As you think of memories over the next year, there are all sorts of tricks to use to help us remember all of our past memories. After all, each of them have brought you where you are today and have made you who you are today.
Grab your journal and sit in every room in your house. Make a list of everything,and I mean everything, you see. Once you do that, list every memory you have of each item. Then, write at least a page of each memory.
Then, think about all of the places you have lived and do the same as the above.
Then, think about other people's houses you have been in and the memories associated with the people, the rooms, and objects from each room if you can.
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Saturday, January 5, 2013
My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Post #6 My Personal Journaling
The last two days of journaling three of my memories has rocked my world. It has befuddled and amazed me. I never would have expected what happened. I know I have talked a little about this in a previous post; nevertheless, I want to go more into depth at this time.
How did I choose the three memories I chose? I did one memory at a time and picked the memory to work on that spoke to me the most and grabbed my attention. Then, I started to write whatever came to mind about each memory. And that was where things grew most interesting. I wrote about one typed page total of each memory. The first paragraph or two was where I wrote just the facts. There were no surprises there. It was after that the surprises came.
I wrote things I never expected and was able to glean new insight. I cannot stress that enough. It blew me away and that is putting it mildly. I learned how each of those memories shaped the woman I am today and why I do the things I do--and never realized.
The best part was how I kept making notes to write more about a sentence later. Moreover, I never would have thought of the stuff on my own if I hadn't journaled. Also, I did not use any prompts or a memory snapshot yet on any of these memories. Therefore, realistically, I will write another two to three pages on average for each memory. I will expand more on them later for my memoir. Never
mind how I also remembered several new memories I had forgotten and added to my Future Journaling of Memories List.
My life has been changed because of these new insights. I had not recognized how much things influenced me then and now--until I journaled about it this week. This is huge. Massive. Life-altering.
A week ago I would not have imagined any of this. I was rather I intimidated by the 125 memories list and wanting to write more in-depth accounts over 2013. Now, I cannot help but think I look forward to more of the same in 2014... and that thought does not intimidate me.
How exciting!
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
How did I choose the three memories I chose? I did one memory at a time and picked the memory to work on that spoke to me the most and grabbed my attention. Then, I started to write whatever came to mind about each memory. And that was where things grew most interesting. I wrote about one typed page total of each memory. The first paragraph or two was where I wrote just the facts. There were no surprises there. It was after that the surprises came.
I wrote things I never expected and was able to glean new insight. I cannot stress that enough. It blew me away and that is putting it mildly. I learned how each of those memories shaped the woman I am today and why I do the things I do--and never realized.
The best part was how I kept making notes to write more about a sentence later. Moreover, I never would have thought of the stuff on my own if I hadn't journaled. Also, I did not use any prompts or a memory snapshot yet on any of these memories. Therefore, realistically, I will write another two to three pages on average for each memory. I will expand more on them later for my memoir. Never
mind how I also remembered several new memories I had forgotten and added to my Future Journaling of Memories List.
My life has been changed because of these new insights. I had not recognized how much things influenced me then and now--until I journaled about it this week. This is huge. Massive. Life-altering.
A week ago I would not have imagined any of this. I was rather I intimidated by the 125 memories list and wanting to write more in-depth accounts over 2013. Now, I cannot help but think I look forward to more of the same in 2014... and that thought does not intimidate me.
How exciting!
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
A safe haven: Your journal
Your journal is a safe haven. It welcomes you, all of you, warts and all. Your journal will offer you unconditional acceptance and will not judge. It could care less if you are ugly at times, have poor penmanship or grammar, or if you are too emotional.
Your journal would rather you come to it often, and be all of the above, than not. It values you and your time more than any human being ever could. It offers you a safe haven to be fully you.
Set your imagination free in your journal. It is welcomed. Dream big. Your journal will help all of your dreams come true and will record your journey.
Go to your journal often. It is safe. You are welcomed and accepted as you are, but your journal can also help your wildest imaginations come true.
Come.
