Introduction to Journaling, Part 2

THE ONLY RULE WITH JOURNALING (A RULE OF THUMB, REALLY)

There is only one rule with journaling.

However, with that being said, many journal keepers will disagree with this. I will explain.

The one rule with journaling is this:

Journal every single day. Without fail.

The ideal rule with journaling is this:

That you will journal several moments every day.

Some will say it is okay to journal when you can or when you feel inspired.

Some will even say that one sentence per day is enough. It is when you are just beginning.

The reason to journal at least every day, preferably at several moments throughout your day, is this: After 32.5 years of journaling, I have learned something beautiful about journaling: The more you put into journaling, the more you will get out of it.

Let me repeat that again. Please slowly read each word.

The more you put into journaling, the more you will get out of it.

Period.

End of story.

Any questions?

Journal once a year.

Journal one sentence a day.

Some is better than none with journaling.

However, do you want to live the deepest, most creative, most productive, most thought-full, most joyful, most blessed life you can, and be the biggest blessing you can be to others, then journal at several moments every single day without fail. You will not accomplish this by journaling any less.

If you journal less, you will live a less thought-FULL life. It will not be as deep, full of blessing, otherwise. In fact, you will take your life, people, and things for granted.

HOW OFTEN AND HOW MUCH SHOULD WE JOURNAL?: HOW TO MAKE JOURNALING A DAILY HABIT

I shared the answer in the previous paragraph. Journal every day, at several points throughout your day. And, you should journal as much as possible.

Great. This might seem intimidating or like wishful thinking. In fact, you might not have the time for it. Let me explain how you can.I journal between five and fifteen pages per day, letter size of 8.5 x 11, single spaced, 12 point font/type. I average nine pages per day, but have journals as many as fifty in a day. But, journaling is my full-time job.

When I worked full-time, I averaged five pages per day.

I say all of this not to brag or intimidate, but to make a point.

I started off writing one sentence per day.

That is the secret, folks. Don't start with the expectation of journaling one page or even one paragraph in a day. Start with a minimum goal of one sentence per day for one week. If you journal more than that, score! Extra bonus!

Then, journal the next week one sentence twice a day... in the morning and evening.

Then, journal the next week one sentence three times per day... in the morning, at Noonish, and then in the evening.

Then, for the next week, journal one sentence in the morning, at lunch, when you get home from school or work, then after dinner.

Then, for the next week, journal one sentence in the morning, at lunch, when you get home from school or work, then after dinner, then before bed.

Then, the next week, add one sentence to each of those times.

Keep building until you journal at least a page twice a day.

Then, keep building from there.

I steal times throughout my day to journal. I do my best to keep the appointed times, but also make sure to journal at every down moment. Our days are full of empty spaces and journaling is how I redeem the time, not checking my cell or doing social media. For instance, when I am on hold on the phone, when standing in a line at a store, sitting in waiting room at doctor's office, waiting for an appointment, waiting for someone to get ready to go somewhere, if I toss and turn at night, if I am stircrazy, if I am worked up about something, if I am anxious or stressed, if I am upset, if I am cooking something and cannot leave the kitchen but can journal a sentence or two as I cook, when I pull into a parking lot I journal for a minute before I go in store, etc. I steal time to journal all day long, plus write at the five times per day mark. This is how I have journals fifty page days at times.

My greatest joys are the mornings I cannot sleep in, because I am wide awake. It could annoy me. But, instead I think, "Yay! More time to journal!" And I rush to do just that. I usually have a major insight or A-HA moment those days, like I did this morning, by the way.

Journaling takes time. It is a practice and an art. Don't think you have to start off journaling pages or even paragraphs per day. Build up to that slowly over time. It took me years to get to this point. I wasn't born knowing how to journal. I've learned through lots of trial and error and experimentation.

Journal every day, at several moments throughout your day, the length you can and build up from there. It's really that easy.

Remember the one journaling rule of thumb: The more you put into journaling, the more you will get out of it.

So, if you have never journeyed before, I hope this helps.

