This morning, I picked up my journal and realized I was writing in the last signature.
That’s right. I am now an honest-to-goodness fully committed journaler!
Those of you who’ve known me here for a while now will know that one of my greatest desires has always been to journal every day.
All I ever ended up with, though, were piles and piles of notebooks and journals with a page or four filled.
When it came to journaling, I was always seeking the magic formula. I’d avidly read about other people’s journaling successes, pine with envy when I heard people talk about all the notebooks they’d filled up, groan with frustration when I saw the pictures of their used journals stacked up into a mile-high pile.
I’ve read all the journaling books out there (well, at least, it feels like I’ve read them all!). I’ve felt motivated and inspired as I read, and so sure that this time around, I’d do it.
Nothing ever worked.
And then one day, when I wasn’t looking for the solution to my journaling dilemma, I found my own personal magic key.
Have you ever noticed how solutions are elusive until you stop trying to figure things out? Once you stop, magic happens.
What I realized was this: I hadn’t been ready and willing to journal consistently because I hadn’t been ready and willing to listen to myself, not in that deep, authentic way that journaling means to me.
And guess what? I finally was ready. And with the readiness, as my dear friend Beth was just recently talking to me about, came the willingness. It couldn’t help but come – when I was ready.
So, to celebrate my new journaling identity (it was an early celebration – I went on a shopping spree this past weekend), I bought a three-pack of lined Moleskine notebooks!
I’ve asked this every single time I post about journaling, but the thing is, I love hearing about other people’s journals and journaling habits – so here I go again. Tell me about your journaling? Do you journal? Is it a daily habit, if you do? If you don’t, is it something you think you’d like to do?
Related posts:
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations on finding your own winning formula for success. I used to journal ever day but haven’t done so in several years. I know it was a powerful experience when I was doing it and I still enjoy reading through those journals from time to time.
No, I don’t journal, but blogging has at least spured me to write almost every day.
Congratulations on figuring it out!
.-= Alex J. Cavanaugh´s last blog ..Do You Have a Book in the iBookstore? =-.
I love Moleskin notebooks and always take them with me when I travel. When I’m at home I write a brief summary of events/thoughts/etc. for each day and a large planner. It’s about all I can manage to do on a daily basis.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Book List: 3 Books You Thought You’d Hate But Ended Up Loving =-.
Belle,
I don’t, but always say I would like to. I guess daily blogging right now is about the equivalent. Or at least as good as it’s going to get any time soon. However, I really believe there is so much power in the ability to journal and the idea of leaving a trail of your life is incredible.
I wish you luck as you continue your self discovery and enjoy the magic of this newfound tradition.
~cat
.-= Cat Woods´s last blog ..When Rabbits Grow =-.
Historians and descendants salute you. Journals and letters are some of the best sources for future generations to get an idea what life was like in this era or for your descendants to get to know you. Unfortunately not everyone realizes their life might interest someone. I have a Civil War diary which has many pages with “Nothing of interest transpired today” as the only entry. The soldier thought that because he wasn’t a hero in battle (spent much of his time building roads through swamps to Vicksburg), that there wasn’t anything interesting about his day. If he had only known I would be interested in every bit of his day.
.-= Barbara´s last blog ..A New Meg Gardiner Mystery =-.
I would love to read that diary too, Barbara.
Wow, that is impressive! Good job! I love journaling just so I remember what I do and feel. Except, I call it “writing in my notebook” since I started it after seeing Harriet the Spy when I was 11. I only write in composition books, and I don’t write in it very often. I go through phases. It’s really fun to see how my writing has changed in the past 13 years, though. When I was 11, I just wrote about what I did or who I saw, and then it evolved to emotion, frustration, and just trying to figure things out. You can see where I hit the teen years of emotional angst and the anxiety of becoming a grown up. They’re really comforting to read back on. I maintain a personal blog also, and I’ve found that since I’ve had that (which has been about 8 years…on and off), I keep daily occurrences on the blog and thoughts in the notebook. They’re both fun to reminisce with.
.-= Kari´s last blog ..Reading Notes: When Everything Changed, Part 1 =-.