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Your journal would rather you come to it often, and be all of the above, than not. It values you and your time more than any human being ever could. It offers you a safe haven to be fully you.
Set your imagination free in your journal. It is welcomed. Dream big. Your journal will help all of your dreams come true and will record your journey.
Go to your journal often. It is safe. You are welcomed and accepted as you are, but your journal can also help your wildest imaginations come true.
Come.
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Friday, January 4, 2013
Take some time this weekend
Take some time this weekend for you. Relax. Rejuvenate. Be good to yourself. Drink some coffee or tea. Take a long hot bath. Get your spouse or child to give you a back rub.
And, do the same with your journaling. Go to your journal for relaxing after another week of the daily grind. Find some inspirational quotes and write about them.
Take some time to read a good book.
Just, whatever you do, take some time for you. Unplug for a bit.
Enjoy!
Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Journalkeeper & Author
My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir
Ever had one of those days?: My Personal Journaling
First of all, last night, I went to bed early because I felt like I was trying to get sick and wanted to fight it off. Then, for the fifth night in a row, I woke up at 3:00 a.m. and could not get back to sleep. fun.
I guess I should mention I got some really bad news last night, too, that I am trying to take in stride, but I am concerned and a little upset and am trying to figure out how I really feel about it--other than a little deflated. Once I work through the emotion, the logic will come. Unknowns are a little scary and bothersome at times.
Then, I got some bad news from someone close to me today and I wish I could give her a hug. But, we're thousands of miles apart. February cannot get here soon enough in that regard.
Then, I went to run errands with husband--and we hit a bird! Hate that. It was upsetting. We are pretty sure it didn't make it. Sad. Yuck.
Then, I got home and our poor beagle had an accident in the house he's our geriatric beagle, so what do you do--other than love him?
Consequently, it's been a yucky day at moments.
But, I got more journaling and writing done in an hour and a half than I have gotten done the last five days. There is my blessing of the day... along with the precious time spent with my husband running errands.
Journaling on yucky days sure helps.
What do you do on those yucky days?
Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir
Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121
JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
How has journaling helped you and your life?
~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper
Post #5 of My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: My Personal Journaling
Written: 03 January 2013, Thursday, 1246 p.m. and 04 January 2013, Friday, 919 a.m.
POST #4
If you are following this blog post series in my blog, you will probably notice how I am skipping entry or post #4. There is a really good reason for it. The journal entry ended up being a little too personal for what I feel comforting sharing on this blog. It will be included in future versions, though. See below.
THE PUBLISHING OF THIS BLOG POST SERIES
This reminds me, I wanted to share with you how I plan to publish these blog posts into two different types of books:
1 This will be my rough draft, journaling and blog posts of the book. I will offer this for free for a couple of months on Smashwords. In time, I will charge a little for it. But, not right away. This will be the rough draft version of the book and will have all of the blog posts listed in order. I will publish them on Smashwords and will then download a new version every week so you can read the blog spots in order easily. (This will begin next week.) So, stay tuned.
2 I will publish in a memoir form on Smashwords and on Amazon Kindle. This will be an edited finalized version of my journaling book from #1. I will charge a little more for this version of my story.
I hope that makes sense.
I AM STAGGERED: WRITING OF MEMORIES REAPS GREAT DIVIDENDS
I am staggered, blown away, dumbfounded, and astounded by my journaling in Post #4.
MY HALLMARK JOURNAL
I got another and favorite journal when I was 12 or 13 from Hallmark. It was about 9 x 9 inches in size and had a drawing of a girl on the front. There was a quote on the front cover that read,
"Sometimes I need to be alone,
Thinking, dreaming, on my own,
Trying to figure out what makes me--me,
Following my own special path."
The quote still sticks with me today--and the journal was thrown away almost twenty years ago. I still have the box, though, that it came in from the Cinderella City Mall Hallmark Store. I cannot remember the proper name of the store, unfortunately, But, I can picture where it was in the mall.
My mom bought it for me.