For you journal keepers who have journaled before, I hope this helps inspire you to do more so you and your life can be far more deep, creative, reflective, productive, and blessed, so you can then be more of a blessing to others.

JOURNALING IS ALWAYS CHANGING--OR NOT

What I love most about journaling is it can be something you do differently every time you approach the page--or you can do the exact same thing. It's your journal. Be creative. There is only one rule (which we already covered), but all else goes. Experiment. Have fun with it.

If you are doing something that works in your journaling, meaning every time you sit down to journal, you are able to write several paragraphs without thought, where you are writing and are not getting stuck or blocked, then keep doing what you are doing. Don't change.

But, if you find yourself stuck or blocked, or even bored when you try to journal, then change it up and try something different than what you are doing now.

Journaling should bring you peace and contentment in the end and leave you with a new perspective. If it doesn't, try something new or different.

GRAMMAR?

With journaling, it is okay to break every single rule possible regarding grammar and how you write. Write one word sentences. Don't write in sentences. Make lists, mind maps, use bullets, or not. The choice is up to you. Do what works for you in that moment when you face the blank and empty page. If it works, your hand or hands are busy journaling. If not, then you are tapping or twiddling your thumbs. If it's the latter, mix it up and try something else.

So, forget grammar. Do what works for you as you journal.

OOPS. THERE ARE THREE RULES OF JOURNALING

1 The more you put into your journaling, the more you will get out of it.

2 Forget grammar.

3 Never, ever delete something, throw it away, rip it up, or get rid of it. Never, ever.

RULE 3: NEVER DELETE ANYTHING

Part of what makes journaling so effective and so delightful, is also what makes journaling such a powerful activity. It's reflection and self-analysis. It's about learning to live a deeper, more thoughtful life. Journaling gives us proper perspective, where after we deal with out stuff, then we can look around and count our blessings, and then we can be a blessing to others. We learn how to be far less self-centered by looking within and realizing our weaknesses and limitations, along with our mistakes. This brings humility. Then, we can be thankful for what we have and not regret the things we don't. Through this, we count our blessings and can look out at others and see past their warts and bring blessing to their lives. It's a wonderful progression.

We live such shallow lives normally.

Journaling makes us go deeper, where we explore the depths of self, situations, others, etc.

But, we can only do all of this through reviewing our journaling and reading it again, to analyze it and see what themes emerge, where we seem to keep tripping up, how we have grown, how what happened in the past seemed so nonsense but looking back we see how things worked together, we see how blessed we are, and we learn how we need to grow. Journaling it once and not reviewing and analyzing prevents us from doing all of this.

So many times in my life, I have faced challenges or experienced something that made no sense whatsoever. I have wondered why or thought how it didn't seem fair or was pointless. I've thrown a pity-party. Then, later on, more things happen, I do the same. Then, later on, something else happens, I review my journaling, and see how things worked together to bring me to this point. This exact point. How it came together the things that seemed unrelated and challenging. I learn how everything had a point. But, I would never have seen it own known it if I hadn't journaled it in the first place and then reviewed my journaling.

I never would have seen how things came together if I journaled something and then deleted it, destroyed it, or gotten rid of it.

Some will say it's therapeutic to rip up your journal.

Really?

If you fully deal with your stuff, you don't need to destroy to let go and move on. If you fully deal with your stuff, you learn that challenge is one of the biggest blessings in your life.
Why destroy a blessing?

Oh, at the time, it may seem ugly. But, often times, great beauty comes from what seems ugly.

So, never, ever delete. Not one word.

It's okay if your journaling is ugly. It's okay if you feel ugly after writing the ugly journal. Give it time. Beauty will rise from the ashes.

Keep every word, every scratch, of your journaling.

WHAT CAN YOU DO INSTEAD OF DELETING? 

1 If it's too painful to keep using that journal, start a new one. Set it to the side and forget about it.

2 If you feel like you need to rip something up, write as ugly of a letter as you can, purging The ugliness onto the page so you don't keep it within. Then, copy the letter. Keep one copy. Put it to the side. Take the other and rip that one up.

3 Or, just simply rewrite it. Keep the original and on the next page, rewrite it.

WHAT SHOULD YOU JOURNAL?

