I love this essay and the photo of your journals. I once threw away a whole stack of my journals out of shame and embarrassment for my poor writing or « true feelings » and I could really kick myself now…also I love « The Artist’s Way »
I love journalling and stopped doing it for a while. I am curious about your thoughts on Digital Journalling Shreya? Have you tried it or recommend it.
I always wanted to start journaling but never really wrote more than a couple of days that too sporadically. But this made me rethink about journaling and I want to start again.
Is there a template to it or maybe something to keep me motivated to write regularly? (apologies if this is a stupid question)😅
You could start by writing 2-3 lines every day, just about what you did during the day. I find using prompts to be helpful, too, if you're stuck about what to write.
Prompts might be the missing link in my approach. My aim is to write everyday and hopefully with prompts it'll be a little easy. Thank you for the tip :)
This is beautiful! So much more than just the logistics of journaling, but your relationship to the process! I connected with the age you were when you started writing (I was 11 when poetry took me in its arms), the way your writing has been therapy and a place to unload all of your feelings, and how writing is, many times, preferable to interacting with self-absorbed people. "but, you see, what I’m noticing is that people simply don’t have the time for anyone any more, except themselves. They don’t want to have a proper sit-down conversation about the deep things in, and of, life." Whew! All of this hit home for me. I am so glad I came to your newsletter today to read your posts! You have started my day with a warm smile and inspiration to get writing! Many blessings ~Wendy💜📖✒📕
Your words have absolutely made my day! I feel so seen and heard...
Journaling really has had intangible and innumerable profound effects on my life. It's the one place where I can show up to be my whole flawed, imperfect self, and not feel judged in any way whatsoever...
I am so glad that poetry embraced you in the same way, and that you seek solace in its healing refuge. I am a Literature nerd through and through; I know exactly what it feels like to lose oneself in powerful words and find oneself amongst them, too... 💖
Sending you so much love from across the world! Thank you once again. 🤗🤗🤗
I love this. I can resonate to so much that you've written. I've been journalling religiously since I was 14. I have a very similar shelf with all of my journals. And yes Julia Cameron's morning pages have worked wonders for me too!!!!
So beautiful!! It's just been over 5 years for me and I can confidently say no other single habit has transformed my life as much as journaling has. And it has to be a notebook and a pen.
I love your specificity with the stationery!!! I had a Uniball phase and a trimax phase, but I have still not outgrown colourful pens (no more glitters though!)
It’s so great to see someone who’s journaled for such a long time- I’ve done it for almost three years now and definitely feel the benefits! I’m curious as to whether you ever re-read your journals from years ago?
Loved what you stated here "journalling (much like reading) is a way of life: indeed, it is life itself. It has altered my perception of the smallest things - made me far more self-aware, so that I think and act accordingly - and for that, I am inexpressibly grateful"
"It has altered my perception of the smallest things - made me far more self-aware, so that I think and act accordingly - and for that, I am inexpressibly grateful." Beautifully expressed. And resonates strongly. Thank you for sharing your journalling journey with us.
I love this essay and the photo of your journals. I once threw away a whole stack of my journals out of shame and embarrassment for my poor writing or « true feelings » and I could really kick myself now…also I love « The Artist’s Way »
Greetings from Paris!
I love journalling and stopped doing it for a while. I am curious about your thoughts on Digital Journalling Shreya? Have you tried it or recommend it.
Hi Abhishek,
No, I've never tried digital journaling and don't intend to do so anytime soon. I love the feel of pen on paper.
You could give it a try. There's nothing to lose.
Thanks for the note Shreya!
I always wanted to start journaling but never really wrote more than a couple of days that too sporadically. But this made me rethink about journaling and I want to start again.
Is there a template to it or maybe something to keep me motivated to write regularly? (apologies if this is a stupid question)😅
Hi Abhishek, thanks for your comment!
There's no such thing as a stupid question :)
You could start by writing 2-3 lines every day, just about what you did during the day. I find using prompts to be helpful, too, if you're stuck about what to write.
Hope this helps. All the best!
Prompts might be the missing link in my approach. My aim is to write everyday and hopefully with prompts it'll be a little easy. Thank you for the tip :)
Shreya,
This is beautiful! So much more than just the logistics of journaling, but your relationship to the process! I connected with the age you were when you started writing (I was 11 when poetry took me in its arms), the way your writing has been therapy and a place to unload all of your feelings, and how writing is, many times, preferable to interacting with self-absorbed people. "but, you see, what I’m noticing is that people simply don’t have the time for anyone any more, except themselves. They don’t want to have a proper sit-down conversation about the deep things in, and of, life." Whew! All of this hit home for me. I am so glad I came to your newsletter today to read your posts! You have started my day with a warm smile and inspiration to get writing! Many blessings ~Wendy💜📖✒📕
Dear Wendy,
Your words have absolutely made my day! I feel so seen and heard...
Journaling really has had intangible and innumerable profound effects on my life. It's the one place where I can show up to be my whole flawed, imperfect self, and not feel judged in any way whatsoever...
I am so glad that poetry embraced you in the same way, and that you seek solace in its healing refuge. I am a Literature nerd through and through; I know exactly what it feels like to lose oneself in powerful words and find oneself amongst them, too... 💖
Sending you so much love from across the world! Thank you once again. 🤗🤗🤗
I love this. I can resonate to so much that you've written. I've been journalling religiously since I was 14. I have a very similar shelf with all of my journals. And yes Julia Cameron's morning pages have worked wonders for me too!!!!
Awww Namrata, so wonderful to have found a kindred spirit here🥰🥰🥰 I agree with every word you've written. Sending you loads of love and hugs💙
So beautiful!! It's just been over 5 years for me and I can confidently say no other single habit has transformed my life as much as journaling has. And it has to be a notebook and a pen.
I love your specificity with the stationery!!! I had a Uniball phase and a trimax phase, but I have still not outgrown colourful pens (no more glitters though!)
Omg. So sweeeeet of you 💙💙💙💙 and I agree, journaling is absolutely transformative in such a fundamental way! Only and only with pen and paper.
It takes a stationery nerd to know one… 😍
Thank you for your kindness and encouragement💖
I cherish your thoughts on this practice. Look at all those journals—what a feat!
Thank you, Ally! Indeed. Those journals are a treasure in the truest sense of the word❤️
It’s so great to see someone who’s journaled for such a long time- I’ve done it for almost three years now and definitely feel the benefits! I’m curious as to whether you ever re-read your journals from years ago?
Yes! I love rereading old journals. It's simultaneously insightful and embarrassing 😃
Good luck to you on your journaling journey :)
Loved what you stated here "journalling (much like reading) is a way of life: indeed, it is life itself. It has altered my perception of the smallest things - made me far more self-aware, so that I think and act accordingly - and for that, I am inexpressibly grateful"
Thank you for your kind words! Glad to have found you here.
"The story has just begun." :))
Glad you liked it🥰
"It has altered my perception of the smallest things - made me far more self-aware, so that I think and act accordingly - and for that, I am inexpressibly grateful." Beautifully expressed. And resonates strongly. Thank you for sharing your journalling journey with us.
Thank you Charulatha. It means a lot.
This is a lovely ode to journalling , Shreya. I loved how you ended it 💕
Thank you, Sanket - coming from a writer as brilliant as yourself, that means a lot! 🥰