The quote still applies to my life today and I cannot help but recite it from time to time. I think this is precisely why I love journaling so much. The quote on this journal spoke volumes to me.
After all, I am an only child. So, I've had a lot of on my own time ever since I can remember It's always been time I've savored. I've always read and journaled during my alone time. It's at these times I explore my faith, who I am, what makes me tick, why the world is the way it is, what I believe what I wish and dream, and plan for the future.
This journal held my early teenage years and how I was experimenting with life--trying to figure out what made me--me.
The pages held:
* My parents divorce. And the box it came in holds a letter my mom wrote to me that week.
* The memories of a friend who committed suicide.
* When my dad sold the home we both grew up in. I have a copy of the newspaper ad.
* Memories of my dates and boyfriends.
* Memories with girlfriends.
* Mistakes I made.
* My immature thinking and dreadful actions.
* It showed a girl who was mad at the world.
* It contained the truth of how I was raped.
* The journal also contained how I left my faith for witchcraft.
* The journal showed how I was very young--trying to act mature in a world that tried to swallow me alive--and I was sucked into it before I even realized.
Then, about the time I start to mature or so I thought, I got married. (I was way too young, by the way.) I moved into the apartment with my boyfriend before we married and caught him reading the journal one day. He took the scared little girl who was mad at the world as the young woman I started to become. He held my immaturity against me. The pain this caused at that time cannot be expressed in words. It was much too deep.
I ended up throwing that journal away. I knew I would regret it later, but I did not want to take the chance of him ever reading it again and holding it against me.
So, for seven years, I journaled what I didn't care if the world read journaling entries. I refused to ever open myself up like that again.
In time, I started to heal and after our divorce, I was able to journal again in the real and authentic way I preferred I was able to be ugly on the page I just made sure and make sure to go back the next day and explain it and how it was a journaling exercise and this is what I really mean and think today. That way, if anyone read it again, they know that my journaling is a process of growth.
The truth of the matter is for several years now, I have not needed to be too ugly on the page I have worked through my stuff. I did it years ago and am quite happy and content today. I know how to roll with the punches and remind myself that the hard times will be useful to me later. What matters most is that I live a memorable life where I do not take a day for granted and I remember what God has done in my life in the past and keep an eye and ear open-- ready to take in what he says and does in my life today--each day.
I write today to be read. I want to leave a legacy for my future child. So, I make sure to make each work count as I journal--just as I try to do the same with each day.
I even have a letter for my husband, in case I die prematurely, and have information for him on how to find all of my journals online and how to access them. I want him to read them and publish them.
That journal was very precious to me and I am glad I still have the memories of it, along with everything that was in the box. This journal is what made me want to dedicate myself to a life of journaling.
The loss of this journal still stings if I think about it, but I am glad for it in spite. I think the loss of the journal has made me the journalkeeper I am today.
I will spend some time in the future thinking more about the memories that this journal held and get them down on the page.
Interesting. I did not expect to go into all of that when I sat down to journal about this Hallmark journal. I cannot help but wonder what different things I will write in 3, 6, 9, and 12 months when I return to this memory. I am sure I would journal new information from new angles, along with some of the same I wrote today. But, through writing about the memory of this journal today, I have more insight into myself and my life today--and am grateful for where I am and who I am today.
~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper
2013 and 30-Days Journaling and Memoir Class Notes & Homework
DAYS 4 AND 5
HOMEWORK
Day 4: Write out 25 more memories.
Day 5: Write out 25 more memories.
The good news is that after Day 5, we will not be making these silly lists any longer. So, hang in there. This too shall pass. Again, there is a reason for all of this listing. Everything we do in the next 25 days after that will encompass these lists (or the 1 overall list of all 125 memories.
I hope it has been, and will be, a rather insightful adventure as you remember the most memorable times of your life. After all, these are the times that have shaped who you are today and help explain why you do the things you do.