Truthfully, you should journal anything you want and anything that comes to mind, even if you wrote it before. There is a reason why it comes to mind or is on your heart.

It's true.

But, there are times you approach the page, your journal, and are blank. Nothing is there. Nothing comes to mind. So, what then?

There are many things you can do in that situation, or even just in general and every time you journal.

Journal every day about where you've been, where you are, and where you want to head in life. Then, count your blessings of each and then journal about memories of each. This is the simplest approach to take with journaling every time you approach the page.

There are other ideas as well:

Count your past, present, and future blessings.

Do some journaling exercises or prompts.

List as many memories as you can. Then, expand upon each of them until you have a full journal entry of at least a page per memory.

Ask who, what, where, when, why, how, and what-if questions.

Make lists of different things then expand to a page journaling of each item. For example: What are your favorite foods? Movies? Books? Say why they are your favorites and list at least three memories of each. Then journal a page about each memory.

List the decades of your life then under each decade, list as many memories come to mind.

Look around your house and list items, rooms, etc and the memories associated with each.

Then, expand your memories to one page each.

Every day, count your blessings. I know I ready said that, but I repeat that.

Those are just a few examples of what to journal.

IT'S YOUR TURN: A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

Count your past, present, and future blessings.

Why is each a blessing?

List a memory of each blessing and then journal as much as you can about it.

Journaling Blog

I am starting a new journaling blog. It's called: Journaling Stuff.

It's everything you ever wanted to know about journaling.

See the link listed below, please.

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease

Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journalingstuff.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

How Do You Journal?: An Introduction

SO, HOW DO YOU JOURNAL ANYWAY?: JUST BEGIN

I will go into all of the nuts and bolts, and the specifics, throughout blog of how to journal. However, in this blog post, since it is the very first one on how to journal, I will get to the most important information you need to know now so you can start to journal the second after you read this blog post, or even as you read this. I think we should jump right in and journal immediately.

We cannot start journaling until we have a journal. Hence, that's where we will start. We'll begin with finding our journaling method. Whether you have journaled in the past, or haven't at all, you need to pick your digital journaling method.

Yes. I am insisting you start right now with journaling on your computer and to then save your journaling on the Cloud. (I will explain how. No worries.) If you start journaling on your cell, computer, and that now, then it will become a habit in three months. There is not time like the present.

WHY DO DIGITAL JOURNALING? 

Four years ago, my house was threatened by a large funnel cloud, I was moved by movers, I went through an earthquake, and I was forced to evacuate because of a hurricane. All of that happened in the space of five weeks. Each act of God threatened to destroy nearly three decades of my handwritten journals. But, it was the movers who lost ten years of my journals that got to me the most. Ouch.

This is why I insist on digital journaling--and not just any kind of digital journaling, but making sure to save it to the Cloud. That way, your house, cell, computer, laptop, and tablet can all be destroyed or lost or stolen, but you will still have your journals. Permanent journaling is the only way to go.

Please try digital journaling now. It can save you a lot of heartache. I still mourn over the loss of my journaling and the pain is just as raw today as it was when it happened. You do not want to put all that time, effort, heart, and soul into your journaling only to have it lost.

Now, if you think, "Well, I can handwritten them, then I can type them up later," don't fool yourself. You may want to do that, but life has a funny way of interrupting our plans. Things will get in the way. So, save yourself the extra work and develop the habit of digital journaling today.

So, what are the methods of digital journaling?

HOW DO YOU DIGITAL JOURNAL? (WHAT ARE THE METHODS?)

How do you digital journal? You use your cell, tablet, laptop, and/or computer to journal.
Now, before I continue, so I do not have to write out those four devices each time, I will keep it simple and call it just your device to keep it simple, or if I want to be a little fancy, I will say digital device.

How do you use your device to journal? There are a few methods to do so:

1 Email: Send yourself an email (this saves it on the internet permanently and offers a search option).

2 Journal in a Document: Journal in a blank document, then email it to yourself for permanent record.

3 Journaling App: Use a journaling app. But, this is one I highly recommend you to AVOID.

ONLY use a journaling app if you can send each entry to yourself via email or save it as a pdf and then email that to yourself. MOST journaling apps do NOT offer these features.

