My journaling journey started in high school, the Dear Diary style of journaling where you share your thoughts about friends, school, boyfriends, etc. I was on an inconsistent journaling journey and had months where I did not write anything. I also bounced around from journal to journal. Sometimes it was full stories and others were just a few lines about the day or situation. Some of my journals were filled with doodles and drawings, more of an art journal of sorts.
Keep your journals
To be completely honest, I don’t have any of my journals from that time in my life. Writing back then was something I did for fun and I did not see a reason nor have a need to keep them. Most of my journals were lost in my life’s transitions and travels and a few of them were ruined in a flood in my parents storage shed. I lost many childhood things in that flood. Looking back now it would be interesting to read some of those entries, especially for pivotal moments in my life like my high school boyfriend, cosmetology customers, prom, graduation, etc. I remember writing about all of these moments but not specifics. Note to self…keep your journals.
“Even with all these gaps in my journaling I still consider myself a journaler.”
JAIME JO FREEMAN @RestoreYourSparkle
Gaps don’t matter
Even with all these gaps in my journaling I still consider myself a journaler. My journaling has changed and evolved though the years. I have come to understand that keeping a journal is more than just day to day events. To me journaling is a place to collect your thoughts, memories, plans, goals and dreams. It has become my go to place to hash out confusing thoughts or scribble out frustrations; my safe place to listen to my own thoughts and shut out the noise.
Why Journal
Why do I keep a journal? It is to remember who I am, to connect to myself and build confidence in my own voice. As an introvert it can take me a while to find my words when asked my opinion or to give advice. This is when my journal is there for me to write my first thoughts and then reframe them so it makes sense when I respond. Another reason why I journal and probably the most important reason is for self-care. Self-care is so necessary but often overlooked or not made a priority. Once I realized how much I need self-care in my life it clicked how much I need to journal.
Practice Grace
Even today I don’t open my journal as much as I’d like, but I know where it is when I need to. I give myself grace for the days I miss when I am focusing on trying to be more consistent. Remembering to keep a simplicity mindset when journaling helps me to connect more with my journey. I believe I am still a journaler even if I do not write daily or if I still bounce from journal to journal. Journaling is my self-care practice that gives me peace with who I am. And I am happy with that.
Do you feel called to start a journal but don’t know where to start? Do you need a little encouragement to get pen to paper again? I invite you to follow my community at Restore Your Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram for inspiration, tips and techniques for your journaling practice.
If you have questions please email me at jj@restoreyoursparkle.com, I would love to connect with you and support you on your inconsistent journaling journey.