May we never take a single moment of our lives for granted Sure, we may go through tough times and may do some foolish things, but it's what we learn from them and how we apply these lessons that make our lives so much sweeter in the future. Every experience is not for naught. There is a reason. Searching our minds for these precious insights in a privilege we have No other animal on earth has the rich storehouse of memory like we do.
Our memories are sacred. Let's look at each of the 125 gems and explore their brilliancy and see how these precious jewels make us treasure our lives today.
~ Stacy Duplease
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Ugh!: My Personal journaling
I had a fabulous journaling morning and early afternoon. I got more done than I ever would have imagined and went deeper than I thought I would go. It was a refreshing and thought-provoking time.
Today was the first day I started to write the stories of my life and memories. I cannot believe how much I was able to accomplish. Needless to say, I could not wait to take a break and get back at it this afternoon. Now, I feel like I am getting sick. Ugh!
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Today was the first day I started to write the stories of my life and memories. I cannot believe how much I was able to accomplish. Needless to say, I could not wait to take a break and get back at it this afternoon. Now, I feel like I am getting sick. Ugh!
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Have you noticed?
Have you noticed when you journal that when you need or want to get a lot of journaling done, interruptions prevent you from journaling? It never seems to fail.
The key is to fight through it as long as you can. If that doesn't work, take a break and try again. If that doesn't work, tomorrow is a new day.
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
The key is to fight through it as long as you can. If that doesn't work, take a break and try again. If that doesn't work, tomorrow is a new day.
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Use your journal to dream
Use your journal to dream. And, dream big. Use your imagination. Anything is possible.
Just journal.
Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir
2013 and 30-Days Journaling and Memoir Class Notes & Homework
DAY 3
2013 CLASS NOTE
Don't forget 2013 Storykeeper Odyssey Class to do this 30-Day class as part of your homework and 2013 class. There will also be 11 other month-long classes to help you journal your story and then write your memoir.
RECAP OF PREVIOUS DAYS HOMEWORK AND NOTES FOR 2013 AND 30-DAY CLASS
Day 1 Homework and notes can be found here:
and here:
Day 2 Homework and notes can be found here:
2013 Storykeeper Odyssey Week 1 homework and notes can be found here:
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Memories are the building blocks of your life. They made you who you are today and brought you down the path you've traveled.
HOMEWORK FOR TODAY FOR BOTH CLASSES
You guessed right. It's this:
~ List 25 memories.
~ Then, re-read your previous lists and make sure you haven't repeated anything. If you have write another memory. Also, as you go through all 3 lists do any other memories come to mind? If so, write them down. After all, that will get you ahead for tomorrow (hee-hee).
JOURNALING PROMPTS
~ List 5 memories of a person in your life.
~ List 5 memories of a pet (or pets) you've had.
~ List 5 memories of movies you've seen.
~ List 5 memories of TV shows you've watched.
~ List memories of each house you've lived in.
~ List memories of each job you've had.
Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Journalkeeper & Author
My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir
Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121
New Beginnings: A Journaling Exercise or Prompt
Every New Year, every new journal, every new day, every new page in our journals offers us a new beginning to do with what we choose.
How can we maximize these opportunities?
(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014.)
(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014.)
New Beginnings: A Journaling Exercise or Prompt
Every New Year, every new journal, every new day, every new page in our journals offers us a new beginning to do with what we choose.
How can we maximize these opportunities?
Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Journalkeeper & Author
My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir
Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Post #3 of My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: My Personal Journaling
Written: 29 December 2012
MY 2013 GOAL
To get all of my life's memories and stories on the page. (Yes. All of them.)
This is the name of a journaling series, a blog post series, and book(s) I am writing in 2013: MY STORYKEEPING ODYSSEY IN 2013.
DESCRIPTION
It is the story of me journaling my story, through storykeeping, in 2013. Storykeeping is more than a memoir. It's a journaling memoir, with the recognition of how my life has been shaped not only by what I have experienced, but by other stories. People (and their stories), places, and things/objects also have shaped who I am, along with ancestry, history, and current events. This is storykeeping. Put it all together, and you get: MY STORYKEEPING ODYSSEY IN 2013.