Also, make sure you can use your app on ALL of your devices. MOST do not carry across all devices.

4 An Online Journal: This is the way I recommend most. You can do a private or public blog, or keep a private or public journal. As far as the blogs, some examples are: Blogger, Tumblr, etc. As far as online journals, there's Penzu, LiveJournal, etc. I recommend Penzu.com with no hesitation and simply cannot recommend it enough.

What makes an online journal so appealing is that then it is saved onto the Cloud (hence, is permanent). Also, they offer different features or options to help you journal and make your journaling easier and more pleasurable.

PENZU.COM: A SHAMELESS PLUG

I have used Penzu.com since November 2012 and I have over 10,176 journaling entries. Some of these entries are fifty pages and longer. I currently add roughly 1,000 entries per month. I do all of my writing in this journal, I also email copies of important emails, and email links to myself for later (of articles, things to buy, books to read, movies to see, how-to information, and anything else I can think of).

My point is not to brag (not at all), but is to point our how Penzu.com has unlimited space. You will not find this in any other online journal or blog. And, it's only $20 per year for the PRO version. But, the free version also has unlimited in space and, frankly, is wonderful. I definitely recommend it as well. Try the free version for at least a month, preferably three, and if you want the extras.

The differences between the free and Pro are in the Pro version, you can:

-- Have multiple journals
-- Tab or label each entry and do so with multiple tabs
-- Email your entries to your journal or from your journal
-- Can save one entry or all the entries in your journal in a off
-- Etc.

If you ever want the Pro version, here is a 20% off coupon. It's the best way to keep a journal or diary in the Cloud, when you use this link:

http://classic.penzu.com/r/34f16257

I will stop this plug and allow you the opportunity to check it out for yourself. Also, if you have any questions, technical support is fabulous, or feel free to contact me. I most likely can give you some guidance and or tips. Send an email or attach a comment at the end of any blog post.

HOW DO YOU JOURNAL AND DO DIGITAL JOURNALING?

The simplest answer is: Capture your life on the page.

In other words, write your thoughts, feelings, experiences, dreams, goals, fears, memories, blessings, prayers, to do list, etc. in a journaling entry. Give a summary of a moment in your day and a summary of your day, week, month, quarter, year, decade, etc. Make lists. Share your challenges and joys. What do you like and don't like? What hat have you read or watched?

Let me simplify the previous paragraph: If you have done it (lived it), thought it, felt it, dreamt of, write it down.

Or simply, journal anything and everything that comes to mind.

Really. It's that simple. Capture your life on the page, your present, past, and future.

WHAT SHOULD YOU JOURNAL NOW?: IT'S YOUR TURN (A JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT)

List five blessings in your life today.

How are you feeling?

What are you thinking?

What have you done and experienced today? Or in the past?

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journalingstuff.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

Welcome to Journaling Stuff: An Introduction

WELCOME AND SUMMARY OF JOURNALING STUFF

Journaling Stuff is a blog about everything you ever wanted to know about journaling.

There will be a focus of digital journaling (online and on your computer). I will explain more about this later.

GOAL OF JOURNALING STUFF

It's my goal to make this the largest source about journaling on the web.

It's also my goal to then publish these blog posts into a book a couple of times per year and make it the largest journaling source on the market. (See Note #1 at the end of this blog post.) Furthermore, in these books, I will add even more material.

ARE YOU A JOURNALING NOVICE OR ARE YOU AN EXPERT?

It doesn't matter whether you have experience journaling or not at all. This blog is for you.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR DAY

Apart from spiritual activities, there is absolutely nothing you can do with your day, each and every day, than journaling. I would even say how journaling is the most healthy thing you can do with your day, or even your life, than journaling. It's also the most productive.

Journaling should be the foundation of your day and be what you build your day and life upon. This blog, Journaling Stuff, will share what this means and how to do this.

