Journaling Challenge - TOYS!

Did you do your homework?  Did you get a journal and a pen?  A friend asked my why I’m using a journal and a pen and why not type it in the computer?  You can, it’s really up to you.  But!  I believe that handwriting, which is unique to each individual, also creates a special memory and is worth capturing (even if you think your handwritingSTINKS like I do!).  A few months ago, I was digging through some boxes and found a birthday card from my dearly departed Grandmother.  When I saw her handwriting in the card, it brought back special memories of her and I’m thankful I have that card!  That’s what I’d like my journals to be for my children and future (way, way, WAY future!) grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  I won’t be sharing these journals with them until I’m dead and gone, though, so this writing that I’m  doing will be for me, right now, and in the future to look back at and see what I was doing at certain times of my life.

So!  Where do we begin?  At the beginning, of course, and by simply writing.  Keep in mind you don’t have to write page after page.  Let’s simply challenge ourselves in the beginning to write just one page.  Let that be our goal and limit to start.  Sound good?  If you can’t find any words to write, you can doodle, draw, paste in a picture, a newspaper clipping or anything else that is interesting.  Remember that it doesn’t have to be important (like recording world events), but years from now when you read it, it’ll be a glimpse into your life.  My life isn’t glamour and action every day and I don’t expect my journal to be that way, either!

Let’s begin our “journaling journey” with a topic that will be easy and will hopefully bring back some fun, fond memories!  The Journaling Challenge will be to write about your favorite or most memorable toy from your childhood.  Now get writing and have some fun!  And let me know what you thought of this challenge, won’t you?    =)

My Blogging Challenge = Journaling!

Here's my weekly post on The Memory Boutique's blog about a new Journaling Challenge!  Ready to jump on board and journal with me?

We’re starting many new blog features and this is one of them!  I’m going to start weekly posts about journaling. Why did I choose journaling?  Well, because I just may be one of the worst journalers EVER.  I have bought so many journals over the years with great intentions to start.  Guess how they all ended?  You got it.  They ended before they even started.  Except for one time…

In May of 2007, I had an experience like no other I’d ever faced in my life.  When I share this, some of you may understand as you’ve been in this situation before, others may not be as understanding because you simply don’t get it.  That’s okay.  Just bear with me, no?

I had to make the decision to have my cat, Oscar, put to sleep.  I had no other choice as he was diagnosed with diabetes which is certain death for cats.  I kept him as long as I could until the day I noticed he exhaled loudly when he plopped on the floor.  That’s when I knew he was tired and it was affecting him.  I didn’t want him to hurt or suffer at all so I made the dreaded call.  I held him in my arms as the vet gave him the lethal shot and felt the life drain out of his body.  Gosh, I’m crying right now just writing about this!

Oscar - Forever in Our Hearts; 1995 - 2007

You see, Oscar was the first pet that I ever owned myself.  I say it that way because I grew up on a farm and had hundreds of animals in my day, but never my own and NEVER sharing the inside of my house!  He ended up being my best friend, often times more so than my husband!  (Sorry, Honey.)  When Oscar died, a part of me died too. And I felt a terrible ache in my heart that I’d never known before.  Seriously.  The loss was that bad for me (hence some of you may get it, others may not!).

After A LOT of praying, I grabbed a journal I decorated at one of my Mom’s Groups a couple years before and started writing.  And I wrote, and wrote, and wrote and wrote.  I began at the beginning, writing Oscar’s life story how I rescued this injured little kitten from death and took him in to save his life.  As I wrote, the words just poured from my heart and the memories I recalled made me laugh and cry and laugh some more. Days later, as I was still writing, I experienced such a revelation!  Here I was writing how I saved him, but in reality, HE saved ME.  Had I not written all that I did about Oscar and our 12 years together, that realization would never have come.

Long story but believe me, if you KNOW me, that story could easily have taken an hour or more!  =)  The whole point of sharing my “Oscar” story is to show you that journaling can accomplish so many different things for each person, all depending on what the writer’s focus is at the time.  And the benefits of journaling are extraordinary…something as simple as writing can be so good for you!  What are some of the benefits of journaling?  Here’s but a few:

• It is a companion and best friend

• Improves mental health (couldn’t we all use this!)

• Improves communication skills

• Releases pent-up emotions (MUCH cheaper than a therapist!)

• Encourages reflection (Dig deep!)

• Clears the mind

• It is empowering

• Helps in the healing process, if needed

This is just my introduction to Jackie’s Journaling Wednesday blog.  Each week, I’ll offer some suggestions giving you journaling topic-ideas to help you begin this “journey”.  JOURNEY/JOURNALING.  Whoa.  SO close.  It’s a journey to journal and we’ll journal a new journey together!  (That sounds like a bad Dr. Suess – sorry!) I’ll be writing along with you so let our journey begin!

Join me as we dig down deep, recall special memories, share what’s on your heart, reveal secrets too long buried and create amazing journals that will document your life and your family’s legacy!  Here’s your homework for next week:  Ready?  Buy a small journal with about 30 pages and buy yourself a pen that you fall in love with.  You know what I mean…the kind that just feels great in your hand and glides across the page?   Now how easy is that homework?  =)  See you next week!