In today’s edition of Truthful Tuesday, I answer a question from DH.
DH writes:
I noticed that you keep a physical journal as well as your blog. I also keep a journal, and I try to write daily. But I find, the more I keep up with my blog, the less likely I am to write in my journal, and vice versa. Do you have the same issue? If not, how does your journal differ from your blog, such that you have fresh material to contribute to both simultaneously?
Good question, DH!
I do keep a handwritten journal for myself.
In fact, I have several journals and I write when I need to. Sometimes I write in my journals several times a day. Sometimes I can go a month without an entry. It’s for me, and so there is no pressure to write every single day. The blog and the journals are not for the same purpose, so I don’t worry about keeping both “fresh.”
Where do I get my journals?
Believe it or not…at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Every year, I take the 8th graders to D.C., and while we’re there, my friend, Tara and I, get our kids to the National Gallery and hit the gift shop. Their selection of journals is unmatched, and I usually buy a journal and some stationery.
And, of course, check out the art.
But, onto the journals.
This journal is going to be my next diary-type journal. The one I am currently using is just about full, so this one is on deck.
In this journal, I started my CrowdourcingLove project, because it’s my writing journal. Sometimes I’ll get snippets of stories I want to write in my head, and I write them here. Sometimes it is just a sentence that I imagine, and here is where I deposit it, until I create the perfect story to build…around just that one sentence. I also write dreams that I’ve had that stay with me in this journal.
This journal is my journal for Monkey Girl. The day I found out I was pregnant with her, I began keeping this journal for her. I used to write regularly in this journal, but as you can imagine, it became sporadic, over time. My plan was always that I would give her this journal when she became pregnant for the first time, but then I realized she may not want children, or perhaps won’t be able to have children. So, perhaps when she’s 21. Or, perhaps tomorrow. Why wait?
This is my personal journal. It’s a mish mosh of pages, and is probably very representative of the creative part of my brain.
I post pictures that inspire me in some way or another.
I photocopy parts of books that I want to always have handy to re-read again and again.
Articles that have touched me.
Love notes that came at just the right moment.
This one from Monkey in the Middle.
Amazing moments. See Tiny in there?
And then, there’s the writing. The pages and pages filled with my writing.
I write what I’m thinking and feeling and what’s happening and my hopes and dreams and conflicts and whatever is on my mind and in my heart at the moment.
I love my journal and am a big advocate for people keeping a journal or a diary of some sort.
The blog I write for myself, for my kids, for you.
The journal is just for me.
*Please feel free to submit a question for Truthful Tuesday any time! Put it in the comment section of any post!*
I love the idea of really journaling for yourself – mainly a lost art.
I started a journal when I was 8, and write in it every 6 mos – 3 years. It’s a pretty neat thing to have – to be able to read in a short time what I considered worth writing down from that age to this one. It’s actually sitting in my parents’ house in the US right now, I should get my mom to send it to me so I can update it! I have a recipe scrapbook, a price notebook, and now a blog, but no real day-to-day journal for just ME. Hmmm.
Comment by Heidi @ homeingreece — January 31, 2012 @ 7:40 am |
My parents have slowly been cleaning out their basement, Heidi, and I’ve loved seeing what writings of mine they’ve come across. It’s so cool to look back at things I wrote in high school, and I also enjoy just going back through my journals from last year. 🙂 Funny to see what was important and what random thoughts were flitting through my mind at these times. Definitely get that stuff from your Mom! 🙂 Thanks!
Comment by abozza — January 31, 2012 @ 9:09 am |
Not sure if you blogged about this, but where did your fear of dolls and clowns come from?
Comment by aliciabozza — January 31, 2012 @ 8:56 am |
Good question, Alicia! I’ll be sure to answer it in an upcoming Truthful Tuesday!
Comment by abozza — January 31, 2012 @ 9:10 am |
I also have journals for the kids. They are really beautifully bound books which I write love notes to them on (or around) their birthdays. They don’t know about them, but they will get them some day when I am old & they are able to appreciate the words which fill my hearts on those days.
I did start a blog a while ago – not one that I share with the world though – and the goal is for them to get a glimpse of who their mother REALLY was, when they look back as adults.
Comment by Carla — January 31, 2012 @ 9:29 am |
I like the idea of a private blog. Kinda like my journals, when I’m gone, the kids will read them and know what was in my mind and heart. I love the idea of writing love notes to the kids on their birthdays in the journals for the kids. Thanks, Carla! 🙂
Comment by abozza — January 31, 2012 @ 9:50 am |
Thanks! My journal is boring by comparison! I just write in it, typically about a 15-minute session daily. Can you tell I’m very left-brained?! 😉
Comment by DH — January 31, 2012 @ 10:31 am |
A journal needs to be what YOU need it to be. Mine needs to be this way, but your 15-minute sessions are what you need! I have a friend who makes my journal look like a high school essay on practical politics! They are so very personal!
Comment by abozza — January 31, 2012 @ 10:52 am |
Love it. I have started journaling a small blurb each day and want to keep it up each day. It’ll be neat on Jan 20, 2015 to see what I did on Jan 20, 2012. Just little things like–taught Dubs how to ride without training wheels, or napped with Moo today. Kinda cool.
Comment by nicdowell — January 31, 2012 @ 11:40 am |
Nic, I always think about how weird it will be to see things like “Helped Matty learn how to tie his shoe” when he’s three feet taller than I am. 🙂
Comment by abozza — January 31, 2012 @ 12:14 pm |