MY JOURNALING EXPERIENCE

I've been a journal keeper for over 32.5 years and have done daily journaling since 2001. Therefore, I have tried just about everything regarding journaling and have learned what to do and what not to do. I have experimented with journaling and have tried several types of journaling and journaling practices and well.

I have a great deal to offer you and the world of journaling, needless to say. I may not know much, but journaling is one thing in which I can unequivocally call myself an expert and I am knowledgeable.

I will warn you, though. After decades of journaling, I have my biases and can be pretty opinionated about the art and practice of journaling. I've learned some foundations of journaling and look forward to sharing them with you.

LET'S TALK

Please contact me with any questions, clarifications, requests for things you would like me to talk about in a blog post or a blog post series, if you want to pick my brain, if you are struggling with journaling, and/or if you want to join the journaling community on this blog or on Twitter.com at #JournalingStuff. You can contact me by adding a comment at the end of any blog post or you can email me at:

Rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com

I hope we can encourage and inspire one another in our journaling.

THIS BLOG IS FOR YOU: WHAT DO YOU WANT?

Seriously. Let me repeat a couple of things. This blog is for you. If you want me to talk (teach or coach) about something regarding journaling in one blog post or in a blog post series, just ask.

Again, add a comment at the end of any blog post or send me a private email.

SHALL WE GET STARTED?

Thank you for checking out this blog. I hope you get a great deal out of it and enjoy.
Have a blessed day and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

NOTES

{Note #1: I am off to a good start in accomplishing this objective about the book, by the way. I already have around 500 pages of material I will add to the book. It's my goal to offer the new material in a separate book or in a complete book, whichever is your preference.}

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journalingstuff.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

Journaling 101

I am part of a collaborative blog with Lynda and Raymonde. It's called  THE JOURNALING PATH.

Every Wednesday and Friday, I contribute and write for a collaborative blog called, THE JOURNALING PATH, with Lynda and Raymonde. I am writing a Journaling 101 series every Wednesday and giving a journaling exercise or prompt every Friday. But, read Lynda's or Raymonde's stuff, too! They are much more eloquent than I am and have a wonderful take of their own in the world of journaling. Also check out their blogs and their Google+ communities. (Take a look at the side of my blog and their blogs are listed there. Or, go to The Journaling Path and their information is there.) They are wonderful resources to add to your storehouse of journaling material.

My Journaling 101 series started three weeks ago and is for beginning journalkeepers and for those who want to get another take on journaling.  Here are the blog posts so far and in order:

~ http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com/2013/01/journaling-101-introduction.html

~ http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com/2013/01/journaling-101-reasons-to-journal.html

~ http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com/2013/01/journaling-101-i-now-have-journal-now.html

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: A Free Copy: Time to Download

In an effort to make it easier for us, I have downloaded a copy to Smashwords a copy of:

365-Day Journal Your Story Project

It is easier to look at a book of just those blog posts and in a book format than to have to keep referring to the blog.  

The version is quite rough, though, I must warn you.

Every week, I will upload a new copy of the latest material for this blog post series. I will let you know when to download the free copy. 

This is a free copy of the book. Later, when the book is written, and is edited, that is when it will be $5.00. 

Enjoy!

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.com
Blog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 14: Memory Snapshot Journaling: Part 2 of 2

OVERVIEW AND PLAN

On Day 12, we did the first part of Memory Snapshot Journaling where we realized that our memories have shaped or lives and who we are. Therefore, it is important for us to remember the good memories and the bad ones--not just the good and not just the bad. We even started to list some memories. Today, we are going to list even more memories and then we are going to start to actually doing the Memory Snapshot Journaling. After all, it has just been a list of possible memories so far.

Shall we dive right in and start to explore this?

WEEKLY LISTS

If at all possible, every week, do this exercise in preparation for Memory Snapshot Journaling. 

~*~ List three new memories from the past you have not listed before.

~*~ List three memories you have made this week.

That is it. Imagine the goldmine you will have at the end of the year. Then, imagine this after five years, ten years, etc. How incredible would that be? 

