I've journaled for years, long before it became popular.  I didn't begin this journey because it was trendy.  I started, and continue to journal, because sometimes (often) the only way I can think is to put pen to paper and let words, thoughts, and/or phrases churn themselves out of my head and onto the page.  But occasionally I hit a dry spell, those days when all I manage to do is write a date on an empty page.

A couple of years ago I found myself in one of those times so I turned to one of my favorite web sites, Pinterest.  Wow!  There is so much information and how-to's, types of journaling, journaling prompts, and professional quality stuff that looks like a Bible-page-turned-coloring-book.

Suddenly, not only could I not seem to write a word, but I began to compare how I journal to how the Pinterest bloggers journaled...and looking for inspiration backfired.  Even this seasoned journaler quickly become overwhelmed with all the Pinterest material. 

Back to Basics

Over the years I learned that all it takes to journal is a writing instrument of some kind and a piece of  paper.  In fact, my first journals were very inexpensive, wide ruled spiral notebooks, usually ones left over from my children's school work.  At some point I began to purchase journals: big ones, little ones, usually lined. I'd love to know how many ink pens I've used until they ran dry.  Later I began to make what I call quote journals and then, I began what passes as my attempt at art journaling.

During the busy years of raising our four sons, my journal was usually in the bathroom window.  That was the only time I had by myself and those notations were hit and miss.  Life was crazy and the only time I had to think were stolen moments in the bathroom.  Back then, I practiced what could be called bullet journaling; thoughts, prayers quickly jotted down in simple, quick phrases as time allowed.  Fast forward many years (and many journals) and my journaling style now ranges from pages with the date, simple thoughts and meditations in my regular, lined journal, all the way to hand lettered text art illustrated with colored pencils in a sketch diary; sometimes there are notes on what makes a day special or simply a quote or scripture that strikes my heart.

I'm also a seasonal journaler.  By that I mean that I tend to document my thoughts in different ways as the seasons change.  Lent finds me introspective.  Spring often lends to drawing, coloring or doing my version of text  art.  Stressful times sometimes finds me sketching because drawing what I see grounds me (and keeps me from over thinking).  Most times I write every morning during my prayer time, at other times I may go a week or longer without penning a word.

Why do I tell you this?  Because, over the years the most important lesson I've learned is that there is no "correct" way to journal!

What if someone reads my journal?  

Initially I was really concerned that people might find my journal, read it and become upset at something I wrote.  Then I realized that I have the right to expect that my journal is just that.  Mine.

My current journal sits on the end table beside my chair.  Admittedly our sons are grown, but they have been told often enough that if they peek and read my journal and find anything in there that upsets them, they shouldn't have been reading it anyway.

That said, I also realize that this rule will be broken at some point so I am very careful HOW I compose my thoughts.

Many of us were taught "never speak ill of anyone". I do my best to practice that old adage in my journals. How? I am very careful about naming family members when issues happen.  I have learned to write less of situations and more about how I feel, think, react, to the issue.  For example, if my feelings are hurt I tend to treat the cause of the hurt feelings in a generic way, but how I react gets written about in a much more detailed manner.  I decided that the respect I expect from my family goes both ways.  My loved ones deserve my respect in my writings.

Where do I keep my journal so it becomes a habit?  

The current journal sits beside my chair with my Bible, prayer book and any meditative reading I may be doing.  Old journals are kept in a drawer beside my bed.  I have one full drawer and another partially full, in addition to some loose leaf pages, notes, etc.  

Keeping a journal can be as simple as jotting things down from time to time.  No proofreading, no worry about punctuation, spelling or any other rules from High School English class.  A journal can even be kept on a word processing program.  After all, it is MY thoughts I am getting out of my head and onto paper!