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Weekly Topic Ideas-Dec. 28, 2015

The very last week of 2015!  Many of us are still on vacation, but don’t let that stop you from writing in your journal.  Some of the most precious memories are made during this time of the year, and many people have some of their most profound thoughts and greatest creativity.  Keep your pen handy, your pencil sharpened, and your notebook or tablet by your side for moments when inspiration strikes and be sure to set aside some time for intentional writing each day, as well.

If you’re starting a new journal or a new section, here are a few themes you might want to consider:

Write about your daily progress on New Year’s Resolutions.

Make a journal of recipes or craft ideas you want to try and how they turned out.

Record your activities each day, like you did when you were younger in your diary.

And here are some daily prompts in case your muse is nowhere to be found in the hustle and bustle of the week:

  • Choose a current event from today’s news and write about your thoughts on the situation.
  • Write about how you believe a person should spend the time between Christmas and New Years in an ideal world.
  • What was the most useful present you found under the tree this year? Why?
  • Which was the most thoughtful present you found under the tree this year? Why?
  • Which present are you the proudest about giving to a loved one? Why?
  • What did you (or can you) do to help someone between Christmas and New Year’s?
  • What is your most treasured memory from the week between Christmas and New Year’s this year? Describe it in detail.

Off on The Right Foot

The new year is just around the corner, and many of us are setting goals.  Does your list include a goal for your walk with God?  I hope so!  Are you set up for success, though?

I’m sure you can recall making New Year’s resolutions, and then  realizing in about March that they have sort of gone by the wayside.  We’ve all done that.  Often, the problem lies in the way that we’ve worded our intentions.

This year, try writing goals instead of resolutions. There is a difference, you know. Resolutions are a bit vague for our purposes. Usually, they express a desire to improve some aspect of your world. In this case, your resolutions might say something like, “Read my Bible more” or “Get closer to God” or even “Pray every day.”  Do your resolutions sound like these?

Goals, on the other hand, are measureable and specific. It’s easy to tell if you’re on the right track (and it’s harder to fudge!).  A goal might be worded like this:  “Read my Bible for at least 10 minutes each weekday.”  Other examples include “Try 2 new types of prayer by June” or “Write in my prayer journal at least three times a week.”  You will find that writing goals in this way gives you a clear idea of whether or not you succeeded today, and exactly where you stand. They also leave a lot more room to improve. A resolution, once broken, feels like a lost cause. A goal, on the other hand, leaves room to try again.

So try setting a few goals for the coming new year.  Here are a few ideas related to journaling:

  • Record at least three thoughts about my relationship with God each day.
  • Write down my supplications, and note the answers when they come.
  • Read a chapter from Scripture each day and write down at least one way to apply it to my life.
  • read a daily devotional passage and write a response at least four times weekly.

Happy New Year!!

But, Save It All!

A big, hearty welcome to my good friend, Sonja Carlo, who provided this guest post.  Please visit her website at Brown Rabbit Books.com

Too many boxes of papers and notebooks

I was downsizing a few years back and hunted for room to stash my ever-growing stack of journals which at that time comprised several good-sized boxes. Boxes full of my writing since 1973, a few of the years from 1973-1988 were already in a 3 ring  binder that I had made before I left Alaska but the majority were not and in fact I had to spend a day sorting them all out in yearly piles in my living room,  like dealing a deck of cards. Many of the entries, pages and poems had duplicates; hundreds of pages and entries that I had copied several times to get edited poems for poetry contests which I used to enter in the 1990’s. A lot of my muse comes out as poetry material. I ended up burning stacks and more stacks of duplicate copies and useless notes and scraps in my driveway that summer. I ended up with several beautiful 3 ring binders of the years of journaling lined up in a special shelf I bought for that purpose.

Problem of too many notebooks

They stayed that way for several more years also moved about and investigated a bit. Finally I had to come to terms with the problem as it took shape. I knew I needed to sort again to downsize the stacks of journals.

Problem of notebooks: a mess of unorganized papers.

About 2011 I began to realize I was not getting any younger and if I wanted to downsize to perhaps move,  I had better get down to business, and do something about those journals. I collected the years 1973-1989 and scanned, edited, cleaned most of the copies and stuck in some pictures taken in Alaska and had it all bound at a local office store that does such things. I loved the finished product and was encouraged and anxious to get on with the rest of the years. 1990 took a longer time to complete and I did not get it done until the following year. I had written a lot in 1990 and other life events put it on the back burner. Never the less it reached the binder too, and I was again thrilled. I surprised myself with the accomplishment and was spurred on to the next one. This collection of 1991 to 1994 took only a few weeks; there were less bad soiled copies, and a deadline, as  I hurried to get it done before my trip to California to see my daughter.