I will also write the book as a Journaling Exercise or Prompt book for people to get their own stories on the page--and perhaps write their memoir as well--through storykeeping.
Don't worry. My personal journaling will have all of my memories. I will share just a few in the blog post series--and in my memoir as a storykeeper.
DAILY WORD COUNT GOAL
My Daily Word Count Goal (Monday-Friday at least):
1,000 words (That would be a total of 260,000 words in a year. That's too much material for one book. My guess is it will be 2 books.)
WHY THIS JOURNALING, MEMOIR, AND STORYKEEPING PROJECT?
1 I want to get all of my memories down on the page in order to leave a legacy.
2 I want to explore my story and how, whether I realized it or not, how it's been impacted because of my family tree.
3 Faith has shaped my life. I want to explore this.
4 Patriotism has also influenced my life. I also want to explore this.
5 History has shaped my life. This is something else I want to explore.
6 People, places, events, objects/things have shaped my life and I also want to explore these angles.
7 I have lived a life of many experiences and even hardships at times, and have come through to the other side--where I can thank the Lord for all of them. I have no regrets. I am who I am because of what has happened to me. I have learned so much and want to share what I've learned through evaluated experience.
8 To share.
~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper
Post #2 of My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: My Personal Journaling
Written: 28 December 2012, Friday, 1044 a.m.
WELCOME
Welcome to my journaling adventure as I explore all of my life stories and memories throughout 2013. It is my desire to leave my legacy and get all of my memories down on the page in 2013.
DESCRIPTION
Welcome to the story of me journaling my story, through storykeeping, in 2013. Storykeeping is more than a memoir. It's a journaling memoir, with the recognition of how my life has been shaped not only by what I have experienced, but by other stories. People (and their stories), places, and things/objects also have shaped who I am, along with ancestry, history, and current events. This is storykeeping. Put it all together, and you get: MY STORYKEEPING ODYSSEY IN 2013.
I will also write the book as a Journaling Exercise or Prompt book for people to get their own stories on the page--and perhaps write their memoir as well--through storykeeping.
Don't worry. My personal journaling will have all of my memories. I will share just a few in the blog post series--and in my memoir as a storykeeper.
MY PERSONAL GOAL AND 5-STEP PROCESS
I will turn my personal journaling into blog posts, will then put the blog posts in book form, will edit these posts and add to them, and will publish the book. So, it will be a 5-step process:
1 Journal 1,000 words a day at least (Monday-Friday).
2 Turn certain journaling entries into blog posts.
3 Combine the blog posts into a Word document and write a little more.
4 Edit.
5 Publish.
MY PROFESSIONAL GOAL
Another goal I have as far as MY STORYKEEPER ODYSSEY IN 2013 project is to help others to get their own memories and stories down on the page and at least do step #1 of my 5-step process. I will include journaling exercises or prompts at the end of each blog post to help with this endeavor. I will assume that the reader might want to do all 5-steps, however and will assist with this accomplishment.
FRESH MATERIAL
While I have hundreds of journals, I plan on looking at none of them as I write all of my memories on the page in my personal journal.
Yep. None.
Why on earth would I do this? You might want to know at this point.
Why? It's because I want to look at each memory through my nearing 40 eyes today. I do not want to be clouded by my past. It's who I am today that matters most--not my past. My past has shaped me, sure, but who I am today matters most of all. (I hope that makes sense.)
I want this perspective and see who I am today. Furthermore, I want to address these things as well: How I got here, what I've learned, what has shaped me and my life, who has shaped me and my life, what has influenced me, where I am today, where I am going, and why.
That's the first pass through the material.
Then, after I do the blog posts, I will add the reviewing of my journals. This will be the additional writing that I do and then publish in book format later.
That being said, I will look at all of my journaling from 18 December 2012 to 31 December 2013 as I write my original journaling. the earlier journals, however will not be looked at from the beginning.
