Wednesday's Journaling Prompts, Thoughts, and Odyssey

Wednesday's Journaling Prompts, Thoughts, and Odyssey

JOURNALING PROMPT
Write your memoir in the following ways:
6 words
10 words
12 words
3 sentences
6 sentences
2 paragraphs
1 page
You may need to write several of each in order to capture your life best on the page.
You can also do this for this week, this month, the last three months, the last six months, the last nine months, all this year, last year, the last five years, the last ten years, every decade, etc.

SUMMARIES OF MY LIFE OR CONCISE MEMOIRS
Six Word Memoir: Journal Keeper, blessings counter, Christian, reader.
Ten Word Memoir: Journal Keeper, blessings counter, Christian, married, reader, animal lover.
Twelve Word Memoir: Journal keeper, blessings counter, Christian, married, reader, animal lover,  coffee/tea drinker.
Three Sentence Memoir: I am a 33+ year journal keeper, blessings counter, Christian, married, reader, animal lover,  and coffee/tea drinker. I try to find the blessing of every moment, even during times of challenge, and I'm trying to capture my life and blessings on the page. My life is supremely blessed.
Six Sentence Memoir: I am a 33+ year journal keeper, blessings counter, Christian, married, reader, animal lover, and coffee/tea drinker.
I've had my challenges, but I have allowed them to make me a better person, and shape me, and I would not wish one challenge away. it try to find the blessing of every moment, even during times of challenge, and I'm trying to capture my life and blessings on the page. My life is supremely blessed and I do not want to forget any of it and want to remember all of the blessings. I believe every moment in life is sacred and blessed and have tried to live this truth. I journal to catch the small details in life that we might miss, which is a shame, because often times the more minute details are the most transforming in our lives.
{Written on 10/19 and 10/20/2015.}

MY MORNING PERSONAL JOURNALING
Thank the Lord for a new day. It's a blank slate of opportunity where I can choose to find the blessings of every moment and remember them or I can just let them slip by and disappear into oblivion and the recesses of time.
Today also gives me the opportunity to remember Kara and live a better and more grateful life because of her.
{Note: Kara was our rescued black and white tuxedo cat who we had a year and six days. She was feral, deaf, declared, and abandoned. She had breast and lung cancer and we had her put to sleep on Saturday, September 26, 2015.}
Pause. Sigh. Pardon me, journal (and my Lord), as I try to stop the tears which threaten to fall.
The pain is still raw.
Oh, how B (my husband, best friend, and confidant) and I miss her so!
She was our baby girl.
So much to say, but I am not sure where to begin.
I keep writing journaling entries and blog posts about her { see http://RYPStories.blogspot.com if you are curious}, but none of them feel quite right.
I decided yesterday to write my memoir about being a journal keeper... but that doesn't quite feel right at the moment either.
I have no doubt whatsoever I need to write both memoirs... about Kara and my journal keeping life, but is the time now? Or, is there another story to tell first?
The way I cannot form a paragraph in this journal right now is a testament to how I am confused and am not sure what to focus my efforts on in my journaling. Short choppy sentences can be used for effect, but that sure hasn't been my intent in this journal entry. I am not sure what to say or where to begin, which is unusual for me. It makes me wonder why.
(Hah! I just wrote a paragraph! Finally.)
What IS my story?
For years I have tried to tell it, but only succeed in finding yet another story to tell. I have so many. Is that the problem? Do I have so many stories tell that it intimidates me without even realizing? Or have I just not figured out which theme to focus on in my life? Am I supposed to tell my stories in short flash memoirs, which I compile into a book, or is it supposed to be a page theme focused memoir?
The truth is, I have no idea whatsoever.
I have tried for years to write my story. And have failed.
Maybe that's the problem. Maybe I need to stop worrying about telling my story and just capture my story in several journaling entries and then see from there what to do with them, if anything.
Maybe the problem is I have multiple themes running through my life and life stories.
Yes. The idea of just journaling and forgetting the memoir part has appeal to me right now. I think this is where I shall begin. Just journaling. My Journaling Odyssey as I seek to capture my life stories on the page and explore them for something deeper.
Yes. This is what I shall do, now that I have think about it.
{Written Tuesday, 10/20/2015, in the morning.}

A CHUCKLE BECAUSE OF MY PREDICTABILITY (AND PURE ENJOYMENT)
I could not help but chuckle a minute ago. My mom asked me what I am doing today. I replied that I'm doing what I have done every day since late 2008, but also a few times per week for three decades plus three years, one month, and two weeks or so. I'm journaling.
I am so predictable.
As a matter of fact, I have the feeling that when I die, it will be with a journal in hand. Really. No joke. I think it's quite likely.

