Journaling
Last year I decided to keep a small journal, the kind of pre-defined one with one week per spread layout. To write in only the most important things from the days and maybe add some mini photos and doodles. This came to be one of my best decisions.
Why? Because I forget stuff. I don't keep the ordinary events inside my head, I let them slip away so they don't clutter my memory. Or so I think because I can't remember any of the unimportant things. But forgeting about nice moments or good things is not what I'm proud of and this happens too.
So, having this little tiny journal and actually using it, made a huge difference with my noticing things and acknowledging them. I started to be a bit more present (which also has a lot to do with me being much more creative) and if I open a page and see what I wrote down I can recall things. I can do that when I look at the photographs too, but I don't take them that often, and especially not »just because«. So it became clear to me, that I will need to keep a journal from now on.
This year I got a little bigger one (for New Year, from my mom and because of Esther... thank you both!). It has the same layout as the last year one only a bit more space to write and draw and glue away. And it makes me happy to use it.
But I sense I could do with a different layout, a day per page to have even more space to be creative. And I'll go for that next year. Seeing this video made me totally jealous of the man who has most of his life at the touch of his hand, to look at, ponder about and admire. I hope I'll have that one day as well. And you know what? It's never too late to start! :)
Do you keep a journal too? For how long and did it change the way you look and remember things? I'd love to read about it as this is quite fascinating to me.
Hi Nini, I love the way your journal started small and that you're now planning on a day-per-page format for next year. It's been a journey into the process and I think it's probably a great way to do it. I'm just getting started with mine and there's a lot more to it than first meets the eye. Thanks for sharing yours here - it's got me thinking ;)
ReplyDeleteRachel, you got it spot on! It was a journey into the process and it evolved freely. There was no need to produce anything, just the need to document. Thank you for your great thoughts and for the visit. Good luck with yours! :)
ReplyDeleteI keep saying I would love to do a journal, the closest I get to it is carrying a filofax around with but it's purely for organising myself than making a note of good things and thoughts...but then I like to think the blog sort of fills that slot a little though it does lack the tactile edge.
ReplyDeleteMhm, I know what you mean Laura. Those notebooks I used to have for such purpose are interesting to look through (to see what was going on at the job and all that stuff) and the blog is another view on my life as well. But keeping something just for yourself adds the depth to it.
ReplyDeleteThese things just need time to evolve I guess as Rachel said too.
Nini, I LOVE these journals, especially how they started small and grew in size each year because you needed additional space to document. It's like your life needed more space to expand as you observed more and more of the world around you. They're quite lovely.
ReplyDeleteOh Ellen, what a lovely thought about my life expanding. I guess there's a lot of truth in this. Thank you so much for the visit and the comment.
ReplyDeleteNini, thank you for sharing this! I loved the peek into your journal as well as the video :) wonderful, wonderful inspiration from both of you here! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you Stephanie! You are so kind. And thanks so much for the visit too.
ReplyDelete♥
Nini what a wonderful blog entry! I also had a similar need for recording at the beginning of 2014 and printed Stephany Levy's beautiful calender. Here I started recording all my creative joys and it has already been so exciting to read back to January to remind myself of what I was all excited about then :) I mentioned you in my blog today! Thanks for sharing what makes you excited! So often we have similar experiences which becomes extra special when shared! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for letting me know Liezl! I so LOVE all your beautiful happy photos and you are working on so many things! Wow! Perfect, really.
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally agree with you about the sharing... we have to share, it makes all the difference. I should print your comment out and hang it near my computer. :)
Nini, this is a lovely post. Your journals and photographs are beautiful and I really enjoyed the journal making video you linked to. I wonder if it inspires you to make your own journal for next year. :)Suzi
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzi :) Oh yes, I'd love to make a journal like that but I'd want to use it as an art journal... that I'm sure of :)
ReplyDeleteI kind of like having one year in one place, I'll just have to go to thicker book for my next year one :D
Hi Nini! I just saw this post. This is a great idea, to keep a journal! Even to write a few lines…I tend to forget things too and I'm not a consistent sketchbook-journaler. I used to have a diary I wrote in every now and then for a few years. Don't do it anymore, because I don't like to write that much. But just a few sentences and some doodles seems doable and nice to remember the good stuff too!
ReplyDeleteIs that one you got for 2014 something you saw in the FLOW or….?
Oh yes Esther, the one for this year is Flow's. It's so pretty! And it's totally your "fault" I have it ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll give it a go too. It's really good to have at least some memories preserved this way. And it's really nice to browse through it :)
Oh yes Esther, the one for this year is Flow's. It's so pretty! And it's totally your "fault" I have it ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll give it a go too. It's really good to have at least some memories preserved this way. And it's really nice to browse through it :)
This is such a good idea. I used to keep a diary like this as a teenager and in my 20s and then I stopped. I have many of these filled diaries in storage, but now I struggle to document anything! I think this is a great idea and probably something I should try. I'm constantly regretting all the things I'm forgetting to write down - maybe this is the way to go! Thanks for the inspiration :) I will look for something similar.
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you Jodi! Your art journals are amazing but one can't really make it every day so this was my escape from the "pressure" of them (even if I'd love to have many many done) plus this is really more to remember stuff. Looks like we tend to forget more and more, I think it's the computers fault.
ReplyDeleteHi Nini! I'm new to your blog :)
ReplyDeleteI'm always about to start a journal like this one and never really got into it. It's like I don't know what to put in it! But I see that having little space works as an advantage for people like me who can't decide what to fill the space with. Love your journals!
Hello Vix and welcome! You are right, I think the small space gives you comfort at the beginning because there's not a huge blank page staring back at you. Do give it a try and I'm sure you'll end up using bigger journals every year ;)
ReplyDeleteYou and the video got me so inspired :-) I have made attempts at keeping a journal, but so far only made it as far as Mo's Book of pleasures and sorrows where I only very occasionally write sthg, but I think keeping a regular journal would be fun. It's my 2015 resolution! :-) thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I got you inspired Monika. It's really easy once you start just noting down what happened in that day, nothing fancy and when you glue down things like stamps from the letters you've received or receipts for things you got for yourself. You know, the "ordinary" stuff that actually makes up our lives ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope I get to see your journal at the end of 2015.