Monday, August 20, 2007
The Journal
Today is a bit of an anniversary. I have been keeping a journal for one week. Whoopee.
Not a blog, you understand. This is a real live honest to goodness write-it-with-a-pen-in-a-book journal. I’ve tried this kind of thing before with limited success. This time I think I’ve figured out how to make it work. The secret seems to be to think less, and write less.
Journaling has become this big emotional psychological introspective meditative spiritual exercise. What happened to the good old days when a journal just recorded some of the things that happened today? Not that there won’t be moments of emotional writing. It’s just that I really don’t have time for that, especially after I wring myself dry writing this blog for the three of you that read it.
I aim this to be a journal that I don’t mind other people reading. Does that mean stuff will get left out? Sure. But I’m really seeing these books as a legacy for my children. How did Dad spend his life? At least from the age of 44, now they should have an answer to that. Maybe they can learn some lessons from it. Of course, there is always the chance that they won't really care...(sigh***)
I’m using the notebooks produced by Moleskines (MOW-luh-SKEE-nah). I like the size and shape, and I like the idea of having a set of these labeled by dates, sitting on the shelves. The name is also fun to say with an Italian accent.
I gotta go. I haven’t written about today yet.
Not a blog, you understand. This is a real live honest to goodness write-it-with-a-pen-in-a-book journal. I’ve tried this kind of thing before with limited success. This time I think I’ve figured out how to make it work. The secret seems to be to think less, and write less.
Journaling has become this big emotional psychological introspective meditative spiritual exercise. What happened to the good old days when a journal just recorded some of the things that happened today? Not that there won’t be moments of emotional writing. It’s just that I really don’t have time for that, especially after I wring myself dry writing this blog for the three of you that read it.
I aim this to be a journal that I don’t mind other people reading. Does that mean stuff will get left out? Sure. But I’m really seeing these books as a legacy for my children. How did Dad spend his life? At least from the age of 44, now they should have an answer to that. Maybe they can learn some lessons from it. Of course, there is always the chance that they won't really care...(sigh***)
I’m using the notebooks produced by Moleskines (MOW-luh-SKEE-nah). I like the size and shape, and I like the idea of having a set of these labeled by dates, sitting on the shelves. The name is also fun to say with an Italian accent.
I gotta go. I haven’t written about today yet.
Labels:
Journalism,
writing
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2 comments:
Well I read your blog everyday. So am I one of the three you say read it? I write in a prayer journal everyday mostly because as a visual tactile person it helps me keep focused instead of figuring out what I'm going to wear, etc. But if anyone reads them it will be awful boring as over the years I shorthand a whole bunch of prayers into one word like heal, comfort, finances, jobs, etc. In my mind I list all the people who need healing and may pray for some time about someone in specific. So the most interesting part may be the five things am thankful for that morning. And the depressive cries for help of course.
Perhaps. Obviously you are a person of superior intelligence and insight.
I'm realizing, as I'm just entering into this project that the shape of it will almost certainly change with time. I'm open to that. My goal right now is to ingrain the habit of actually writing something every day, so I am purposely keeping it simple. Perhaps the mundane details will hold no interest, but I think that many pearls are hidden among the sand for those who know how to look.
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