Reflecting on Life

When I was a kid, one of my favorite crafty activities to do was take a blank journal notebook and create a beautiful cover. I would use markers in all the colors of the rainbow to decorate it with my personal fashion! And I would glue bows made out of yarn to its cover to draw attention to the girly-look I achieved.  Yet, what I cherished even more than creating the journal cover was actually writing in it.  

I would write about everything in my journals. From how I wanted to have hair as long as my best friend Michelle’s, to how happy I felt about my mom finally having Saturdays and Sundays off from work, to how yummy the chocolate chip cookie was that I helped my older sister bake. My journal was so unique in that it served as both a retreat that I could escape to and a place to celebrate of my life. No one ever read my journals, at least of which I am aware, and no one had to for me to feel like my writing had purpose. Journal writing was different for me in that it allowed me a way to vent my frustrations, jump for joy over happy thoughts, and act down-right silly over trivial things. No one judged my words, which allowed me to freely write down what was in my imagination. 

To this day, I still journal. I look at it as my time for me—my time to reflect on all that I have going on in my life, good and bad. I believe it keeps me centered by extrapolating that which pesters my soul, on the flip side, by amplifying those cheery emotions that I may have otherwise overlooked.

Journaling, to me, is a gift that allows us freedom of expression and a chance to evaluate our thoughts and feelings.  It is truly a gift that we give to ourselves.

Our scrapbook pages allow us to tickle that journaling itch. This month, Amy Law has designed a fun scrapbook project, which incorporates a small amount of captioning to help us appreciate the fine gift of writing for ourselves! 

Enjoy!

Dennise