WHO AM I?
I am Stacy Duplease. I am nearing 40 and am married to my best friend. (That isn't meant to be cute or make you say AHH!, by the way. It's the truth.) I am a journalkeeper, writer, and author. I enjoy coffee, walking or running, traveling, digital scrapbooking, taking photos, and reading.
I've kept journals for about 30 years and journal daily.
I am a stay-home, journalkeeping, blogging, Google+ community addict, wife who does all of that full-time. Hence, there are days I do not get out of my pajamas until 11:00 or so, but have been up for five hours or so.
I have Zack Beagle, Sinan Orange Maine Coon cat, and two Red-Eared Slider (RES) turtles--Shelly and Harry.
I am a woman of faith and am quite patriotic.
Virginia is where I presently live, but am a third generation Colorado native. Most of my family is in Colorado However, when my husband retires, we hope to call Wyoming home. We live near Jamestown and Yorktown, two of our favorite historical spots. (Also, in the last four years or so, I have lived in Omaha, Nebraska and Las Vegas Nevada.)
I learned in June 2012 how I have family from this area. I did some digging around and unearthed how I had three family members come into Jamestown in 1607 and had over 35 living in or near Jamestown as of 1640. Additionally, I've had family members fight in every war that the United States of America has seen--including a father and his 12 sons in the American Revolutionary War (aka The War of Independence).
My family tree also includes over 40 family members executed at the Tower of London (I actually think it's over 50, but we'll get into that later.) Which I guess I also should mention how I come from the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties. Nero and Constantine are a couple of my ancestors, and I seem to have royalty in my family line from all over Europe.
I am an only child--and so is my husband. We hope to have a kiddo someday.
And I am sure over the next year, you are going to get to know me far more than you ever imagined. For the record, I would love to get to know you as well.
CARE TO JOIN ME?
Do you want to join in your own Storykeeping Odyssey? I do not care when in 2013, or any time thereafter. It would be an honor to share in your journey. If you do, please let me know. Either:
1 Attach a comment at the end of any of my blog posts at: http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com
2 Send an email to: storykeeper2121@gmail.com
3 Join my Google+ community at:
MORE INFORMATION
If you want to join in your own storykeeper odyssey, look up on my blog all the blog posts that have the label of: MY STORYKEEPER ODYSSEY IN 2013. Read them. I will have a tab/page dedicated to that as well on my blog. There will also be additional information on the Google+ Journaling & Storykeeping community. And, request a newsletter.
I am doing a "2013 Storykeeper Odyssey: Writing Our Memories Class" in my Google+ community and will do blog posts for it on my blog. It's a class for 2013 for anyone who wants to write all of their memories. Feel free to join at any time.
JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
Do you want to write all of your memories and get them saved on the page?
~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper
~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper
Post #1 of My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: My Personal Journaling
GENERALS TO SPECIFICS
This blog has been focused on journaling in a general sense for the last couple of months. It has been an Introduction to Journaling.
Now, we are going to switch to different types of journaling. We will still cover the basics and generals of journaling, but we will also look at more specifics.
WHAT IS A STORYKEEPER AND WHAT IS STORYKEEPING?
I am sure you have wondered what I meant by storykeeping and being a storykeeper for a while now. I am still trying to work on a good definition, I must confess. But, 2013 will be the year I learn everything it means and will share my odyssey with you.
This much I do know, though. A storykeeper is someone who takes journaling one-step further and goes deeper with their journaling. A storykeeper acknowledges that their story intertwines with all the other stories that they come in contact with in daily living. Each story impacts one another's story. Hence, when a storykeeper journals, they make sure to write the other stories as well--and shares how it's impacted their own life.
A storykeeper also makes sure to get their entire life on the page. They, after all, are keepers of story.
A storykeeper knows that all stories are sacred. They are spiritual, a thing of the heart, and part of the spirit. Stories are meant to impact a life and transform it.