As I sit here, Sinan (our orange Maine Coon) has draped himself on my left hip and has my hand pinned so I cannot journal on my tablet with two hands. I have to use one hand. Of course I took the picture to show Sinan pretending to be a sweet and good boy. It's just a matter of time before he nibbled my hand to play or before he has enough and leaves.
Then again... He has fallen asleep on my hand and it's now cramping. You would think I would move, but I just don't have the heart. Moments like this are to be treasured. I wanted to go take a shower, but I think I will enjoy this for a bit instead..
Oh, good. He moved a little and is curled up next to me on our teal colored sofa.
These are the sacred moments of blessing I never want to forget.
His silky fur. How he shook his head and now I have several long orange hairs all over my tablet... evidence he is still here. His long white whiskers. How he is always warm to the touch because of his long and bushy fur coat.
I notice how Zack, our tri-colored beagle isn't snoring, but he's in his bed about ten feet from me.
I have a cup of pumpkin spice coffee mixed with a caramel cappuccino at my right on the end table along with a large blow plastic cup of water from the fridge. The coffee has gotten cold as I have a cat leaning on me, left arm pinned, but I can still type and journal.
At any rate, I chuckled at my mom's questions about my plans today. There is rarely a day I do not spend hours in my journal.
You know, there is a rule of thumb about journaling. About the time you get your heart and mind aligned and set to journal, you will be interrupted... as I have been twice now.
I better go take a shower and then try to journal.

{MY PERSONAL JOURNALING ON 10/20/2015, TUESDAY, 106 P.M.}

THE CONVENIENCE OF JOURNALING
Here I sit at a place to get my vehicle repaired and it will take 30 to 40 minutes, the gentleman let me know. I couldn't help but do an inward cheer about how blessed I am that I am a journal keeper, writer, and blogger. What that means is I can work from anywhere at any time. My profession and passion are portable and are quite convenient. What a blessing.
It's actually refreshing to journal in a different place. It brings new scenery, noises, and faces, which can actually bring a new outlook to my journaling. Therefore, it never bothers me to pull out my tablet and type away. I find it rather exciting since it brings a freshness to my journaling.

A JOURNALING ODYSSEY 2016 HANDBOOK
Just before I left my house, I looked through my documents on my laptop and tablet and found the newest document I had for the journaling encyclopedia, as I once called it, that I want to edit, add to, and publish. It will be the largest single journaling resource on the market. I found that it dated back to December 2014 and I realized I needed to make sure I had all of my blog posts included in it and I found several that were not, so I added them.
{Note: Wouldn't you know, as I sit here, I realize I might not have all of the blog posts still... I will need to verify that this afternoon or tomorrow.}
The book is 576 pages already. Mind you, I need to do a lot of formatting. Therefore, it might cut it back quite a bit or after I add all the page breaks, I could have even more pages. Who knows. Furthermore, I want to add more information and cut some out that is no longer relevant.
It is quite exciting to see all of the old material I haven't looked out in whole in over a year. Never mind how exciting it will be when I publish it so I can have a paper copy in my hands. You better believe I will use it as well. They say to write what you know. They also say to write the book you would want to read, so you better believe "A Journaling Odyssey 2016 Handbook" is just as much for me as it is for others.

PLAN FOR "A JOURNALING ODYSSEY 2016 HANDBOOK"
Huh. I just thought of something. {Note: I am at a bookstore now and am journaling. It is now 216 p.m.} I think I will change my thinking. I will publish everything I wrote prior to now in its own handbook. Then, I will publish my blog information into a separate resource /book. I will then publish every year as a separate book from here on and will also make available multiple years in one volume/book as well.
Let me simplify it all the more. All of my previous years will be 2016, Part 1 and my blog material from October to the end of December 2015 will be Part 2 of the handbook, along with a separate volume of, "A Journaling Odyssey's Book of Journaling Prompts for 2016."
With each book, I will add more material as I edit it so you will have more than what you can find on my blog. I will make sure to do a good job of editing as well before I publish the three books of material.
Now that I think about it, if I edit some each day, I might be able to publish the first part of the handbook at the beginning of the year. We shall see.
Wow. Three books. I want to have all three published by the end of March 2016. Let me see if I can concentrate my efforts and make that happen.

