For some people journaling is as common to them as breathing - for others it is something that they have always wanted to do - and if truth be told - they are really in love with the idea - but they just never had the time to start - or maybe they did start - for awhile, but let it go for another time in their lives when they would have more time.
I can't tell you how many times I have started a journal in my life. Mainly because so many people I knew did keep one - and I just thought it was the most romantic thing ever.
Since retiring and moving to the country - I have kept a garden journal. It's sort of my year-to year guide as to what I grow, when I plant - what grows, what doesn't grow. It's easy, because I don't have to write in it everyday.
My Mom was the master of journaling. She certainly never had a spare moment to sit and write in a book every evening before she went to bed - but she always wrote the daily happenings on her calendar that hung inside one of the doors of the kitchen cupboard.
At the end of the year she would then take a "scribbler" and copy everything down from the calendar to the book. I have one of her "Journals" that cover the years 1966 to 1980. Believe me - it is a treasure like none other.
Here is Mom's "journal"
In it is our life as a family...
Important things like: June 11th 1969, there was a heavy frost.
September 11th 1969 - Mom bought 25 lbs of flour for $1.68
I had a slumber party on January 13th 1970.
I got my ears pierced on November 18th 1970. It cost $5.00 for the piercing and $5.00 for the solid gold studs.
On March 21st, 1972 - I took my drivers test - and passed!
And on it goes! There are every day life events of my entire family, that when you read the date and the event - you are instantly transported back to that day in time.
We would not have that - had Mom not written it on her calendars every day of every year until she passed away.
That's what journals have the power to do. They can connect a family with memories perhaps long forgotten - but even with events that until the reading where not even known.
It's powerful, it's humbling, and it's also wonderfully entertaining!
This year I made my first junk journal for our little granddaughter. It is filled with all kinds of neat things, that are attractive and exciting to write on and to look at - but the real purpose of the journal remains the very same, as my Mother's Hilroy "scribbler".
To catch those moments in life that are special, and put them down on paper.
It's never too late to start writing one, and it's never too late to encourage our children and grandchildren to do the same.
Of course now -a - days you can do it in a fun handmade book called a junk journal.
I have a video of the journal I made for our grand daughter....
And I just posted another journal-related video tonight on my treasure find of vintage paper which I will use to make more Journals in the future.
I think we all should be writing on calendars every day, so we can leave our special moments behind for the next generation to enjoy!
Don't you agree?