If you have old copies of stuff you wrote, letters, cards, autographs, awards, scrapbook stuff saved in boxes, you can do the same thing because my boxes had all that stuff in them, including some school papers written when I decided to go back to college.

Problem of paper vs computer solved

During all of this collecting, stashing, storing, sorting, and burning, I realized I was using that my computer more and more to write. A down side of that was that I was using 5-subject college lined notebook of choice to write in every year and had a growing problem of transferring it to Microsoft word. It was a chore for me at times when doing so.

But, Save It All!
After retiring in 2009 I discovered self-publishing sites and published 3 years of my journal entries in a book about being an AIDS caregiver.  Still, transcribing from paper to Microsoft word, I was slowly mixing paper and computer entries; that helped but did not solve the problem until last winter when I was sick and spent a lot of time meditating on my couch in the morning and throughout the day. I started to interrupt prayers and or meditation or TV shows to type my thoughts into a notes program on my iPad. Problem solved! Now it’s my iPad notes that comprise the majority of my journal writing outside of my purse journal which I carry with me everywhere.

Expensive binding problem solved

Looking at the problem of paper stacks from 1995 to 2009 and I now hope to scan them all to Microsoft this winter avoiding the expensive bound copies at the office stores. In conclusion, I advise

when in doubt, save it all!

************************

You can find Sonja’s books on Amazon. Many come straight from her journals.  Check them out!

Advent Journaling Week 4: Peace

If ever there was a week that could benefit from a focus on peace, it’s this week.  The run-up to Christmas can be quite stressful in most households-holiday preparations are at a frenzied pace, last minute shopping, wrapping, baking, and cleaning have tight deadlines, company is coming and going, and it’s easy to lose sight of the reason we are celebrating at all.  Take a few moments (for your sanity’s sake!) and make time for your journal each day this week.  If you’re lighting candles in an Advent Wreath, today you probably lit the last candle in the circle.  Was it pink or purple? This is the one we light on the Sunday before Christmas.  This year, let’s focus on peace as we reflect in the coming days.

A special note: Since I don’t know what day Christmas will be falling on when you are reading this, I’ve included a few extra mediation/writing prompts for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Feel free to substitute them onto the actual days of the holiday if you wish!

Fourth Sunday in Advent: Read Micah 5:2-5a.  This familiar Scripture heralds the coming of Christ. Why do you call Christ “the Prince of Peace”? How does your faith bring peace to your heart and to your life?

Monday: Read Psalm 80:1-7.  Pay special attention to the last verse in the reading.  Do you feel that God has restored you and makes His face shine upon you? Why or why not?

Tuesday: Read Hebrews 10:5-10.  What will you do in the coming days to present yourself as a ‘sacrifice pleasing to God’?

Wednesday: Read Isaiah 9:6-7. What do you need to do to bring more of Christ’s peace into your life this week?

Thursday: Read John 14:27. Who is the most peaceful person you know? What is his or her secret? Can you find the same peace? How?

Friday: Read Psalm 34:11-14.  The Bible is full of advice about how to achieve the kind of peace promised from a deep relationship with the Lord.  If you were writing advice to a loved one about how to achieve this kind of life-changing peace, what would you say?

Saturday: Read Colossians 3:15-17. What is the relationship between thankfulness and peace? What does this suggest to you?

Advent Journaling Week 4- Peace (1)

Christmas Eve: Read Luke 1: 68-75.  What does God’s Advent into our world mean to you personally? How has this event, which happened so long ago, come alive again for you each year?

Christmas Day: Read Luke 2:1-20. Describe the scenes from this story in your best story-telling style. Engage all the senses, and make the story come alive.

Related:

Advent Journaling Week 1: Hope

Advent Journaling Week 2: Love

Advent Journaling Week 3: Joy

Christmas Journaling

To Edit or Not To Edit…

paper-755551_1920That is the question, isn’t it? Do you find yourself wondering how much editing you should be doing in your journal, or even how much censoring? I know I do at times.  The short answer is, edit things that you eventually intend for other people to read and get rid of the things that are only intended for your eyes alone.  Lock them up, burn them, shred them, but don’t leave them lying around for others to find (even after you’re gone).

The details of the answer lie in the reason why you are writing your journal or journals in the first place. Are you recording your life for posterity, so others will know your thoughts and daily routines?  Then by all means do a little bit of editing from time to time. Do some organizing, too. It won’t help your loved ones understand you more fully if your journals are in such disarray that no one can make heads or tails out of them.