{MY PERSONAL JOURNALING ON 10/20/2015, TUESDAY, 227 P.M.}

AN HONEST ASSESSMENT OF MY JOURNALING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND MY END OF YEAR JOURNALING GOALS
Since it is almost the end of October, and the end of this year, I cannot help but think how I have about how I have seventy-one days to accomplish my journaling goals for this year. The truth is I have failed miserably and have done quite a bit of shallow journaling up until this point in time. My journaling simply has been adequate at best.
Am I being hard on myself? Yes. But, that is far as it goes. I will change this and become more determined to get as much possible out of my journaling between now and the end of the year.
My goal is to write a minimum of 2,000 words per day between now and the end of the year. Let me add yesterday and today, so that's 73 days x 2,000 words = 146,000 words.
Gulp. I checked my calculations twice, so I know that is correct.
Well, we shall see.
I want to get as much as possible on the page... I want to capture as much as possible on the page and then figure out what to do with it. I imagine I will write additional books, besides how-to journal and journaling prompt books. But, I may want to continue with that crazy pace for longer than the seventy-one days from now. After all, I have tried time and time again to do so, only to get sidetracked with writing a novel of some kind, or get sidetracked with something else. I want to change this. I want to capture my life on the page once and for all. Not parts of my life. But, all of it.
Why? I want to count the blessings in my life and not forget them. Every moment is sacred and has multiple blessings. The catch is we have to look for the blessings, count them, and remember them. I simply have not done a thorough job of this in my journaling, if I am honest with myself.
Also, I want to go as deep as possible. I am tired of shallow journaling. The only way to do this is to do as much shallow journaling as possible, to get it on the page, then expand upon it, search through that material for the jewels, and go deeper with that material. And I need to keep mining for those jewels, keep adding material, and expanding on old material.
The only way to do all of this is to journal. And do lots of journaling.
Truthfully, I hope to write 2,715 words per day ideally, which will mean I journal 198,195 words between now and the end of the year. So... why not push it and say 200,000 words ideally or 146,000 words minimal.
This will ensure I capture my life on the page in as deep and as a truthful way as possible.

{MY PERSONAL JOURNALING 10/20/2015 @ 255 P.M. @ BOOKSTORE}

WHY SHOULD I TELL MY LIFE STORY?
Why should I share all of my moment by moment stories, which I will call tales, which when combined make up my overall life story to date? Why would anyone want to read one of my tales, let alone my bigger life story? Why should I capture my life on the page?
Huh. Good questions.
Well, first of all, I need my focus to be on my own personal journaling, not on publishing my tales and life story. So, I really shouldn't ask these questions at this point. However, I will answer them.
Why tell my tales and life story? It's because my story is unique. It's because it has been my goal the last two years to count my blessings in spite of my life challenges. And, let's face it... My life has been jammed pack with challenges.
I realize most people haven't thought of counting one's blessings, especially during the challenges of life. We live in a busy world and few take the time to stop and do this. I used to be this way, so I can say this.
Additionally, life can be hard. Who wants to count a blessing then?
The truth is, counting my blessings has been my saving grace and has prevented me from being overly stressed or anxious or depressed or more than a few hours. In fact, I have noticed how counting my blessings in times of challenge has reaped great rewards and I am usually able to count far more blessings then than on a typical day. Therefore, when a challenge hits now, I cannot help but remember this and I start counting. The act of counting my blessings brings a sweet joy that grows deep and is everlasting.
Yes. This makes my story unique. How many of us do this?
Am I bragging? Hardly. I started counting my blessings because I was so upset about a major life-changing challenge in my life that I was afraid the sadness and despair would consume me. Consequently, I started counting my blessings out of self-preservation and not out of any bright idea on my part. {Note: I will share this story shortly.}
I want to look back over all of my tales and count the blessings I didn't count back then. This is my ultimate goal and is why I so desperately want and need to capture my life on the page, so I can count my trillions upon trillions of blessings... in spite of the challenges... in spite of my mistakes... in spite of my focusing on wrong things... in spite of me.

