Journaling

[Miriam]

Journaling is a big part of my life and I find it very healing in my walk with a chronic illness. I am curious as to whether others out there journal and if so would you mind answering some questions for me?
1. Do you journal?
2. How often do you write in your journal? (just an appoximate, we all vary)
3. Do you keep your journal on line or written in some kind of book?
Thanks in advance for your time. Please add any pertinent comments you would like or even questions you may have for others.

[Kimberly Walker (& Donald)]

I have journaled on and off for years. Sometimes I am more committed to it than others. I recently pulled out 9 of my older journals and am planning to go through and pull out some of the "GOD SPEAK" I had written in them and paste them in my new journal and then to have a little book burning of what's left of them. I had done a lot of healing work in them, but have decided it is time to put some of those old feelings to rest.

And, I have recommitted to my journaling efforts here in the past couple of months. I am doing some praying in them. Some writing about some of the things the Lord is showing me about myself and my relationships with others and Him. I am doing some different kinds of things like using magazine pictures to express myself, rather than simply writing. I have drawn a few pictures, and although I am NOT a really great artist, I am enjoying expressing my feelings this way.

[Coach Marla]

Hello Miriam,

I am happy to answer your questions. =)

1. Yes ma'am I journal
2. Pert near every evening
3. Actually I have both, the one online is
for my book and the one in written form
is my personal journal that I have been
constructing for my family when I am
either no longer able to talk, or I am
no longer here with them...so they will
have a better understanding of all the
daily issues and obstacles I have had
to overcome and how I did it....along
with some thoughts of how they treated
me ya know....hahahahahaha.

So, I in turn ask those same questions
to you my friend.

Thanks for asking these, good conversation
starter type questions.

~Blessings~
Coach Marla

[Jan Lyn Lewis]

You know, Miriam before I developed autoimmune disease and was suffering soley from fibro, I was able to keep up better with my journaling. Point blank, I am a recovering perfectionist. I kept journals up and had neat little piles of them and my entire home was that way. The extent of the pain I suffered without a label for 2 years put me into despair along with some other loss. In a rather difficult, despairing time I threw out all my journals. I truly believed that I was going to die at that time and did not want to leave them as my legacy. That was going on 4 years ago this February.

The past 2 years I have started up again, but I do not keep to a schedule by any means. I just journal when I feel led to and have a few different types--one is just for favorite scriptures and quotes and another is a gratitude journal where I simply list what I am thankful for. These 2 journals help me when I am struggling as I can look back and see God's faithfulness or gain some sort of encouragement. I also have one where I write ongoing through my days, any ideas, phrases, poems and such that just come to me--my calendar and "to do" list is in there and this particular one is pretty attached to my hip. It is from those that I usually pull any blogging ideas from. I do have a more personal journal. I don't seem to be writing in there with any regularity, but it is full of my feelings and what I'm discovering...lots of stuff on my family and situations that I want my children to know--much as Marla said below. My 2 daughters and I also keep nature journals together throughout the year. We began this habit years ago when the children were all just little and keep adding to them--drawing little sketches of what we see in nature, mostly wildflowers and native plants of the area and stream/pond studies through the 4 seasons here. I'm no artist, and am struggling with my eye sight, but it's something we do together for fun and relaxation. We fill it in with verses, poetry and observations and share with one another as a family. It is amazing to see the creativity of young children develope through the years vs. my uptight drawings! hahaha...and my house is no longer neat and tidy. Guess God is in the business of "remodeling" it along with my life.

So, curious what you are up to, Miriam........?

[Miriam]

I guess I should share my asnswers as well. I have been keeping a journal for about 9 years now. Mostly written in various notebooks and journals. I recently tried keeping a journal with a program on my computer. But I dont like not being able to take my journal outside to write when I want to. I think I am going back to a written journal. My journals are usually a hodge podge of things. I copy scriptures, quotes, poems, paste from magazines, draw, doodle, whatever mood strikes for the time. I try to make an entry each day but I must admit I have not been doing so lately. It really helps me to keep things balanced in my life when I journal daily. And I have so much more time to journal these days than when I worked. Hmmmm, time to refocus.

[LINDA SLOAN]

So interested in this Miriam - but I wonder if journaling is more an American 'thing'.. really not sure...it's just not something I hear discussed much over here. I did buy a 'journal' in the summer - have just looked and the only entry I have for it is Fri 7th August. I started this so I would have a record of the things the Lord speaks to me as I am out and about as I forget all too quickly. I guess I'm just not getting into the pattern of writing in it.

[Joy]

Yes i have a Joy journal (pun intended) it's just a little note book that fits in my purse.
In it is just 5 or more things that brought joy during my day or seeing God that day.
It could be as simple as the sun was shining, to an long awaited answered prayer. I made someone smile or recieved a hug. I even wrote the loving words that I got at my Grandfather's funeral service.
The whole point is to keep my eyes and heart open to what's all around me.

Even though my goal is 5 daily, there really is no limit. I have forgotten about it these past months so this is a good reminder to go back to it as it really helps to focus differently. During my day is when i do it, I keep it with me. Lately I've been tempted to be a debbie downer and I need to make a healthy habit of looking for the positive because the truth there is more good happening then bad.

I also have an art journal that i handmade and started this week. It's just a way to creativly release my heart on paper through different forms of art. Poems, drawings, decoupage, put photo's i took in there and writing freehand my words down in an artistic way, no rules. It really is so perfect for me since I am not good at conventional journals. I seem to get bored or forget.

I like to do this one when i'm needing to do something creative and don't have words to express myself and this is one way that I can. I'm also learning to draw as a form of prayer, so it's interesting how this journal idea is changing in a whole new way that i wasn't expecting.

[Jack Norman]

Thank you Miriam for this opportunity to comment on this topic. Until now I have not been able to find the patience, commitment or discipline to journal. Interestingly though, since joining this group I have found the act of writing the frequent blogs to be beneficial and helpful in pain management. I suppose because it is an interactive conversation that it keeps my interest and motivation up. It has been very helpful and healing as I see affirmation from others of thoughts and things that I thought I was alone with. There seems to be a healing factor in both journaling and blogging.