Are you writing with an eye toward publication? Then definitely edit. Go back over your work and make sure it’s clear and readable, make sure it follows most grammar conventions, and that it has some sort of organizing theme. Chances of being published and making money from that endeavor increase if you can whittle down to a specific potential audience who would benefit from or enjoy reading your words. Journal editing doesn’t have to be nearly as formal as editing for other books, but it does need to happen.  Very few writers achieve print-worthy prose on the first try.

Are you writing to inspire someone? Edit away. Whether you want to inspire your children or those coming after you, or inspire readers around the world who are experiencing something similar to your situation, it means that you want others’ eyes on your work.  Edit so that they can get your message instead of being distracted by grammar, spelling, organizaional or other mechanical problems.

Are you writing to record your innermost thoughts, rants and raves? Writing down things that NO ONE should be reading besides you? Then no need to edit.  The larger concern is keeping your journal secure. Find a way to store your journal where there is no chance of accidental discovery.

So you see, much depends on the purpose of your writing.  But what to do if you’re not sure yet? That’s easy! Treat your journal like it’s going to be confidential until you decide otherwise.  Then when the time is right, edit, organize and prepare for publication if you wish.  You can always remove things that are too personal or embarrassing while you are cleaning up the spelling and grammar, and there’s no law that says you have to organize your journal by chronological date.  Perhaps you only want to use part of it anyway!  Just make sure that the entries that go out into the world reflect well on you and your writing skills.

Weekly Topic Ideas-Dec. 14, 2015

Good morning and happy Monday! Here are some interesting ideasschool-93200_1920 to get you writing this coming week.

Thinking of starting a new journal or looking for a new theme to energize your writing? Try these suggestions:

  • Keep a foods diary. Write down everything you eat or drink each day.  It’s a great strategy for improving your health and managing weight.
  • Create a point of view journal. Choose a different object or item and write about life today from that perspective.  It doesn’t even have to be alive!
  • Develop a character journal.  Choose a stranger that you encountered today and make up a background and persona for that person.  It’s a great exercise in creativity, and could well be an entrance into writing a short story, poem, or novel.

And here are some daily journal prompts to get you writing:

  • What is your favorite Christmas decoration? Why?
  • What motto or saying would you choose to inspire your life this coming week?  How will that affect your actions?
  • Which household chore do you like the best? Which is the worst? Why so?
  • If you could visit anywhere in the world today, where would you choose to go and why?
  • What is most important to you about the Christmas season? What do you spend the most time on? Do the two match up?
  • Where do you like to go when you are feeling bad? How does this place help you recharge your batteries?
  • What was the best, most exciting Christmas present you’ve ever received? What was the worst?

Christmas Journaling

christmas-treeOne of the neatest things about the Christmas season is the focus on traditions. Many, many people attach huge amounts of importance to traditions that they carry on with family and friends for years and even generations.

Journaling at Christmas time will help you capture those feelings and record the details of just what you did during the run-up to the holiday. You can capture practical information in your journal, such as recipes that you want to be sure to remember, the logistics of how you seat everyone for that huge family dinner, who you sent cards to or exchanged presents with, and so forth.  You can also record your innermost thoughts and feelings, vent, or recall precious memories from Christmases past.

In other words, journaling will make your holiday more complete. It’s the perfect way to sneak some quiet time in the middle of the hectic schedule, and also a great excuse to demand some solitude during a time when there are often many demands on your time. Journaling gives you all-important “me” time that can help you stay sane in the middle of happy chaos.

Your Christmas journal may well become a family heirloom. In the years to come, your children, grandchildren and great-greats will treasure this glimpse into your daily life.

So, there are loads of reasons to start a Christmas journal. Once you make up your mind to create a holiday journaling tradition, the next step is to make yourself follow through.  I’ve spoken with many friends who tell me it that journaling would be a great idea, but….  They always have an excuse or a reason that stands in their way from implementing the plan.  The idea seems overwhelming to them, and so they put it off for another year “when things are more calm.”

Guess what? That “calm year” is mythical. “Next year” somehow never arrives.  If you truly see the advantages and perks for holiday journaling,  you need to bite the bullet and be intentional about making this tradition a part of your holiday season.

Set yourself up with the supplies you need: a notebook or a commercially-made Christmas journal, something to write with (I adore brightly-colored pens!), and a plan.  Find a quiet place or time when you can focus for even a few moments and a comfortable spot to sit and write (or type). Set a goal for yourself. Maybe try writing for just ten or fifteen minutes a few times each week, especially at first. For many people, life is most conducive for journaling early in the morning or last thing at night. Find the time that is right for you, then stick to it. You will come to cherish this island of quiet in the midst of your otherwise harried life. Once you come to cherish it, you will find yourself guarding it jealously, and then you know that journaling at Christmas has become an unshakable holiday tradition that you will keep up for the rest of your life.

