My first "diary" began on my birthday when I was 8 years old. My thoughts were mainly about the weather, a fun activity I did, or about a new friend. As I entered high school most of my entries were attempts at poetry in order to find a way to figure out all the swirling emotions inside of me. College journals were mainly written prayers, and I kept spiral-bound calendars that I used as daily logs of all my activities. I always gave journals to friends as gifts by covering composition books with fabric (hot glued) and adding ribbons and embellishments. I knew I was giving them the precious gift of expressing themselves and an avenue for deeper spiritual growth and intimacy with the Lord.
After college I headed overseas to Eastern Europe for 2 years and kept very detailed daily journals of everything I did, all my thoughts and impressions, prayers, and even what I ate! These are some of my favorite journals and have been a memorial of all that God was working in me at such a pivotal time in my life. It's also been a source of confirmation to me of my faith and my intimacy with the Lord.
The years after that have sporadic journaling. Babies came quickly and fatigue got the best of me. I always came back to writing though because it best allowed me to get out all of my emotions and a way for me to process my life. Journals have always been a safe place for me to vent, cry, struggle, and finally surrender.
I have journaled a lot this past year as a way of healing for me from some hard places in my life and in a struggle with anxiety and depression. The more I "get it all out" the more at peace I am. I have a hard time praying out loud or in my mind but have always found my greatest prayer intimacy with Him through writing. The benefits of journaling are numerous and is a lifestyle discipline worth our time and energy.
The key to journaling is to be yourself. Keep it simple, unedited, and from the heart. Just write and allow yourself to be fully expressive in your emotions. This is only between you and the Lord and there is beautiful freedom for pure authenticity.
I was so thrilled to find this delightful blog that has inspired me to make one of these simple journals filled with the daily-ness of my life. This is a pretty place for to-do lists, poems, quotes from the children, creative ideas, recipes, etc. This will be a fun scrapbook-of-sorts of our lives, activities, and all the little things that we so easily forget down the road. These journals are a wonderful way to recycle magazines and finally cut out all those inspiring pictures that we keep those mags for in the first place!! This is also something that my little girl is enjoying doing with me and is inspired to make her own.
Buy a fresh journal, notebook, sketchbook or whatever and enjoy anew the journaling journey!
2 comments:
I just discovered the very same blog this morning. I, too, was inspired. I've been journalling since I could write, and it is also how I pray. I am going to buy myself some of those supplies and try it out. It looks so exciting, creative, and expressive. I'm curious about what I'll end up with!
Jewels is creating quite the stir in the blog world! I just discovered her myself last week. I do hope that you will post some of your completed pages! Enjoy.
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