Journaling

I met with my friend, Brenda, this morning to finalize our plans for a journaling workshop we are doing next weekend. Back when I was working at the Center for Disabilities, I helped put together a funding proposal to the Qwest Foundation for funding for several creative arts activities. The journaling workshop was one. I'm so happy that I have had the opportunity to continue with this activity after I left that job.

So, we are hosting a workshop next weekend for ~10 people with disabilities. It should be fun & I am excited to share my passion of journaling with others! It has gotten me thinking about my own journaling activities lately.

I love to journal, but I'm not always the best at making the time to do it. Sometimes journaling can be a struggle for me, while other times, the mere act makes me giddy with joy. I like to use this blog as a method of my own journaling as well as writing in a gorgeous book that my sister gave me last year.

For me, journaling is a place for me to say whatever I want. It is very personal at times, while other times (like what I write in this blog) it is a way to express random ideas and thoughts that I may have. I write for myself the best. What I mean is that when I write in my journal like someone may read it later on (maybe after I die? I know, morbid thought), I find that I struggle the most with my writing. If I just let it flow, I can fill pages of a journal with ramblings that only I can decipher in the end.

When I have gone through some rough patches in my life, I always thought that my journaling would be of comfort for me. Oddly, as I have gotten older, I have found the exact opposite. Sometimes it was easier for me to just put those rough times behind me instead of reliving them through my journal. So, I guess I tend to journal the more happy, mundane parts of my life! For those of you who know me best, I think this probably makes perfect sense. I've always been a glass half full kinda gal!

I'm looking forward to sharing my love of journaling with others next weekend. I recognize that journaling isn't for everyone. Heck, there are times in my life when even I haven't enjoyed it! But, I like the idea that any of us can have a personal place where we can say whatever we want to say. No editing, no making sure we spell words right, no making sure we might offend someone. This is what a journal is to me - me being me the best way that I know how.