If you are like many people, sometimes the blank page feels intimidating.  You can’t think of anything “important” to write, so you don’t.  The solution for that situation is a commercially-made Christmas journal.  Examine a few to find the right one for you.  Each thickpaperbacklaying_786x692will have different features and focuses, so consider what sort of things you want to remember. Are you interested in recording the details of each holiday season, or are you searching for an outlet for your creative writing skills?  If you find that you ARE looking for a journal that encompasses both types of writing, I urge you to check out Keeping Christmas: A Holiday Keepsake Journal over on Amazon.  This ten-year journal includes spaces to record important details about card and gift exchanges, recipes, and so forth, and it also includes two open-ended creative writing prompts, as well as space to describe your favorite traditions and memories from the Christmas season. It’s perfect for young and old, anyone starting new traditions or in new life circumstances, and more.  Click the link below to visit the Amazon sales page: http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Christmas-Holiday-Keepsake-Journal/dp/1944088997.

 

Advent Journaling Week 2: Love

The Christmas season is in full swing, at least here at our house, and finding the time to journal is one of the tough parts.  Before we get to Advent journaling prompts for this week, check out a video that I made a few years back about finding time for the important things at Christmas:


It is not only possible to find time for your journaling; it’s important! Make it a priority and it will fall into place.

During this second week of Advent, let’s focus on Love.  In many churches and households, the second purple candle was lit today for the first time.  Here are some daily ideas to keep you writing!

Second Sunday in Advent:

Read Isaiah 49:13-16. There are several descriptions of God’s unfailing love in this passage. How would you describe this amazing love?

Monday:

Read Malachi 3:1-4.  How can you show your love for God in the coming Christmas season?

Tuesday:

Read Philippians 1:3-11.  This is the season, perhaps even more than any other, when we ponder what it means to show love.  Do you have (or have you had) people in your life for whom you could pray this prayer?  Who do you think feels this way about you and why?

Wednesday:

Read Psalm 98:1-6. Does God’s love make this Psalm come alive for you? How can you express your love for Him in writing or pictures in your journal?

Thursday:

Read Luke 1:68-79. This is the song of praise and thanksgiving that Zechariah (father of John the Baptist) sang upon the birth of his son when his voice was returned to him. How has God given you a rebirth in this past year? How has that made you love Him even more?

Friday:

Read John 3:16-17.  These verses are perhaps the most famous in all of the Scriptures.  What did they mean to you the first time you heard them? Has your interpretation of them changed or deepened, since you are now farther along your path toward closeness with God?

Saturday:

Read Luke 1:26-38.  In what way does this story connect to our weekly theme of Love?

Remember, too, that your non-religious Christmas memories and thoughts are just as precious as your growing understanding of just what gifts God has given you. If you want to journal about your family life, traditions, and memories from this Christmas, check out the Keeping Christmas Holiday Keepsake Journal over on Amazon:

Keeping Christmas

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Related Posts:

Advent Journaling Week 1: Hope

Advent Journaling Week 3: Joy

Advent Journaling Week 1: Hope

Many faiths stress the importance of preparing our hearts and soulsfile0001412591055 for the coming of Christ during the four weeks leading up to Christmas.  This year, why not journal your Advent Season?  To help you along, here are some prompts and suggested Scripture readings for each day during the first week of Advent.  May your meditations and thoughts bring you closer to the blessings of the Season!

First Sunday in Advent:

If you are using an Advent wreath, you probably lit the first candle today. The candles can have many meanings, but for this particular meditation, we’ll focus on a very common one: Hope.  Today, read Isaiah 61:1-3.  Which group of people mentioned in the Scripture do you most relate to today? How has the hope of salvation through Christ changed your life?

Monday:

Read Romans 5:1-5. How have you shared this hope with people in your life in the past few months? How can you share more of this hope in the next few weeks?

Tuesday:

How will the hope in Christ impact your future in the coming days and throughout eternity? Read I Thessalonians 4:16-17.

Wednesday:

Read Psalm 80:17-19. Now, write your own psalm of praise for the hope that God gives you.

Thursday:

Read Psalm 25:1-10. What will you praise God for on this day?

Friday:

Read Luke 21:25-36.  How are you preparing your heart for Christ’s coming during this Christmas season? How is that similar to the way in which you prepare your heart to spend eternity with Him? How is it different?

Saturday:

Read Luke 1:5-17.  How is this story of Zechariah and Elizabeth related to the Christmas story? How do you think the people of Jesus’ day felt about these events?

Remember, too, that your family memories should be treasured, as well.  The perfect way to keep them fresh and new is the Keeping Christmas Journal, available on Amazon.

Keeping Christmas

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More Advent Journaling:

Advent Journaling Week 2: Love

Advent Journaling Week 3: Joy