Your notebooks sound like such fun, Kari! Harriet the Spy was one of my favorite reads as a kid – I love the idea of having all those notebooks to look back on.
Becoming committed to journaling might be why I’m not blogging as much as I used to, now that I think about it …
Okay, I don’t get your first sentence. I would love to join in the congratulatory posts, but I have no idea what you mean! Is it me? Is there some jargon I’m missing out on? Some brain cells? (probably) Tell me what’s happening!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Arm Chair BEA – How Do I Get to Actual BEA Next Year? =-.
LOL! I had to go and reread my first sentence to see what I wrote. No, Jill, you’re not missing out on any brain cells. A signature is a term that’s used in bookbinding, so if you’re not familiar with the process, you might not be familiar with the term. I probably shouldn’t have used the term, but the journal I’m using now is meant to look handbound, using a coptic stitch, so it’s really easy to see the start and end of each signature, which was how I knew I was nearing the end of the journal
Being the blank journal geek that I am, my first thought was, “Hey! That’s the last signature! I’m really a journaler!” 
A signature is a bunch of papers folded in half, and a book is made up several signatures – you can think of a signature as a segment of a book. They are easiest to see in a handmade book; in a regular hardcover book, you’re not likely to be able to distinguish the different signatures. The reason why I like the coptic stitch in my journals is because a coptic bound book lies flat easily (the lying-flat bit is the very first thing I check before buying a blank book!).
Ahhhhh…. Congratulations! LOL
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Arm Chair BEA – How Do I Get to Actual BEA Next Year? =-.
I’m so glad you’ve finally found a journalling rhythm that works for you!
I’ve kept a daily journal since January 1st, 1997. I was shocked and horrified this last October when I realized that I’d forgotten to write in my journal the night before the read-a-thon. It was the first day I’d missed since I began.
I’ve become a little concerned about my journalling since I moved overseas. Several friends and family members gave me journals when I left, but almost all of them were too large and heavy to pack. They were prestige journals that I’ll certainly make use of once I’m back in North America, but they weren’t at all practical for travel. I brought three smaller notebooks with me, but I know I’ll finish them long before it’s time to leave–and notebooks are hella expensive here in New Zealand. Eep! I’ll probably end up going with children’s exercise books for my last few NZ volumes, simply because they’re lighter and at least compartively cheap, but even those cost a pretty penny compared to the Canadian equivalent.
I keep a daily journal I write in the evenings in a hard cover lined journal. I also keep a spiritual journal I use when writing quotes and insights I gain from different texts. I actually have over 40 personal volumes filled after keeping a journal for over 20 years. I love journaling.
Woohoo – it’s so nice to see you achieve something you’ve wanted for so long!
I don’t really journal – did when I was younger. I can see me picking it up again when my time isn’t quite so limited. It’s an enjoyable use of time
.-= Jemi Fraser´s last blog .... and the next thing =-.
I don’t journal for myself anymore, but I keep a journal for each of my daughters, and I write letters to them about what they are like, what new things they learned to do, and just general life lessons I would like them to know. If something were to happen to me, they would still have a way to hear my voice. And if I’m lucky enough to stick around and see them grow up, I plan to give the journals to them when they’re old enough to appreciate them.
.-= Megan´s last blog ..What’s A Grown-Up? =-.
Go you! Glad you found a way to make it work.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..BEA 2010: Editor’s Buzz =-.
Congrats! I think I’ve only ever finished one journal in my life, but I do have quite a few almost full ones. Finishing is a huge accomplishment — I’m glad you find a way to make it work for you!
.-= Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)´s last blog ..What Is “Sophisticated Dorkiness”? =-.
For more than ten years, I wrote in a journal every single night before bed — it was a ritual! The only exception was when I went on vacation; I was too afraid of losing my notebooks or having them fall into the wrong hands.
Within the past few months, however, I’ve noticed my interest in journaling waning… I find that my days are very similar and, exhausted after another busy day, I have less and less to say. That makes me sad, honestly, because I’ve written nightly for so long, but I’m recognizing that my interests are changing.
Sending you good vibes that you continue to listen that authentic voice and journal to your heart’s content!
.-= Meg´s last blog ..Taking the waters at Ye Coole Springs =-.