the year. There is a real power to putting to paper the thoughts I have in my head. It provides clarity and direction. And at the same time, I am creating a history of how that change occurred – a template for further change! I like that.

If it is measured by the consistency of writing, then I have made great progress – I have missed only one day since the first of January (and I was traveling that day.) I have been pleasantly surprised at how easily I fell back into the daily habit of writing in the journal.

The real issue I have is being able to get to the heart of what I really want to say – not so easy to dismantle the walls on command. This issue seems more difficult when I am busy (especially with work); hard to “connect” at those times.

I thought I would have a hard time getting back into the journaling. I took to it quite easily, although getting it done first thing in the morning (when I really feel I get the best, most present response) has proved to be a little more difficult. I think I need to be adamant with myself about the morning journal. No excuses.

So far (2 days) I’m on track with my journaling.

I have my journal, my pens, and my mind is right—everything is ready for January 1. For many years I have journaled, more or less continuously. In the past couple of years, as life has gotten busier and more complicated, I have not made time for this activity. Journaling is like an old friend I have lost touch with and feel the need to reconnect. I am ready, but I know I will struggle to get back in the habit of writing every day. It is a dicipline.