Dear Reader, “What are you aware of?” was a mantra question a therapist friend used to ask. We give our devices so much of our attention, much of our world goes by unnoticed. Anna Kode invites us to expand our powers of observation with a pen and a notebook. Who knows? What might seem mundane […]
Letters to Self
Dear Reader, Here is another “Guest Author” treat from Colette. Her Letters to Self is such a thoughtful idea to fulfil her personal wish to continue receiving mail from foreign places -way into the future. She’s right, it’s brilliant! Ever since I learned how to write, I have had pen pals. The French nuns at […]
The “Quarantine Challenge”
How are you managing to make sense of this COVID-19 global pandemic? I confess, I haven’t written a single letter in a long time. I feel so bummed-out by the coronavirus situation, the different government responses to it, the massive layoffs, and the resultant, ever-increasing world-wide death toll. I am overwhelmed AND often paralyzed […]
Writing History
On the surface, writing by hand in a diary is a solitary experience…jotting down whatever is noteworthy from the day. If the entries are dated, a timeline emerges with days, weeks, seasons unfolding into a record of one’s personal living history. Upon closer inspection, a diary is more than a collection of musings, it is […]
A healthy tip: “Write them down.”
Nagging Thoughts Fix “One way to keep nagging thoughts from buzzing around in your brain is to write them down. Make a list of errands, housework, or other tasks you plan to complete later. Vent frustrations over an unpleasant confrontation in your journal. Once these thoughts are on paper, you may be able to let […]
Oprah Writes!
April 11, 2011 I am Overjoyed to call attention to the April issue of The Oprah Magazine! There Oprah shares with us visual excerpts from a few of her private journals. A “devoted diarist,” she admits that her journaling is therapeutic. Starting in her teens, Oprah wrote a lot of “bad poetry” and poured out […]
Handwriting is Healthy!
Handwriting is medically healthy. Regularly writing down one’s problems or simply one’s plan for the day can alleviate physical symptoms and bring relief…
Gratitude: A Journal
January 30, 2011 Tired of doom and gloom? Winter doldrums got you down? Here’s a journal- guaranteed to lift your spirits. As a personal challenge, Catherine Price experimented with exercises in positive thinking. She noticed gratitude was an underlying theme, and was thus inspired to create this journal. “Taking time to reflect on the things we are […]
Journaling: a love letter to yourself
January 27, 2011 I write in a journal. I began with fervor a while back with Julia Cameron’s The Artists’ Way…15 minutes of stream-of-consciousness writing. First thing in the morning is best for me. But anytime is better than not at all. You can carry a small notebook like a trusted companion and write anywhere- […]