GET IT ALL DOWN ON THE PAGE
I think Sandy Hook has taught me something that I want to remember even more in 2013. Life changes on a dime. I could die tomorrow. Or worse... My loved ones could die tomorrow. So... I want to tell then everything I would want them to know before any of us actually do die.
Starting tomorrow I am going to get all of the stories I would want
told down on the page... my stories and theirs.
told down on the page... my stories and theirs.
2013 will be the year I get my stories down on the page. I will pledge
at least 20 hours a week of this alone.
at least 20 hours a week of this alone.
I have no idea about all the writing projects I had planned. We shall see. This is the one that Sandy Hook taught me matters most to me. It's time to get serious and get my full story on the page--past, present, and future (plans).
MY STORYKEEPER ODYSSEY IN 2013
This is the title of my 2013 project.
Care to join me on my odyssey? As I journal, I will add journaling exercises or prompts to help you write your story and embark on your own journey.
~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper
Journaling when the unthinkable happens
You just got really bad news of some type--or something bad just happened--what-do-you-do?
What do you do when the unthinkable happens? What do you do when something so horrible that it's beyond your comprehension happens?
The answer is this: grieve and journal.
Then, when all else fails, journal.
And, when you think you are doing better, journal.
And, when you have a relapse and it feels like it's happening all over again, journal.
Journal through the tough time. That's when journaling is the most important and the most useful to you.
And, whatever you do, NEVER delete throw away, burn, or destroy these journals or journal entries. Keep them. They will be useful to you later to look at, evaluate, and see how you overcame. (Never mind how journaling helps you in the moment.)
Just journal.
You will get through this. You will. One breath at a time, one minute at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time. You will get through.
~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper, Writer, & Blogger
Blessings Journaling: Always Give Thanks
Rather than do what is called gratitude journaling, do Counting of Blessings Journaling (or Blessings Journaling).
The difference between the two is the second recognizes what God has done in one's life, around one's life, and through one's life.
JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT FOR 2013
Count the Blessings in your life each and every day all year long in 2013. Write at least 3 each day.
Most of the blessings you count, by the way, are memories. Therefore, you might want to write more about them later. This is another way to leave your legacy.
And, just think--if you're having a rough day, you can always look at the blessings you had before and it should re-motivate you and help you find blessings on those challenging days.
(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014.)
(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease 2009-2014.)
Blessings Journaling
Rather than do what is called gratitude journaling, do Counting of Blessings Journaling (or Blessings Journaling).
The difference between the two is the second recognizes what God has done in one's life, around one's life, and through one's life.
JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT FOR 2013
Count the Blessings in your life each and every day all year long in 2013. Write at least 3 each day.
Most of the blessings you count, by the way, are memories. Therefore, you might want to write more about them later. This is another way to leave your legacy.
And, just think--if you're having a rough day, you can always look at the blessings you had before and it should re-motivate you and help you find blessings on those challenging days.
Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Journalkeeper & Author
My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir
Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121
30-Days of the Memory Launch Pad Journaling and Memoir Class Notes
DAY 2
HOMEWORK
TIPS
HOMEWORK
Write 25 more memories today.
HANG ON
Hang on. I know what you are probably thinking. Didn't we do this yesterday? Yes. You did. We are going to do this every day for five days. Then, we will start diving into the depths of each of the 125 memories--and write any other memory that comes to mind as we do.
There is a reason why we are getting 125 down on the page in 5 days. Hang in there with me, please. It's just for 5 days.
TIPS
Write whatever comes to mind, the second it comes to your mind. Do not
think twice. Just get it down on the page.
think twice. Just get it down on the page.
IDEAS
Write 5 of and of the below:
- Happy memories
- Sad memories
- Challenging times
- Times of success
- Times of doubt
- Times with family
- Holidays
- People in your life
Write 5 of and of the below:
- Happy memories
- Sad memories
- Challenging times
- Times of success
- Times of doubt
- Times with family
- Holidays
- People in your life
-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author
Journalkeeper & Author
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