I have been gifted a journal three times in my life. Once as a girl, once as a wife, and once as a mother.
As a girl, it was a pale pink Precious Moments diary (complete with lock!) and it was from my mom. I was still a lonely only child when I got it. So I addressed it as a “friend” named Samantha. And I told that girl everything.
Long story short, diary locks do not really lock. And it only took one evening of parental shaming for me to never touch it again.
Fast forward to about 25 years later, and my husband gave me a journal for my birthday. We were beginning IVF treatments, and he thought it would be amusing to have a chronicle of our path to becoming parents.
Well, it became more than amusing. When IVF turned into a complicated pregnancy, and I ended up on hospitalized bed rest, it was my sanity. Not feeling up for many visitors, it was how I processed my fear of losing our baby, along with my grief from not having the pregnancy of my dreams.
But thank goodness, I eventually left that damn hospital. (And with a beautiful baby boy!) Needless to say, once our little guy arrived, and I stopped sleeping, that journal didn’t cross my mind once.
And finally, the third time I received a journal, it was from my sister during a pandemic. (Maybe you remember it?) And I remember thinking to myself, “How sweet… My baby sister thinks that I have time to journal while working from home, taking care of my out-of-daycare toddler, and watching the world as we know it crumble apart.”
What I didn’t immediately realize was the fact that I was once again isolated from the world, and the timing was actually perfect. My inner monologue was making me crazy and I needed an outlet.
So I started writing…
At this point, I think it’s safe to say out loud that writing is phase one of my “Discovery” project. And if writing keeps filling my days with the same purpose and ambition that I’ve been feeling over the past several weeks, maybe it’s also safe to say, I have discovered a piece of my identity.
ashok
This is so wow. Third time is always the best my young friend. All the very best.
LikeLiked by 5 people
believableshe83
Thank you so much! Your words have me smiling from ear to ear ๐บ
LikeLiked by 3 people
ashok
๐๐น
LikeLiked by 3 people
Stuart Danker
Discovering that you actually need to write instead of it being just another passing interest is a great thing. I hope that this time around, you really do keep going on this journey. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 10 people
believableshe83
Thank you Stuart! This journey feels especially meaningful with lovely comments from people like you ๐บ
LikeLiked by 2 people
kegarland
I have a similar story about a diary, my dream wishes with Michael Jackson, and a conversation with my parents about sex
LikeLiked by 10 people
believableshe83
Oh no… Darn those disfunctional diary locks๐ Thanks for sharing your story! ๐บ
LikeLiked by 3 people
couragetoblog
Having a journal can give you the space to write all the thoughts running in your mind. It’s nice to start writing about gratitude and turn it into a gratitude journal.
LikeLiked by 9 people
believableshe83
I agree๐งก๐บ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yuvi MK
I can understand what you mean coz I’ve found peace and feel like myself when I do art. Happy writing! Looking forward to read more of your posts!๐๐
LikeLiked by 8 people
believableshe83
You said it! It makes my heart so happy to hear what your art means to you. I completely agree.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Blk Cat Zon3
My goodness I love journals. The texture of pages and using a well inked pen to write with is no joooke.
Now I want a journal (so far I completed 30 journals in my lifetime)
LikeLiked by 8 people
believableshe83
I totally agree. The sensory experience of real paper pages and the perfect pen can’t compete with my laptop. And that is incredible, what a legacy!๐บ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Blk Cat Zon3
Thank you. Honestly, a lot was from being in the 6th grade up until two years after delivering my first daughter. Since then, I stuck with whatever platform I could write on.
Now I want to crack open a spiral or composition book (gotta be college ruled or I’m not touching it lol)!
LikeLiked by 4 people
believableshe83
Haha! Yes, I completely agree๐บ
LikeLike
Jenny in Neverland
I love journaling but I’ve learned to only do it when I feel like I need to, rather than every day just forcing stuff out. Lovely post!
LikeLiked by 8 people
believableshe83
Thank you Jenny! And I completely agree about not forcing it ๐บ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sarah Davis
Why do parents read journals? The shaming lingers. One of the reasons I now only used spiral bound notebooks as journals even though I live alone!
LikeLiked by 7 people
believableshe83
Right? It really does. I have never been in the position of being the parent of a child with a journal, but I would like to think that I wouldn’t read it unless I thought they were in trouble. But then what? It’s a slippery slope…
LikeLiked by 3 people
Pooja G
I have always enjoyed journaling and I think writing will be a nice outlet for you!
LikeLiked by 6 people
believableshe83
I think so too๐ Thank you for reading๐บ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pooja G
My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Adeleke Adeite
Writing for me is also a means of discovery and recovery. I write to connect with my true self and cure myself.
One of the other reasons why I write is to be free. I published my first book during the lockdown in 2020, it was that same period that I was completely healed of depression. I turned my pains into poetic positive affirmations.
I’m glad you’ve found your identity.
Thank you for sharing this. ๐
LikeLiked by 6 people
believableshe83
Adeleke- Thank you for sharing๐บ I am so pleased to hear that you have overcome a period of depression. That is no easy feat my friend. And congratulations on your published work! I will certainly look into this ๐
LikeLike
Adeleke Adeite
Thank you, buddy.
Your kind comment means a lot. God bless you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Butterfly
Wowโจ
LikeLiked by 3 people
believableshe83
Thank you for reading๐บ
LikeLike
Butterfly
To be honest;am glad I read it ๐๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
da-AL
wonderful post! I find writing helps me so much ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
believableshe83
What a gift it is to find something that brings peace into our lives… Thank you so much for reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Prakaash inspiration
According to psychology, journaling is the best mean of relieving the day to day stress, anxiety, and other disorders.
LikeLiked by 1 person
believableshe83
It definitely helps me. I hope it helps you too๐บ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Prakaash inspiration
Yes ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
sakshisoni
Writing is really therapeutic! It helps me alot ๐โจ
LikeLiked by 1 person
believableshe83
I agree!๐บ
LikeLike