JOURNALING PROMPTS FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF THE YEAR
How has 2015 been for you to date?
What goals did you have at the beginning of the year and throughout the year? Have you accomplished them?
Summarize 2015 in 6 words. Then...
In 12 words.
In 4 sentences.
In two paragraphs.
In one page.
In two pages.
In five pages.
What blessings can you count from 2015 to date? List them. Try to count at least 25 and then make sure to write as much about them as you can between now and the end of the year. Keep expanding on the explanation of the blessing. And, keep counting more blessings.
What do you hope to accomplish between now and the end of the year?
How do you want to close out 2015?
What are seven things you remember most from 2015?
How can you make 2015 a year of blessings (counted) between now and December 31st?

{MY PERSONAL JOURNALING ON 10/20/2015 @ 313 P.M. @ BOOKSTORE}

A THEME OF BLESSING
When I look back at my life from October 2013 to now, I see that the major theme has been, BLESSING. I have been intentional about counting my blessings. Granted, I have missed far more than I have counted, but I can honestly say that even when I haven't journaled about it, I have counted at least a few blessings each day for the last two years.
Wow. Wonder of wonders.
I pause and take that in for a moment.
Yes. Overall, I have succeeded with living a life of gratitude and thanksgiving.
Sure. I could do a great deal better than I have. I could be more purposeful about it. Needless to say, over the next seventy-one days, this will be my major goal with my journaling.

A LOOK AT 2015
This year has been one of major life transition. Actually, it has consisted of several major transitions. It's been off the chart. Some transitions have been expected and some have not been.
January to the end of February consisted of preparing to move and closing up our lives in Virginia. It meant making memories while we could--in the place and with our friends.
{Note: Ugh. Every time I have really gotten into my journaling today, I have been interrupted. It just happened again. Sigh. Where was I?}
I cannot help but shake my head. Has it been so long? In many ways, it feel like just yesterday as memories flash through my mind. But, it also feels like ions ago at the same time. There has been a great deal of proverbial water under the bridge since then... miles of distance... literally and figuratively...
The last week of February consisted of movers and cleaning and final goodbyes...
Never mind how we had a driveway literally about ten times larger/longer than the average driveway... and we got ten inches of snow or so when the packers arrived and another storm when the movers were set to arrive... and then more overnight... Never mind the other snow storms that week... and how we had to shovel that driveway twice and hired someone to come shovel it...
We drove from Virginia to Colorado in two vehicles with two cats, a dog, and two turtles at the very end of February and the first couple of days of March.
But, let me rewind and not make that sound so simple.
When we woke up the day we were vacating our home, we told our landlord we would be gone by seven a.m. Sinan disappeared. We could not find him in our empty house. Until we realized our HVAC system had a door that was open. It was in the attic... with foam insulation and there was no way we could walk in there and fetch him out. We looked in and saw him run by one time. We tried everything we could think of to get him out of there. He was upset with how his stuff was gone and then he sensed our fury and concern, so that was a lethal combination, which meant we didn't leave until just after eight.
Then, that first night in the hotel... when we woke up the next morning... and Sinan (DC) was gone again! Had he gotten out? Panic. Then, we realized he crawled into the frame under the bed... and we had to disassemble the bed to get him out! Therefore, we were late in leaving again.
The second morning in the hotel, before we even started showing something guns of packing, we locked him in the bathroom, not willing to take the chance of him causing us problems.
It was rather interesting, though. Our feral cat... Lady Kara... our Little Bit... who was deaf and had two forms of cancer, never mind severe travel sickness if she wasn't medicated... She was resilient and a rock. Which reminds me... Each morning, we had to set the alarm so we would wake and give Kara her nausea medicine three hours before we left... Hence, it would be about an hour and a half before our alarm went off for us to leave for the day's drive.
And, we ran into some snow showers...
So, driving across country had some challenges.
Overall, though, the drive was a pure joy. It's just the moments Sinan was anxious that brought a challenge.
We stayed with my dad in Colorado while we waited for my husband's job to start and while we waited to buy a house in Wyoming. It was only supposed to be six weeks... it ended up being five months as the job didn't open when it was supposed to and as we waited for our house to be built... We, and our menagerie or zoo, stayed with my dad all that time. Dad didn't mind one bit as we invaded him for much longer than anticipated. He was so awesome about it that we only felt more stress, if that makes sense. It wasn't supposed to be like that.
So, yes... the transition of finding a home, then putting in an offer on the home, then having a home built, then closing on the home, then moving was from May to the end of July. And that last week, my husband commuted for his new job from state to state.
Then, there was the stress of closing on the house...
I will write more later. ****

JOURNALING PROMPT
What transitions have you gone through in 2015?
What challenges have you had in 2015?