MEMORY SNAPSHOT JOURNALING

~*~ Pick a memory from the past you want to journal about more fully. Go through your journal at your memory lists if one does not come to mind. 

~*~ Picture in your mind the memory. Play it from start to finish. 

~*~ What three images jump out to you about the memory? List them.

~*~ With each of those snapshots, write what happened before, during, and after. 

~*~ What did you see?

~*~ What did you hear?

~*~ What did you think?

~*~ How did you feel?

~*~ What did you smell?

~*~ What did you do? 

~*~ Who was there? 

~*~ What strikes you most about the memory? 

~*~ How has this memory shaped who you are?

Then, do the same, but with a memory from the last week. 

Do this exercise once a week.

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 13: Changing It Up

If the journaling you did yesterday was quite deep and intense (as was the case of Day 12) , I recommend changing it up and having a fun, easier, or a different type of day of journaling the next day. Give yourself a break today. Then, tomorrow I recommend going deep again. It keeps things fresh, from getting to you, and keeps you from getting bored or frustrated with journaling to the point you want to stop. This is true in general--and not just because of Day's 12 intensity. So, today we are going to take a look at changing it up with our journaling.

HOW DO YOU CHANGE UP YOUR JOURNALING?

There are several ways to accomplish this purpose. 

~*~ For starters, what is your favorite journaling type, journaling exercise, or journaling entry you have done so far? Do you want to do more of that today? If so, go for it. If not, keep reading.

~*~ Make a list. 

List things in 10, 20, 25, 50, 75, and 100. 

List your favorites of something. List anything that comes to mind. List ten things that make you happy. List ten blessings in your life. List ten dreams and goals you have. List ten things you want to do in the next year. List ten of... You fill in the blank. 

~*~ SOC: Stream of Consciousness

Take fifteen minutes to write anything that comes to mind.

~*~ What do you like?

~*~ What do you dislike?

~*~ Pick a favorite word for every letter of the alphabet. Why is each a favorite? What does it mean to you? What memories are associated with each? 

~*~ If your life was everything you wanted it to be today, what would it look like? Answer that for a while. Then, answer this, What would it take for you to move to that point? 

~*~ What lessons have you learned in your life?

~*~ Who has shaped your life and how? For the good or the bad? 

~*~ Look around where you are. Find an object, a person, an animal, sound, or anything from it you can journal for ten minutes. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 12: Memory Snapshot Journaling of the Good and the Bad Stuff of Life: Part 1 of 2

GOOD DAY

Yesterday, we looked at Quick Journaling. Today, we are going to look at going a little deeper and at capturing moments in time in our lives. The memories in our lives, good and bad, need to be remembered. They have shaped who you are today and that is something to be celebrated (Yes! Even the tough stuff.). The journaling we will do today (and tomorrow) is focused on making snapshots with words.

Now, I need to go on a little tangent and then I will bring us around to Memory Snapshot Journaling.

WHY REMEMBER THE BAD STUFF?

Now, I imagine there is something I said in the first paragraph that might have caught your attention. Let me repeat what I said: Yes. Even the tough memories are those we need to remember and commit to memory.

Why would I ever dream of making such a claim? It sounds contrary to common sense... Right? Well, let me explain.

But, first, let me warn you. What I say after this paragraph might be considered a little intense. I just want to warn you so you know to expect the possibility. I do not want you to be caught unaware. 

If we only choose to remember the good stuff in life, we are living a false life. We lie to ourselves and to others. Period. 

If we have worked through our stuff, then, it does not hurt too much to talk about, think about, or share with others. That is not to say there is not a sting at times, but we are mature enough to know that we learn the most through the tough and challenging times in life usually and not through the sunshine, picture sky, mountain top times. We will talk about these over time and share with others so that they can learn from our experiences--so they do not have to do so on their own. We learned lessons and not sharing them is taking them for granted. 

Am I making sense here? I hope I have not stepped on any toes here. That is definitely not my intent. 

Do you have stuff in your life you try to avoid, deny, forget, or pretend never happened? If so... Did it happen in the last two months--so the bad stuff is fresh? If so, I am not referring to this stuff. This nasty stuff in your life is too new to have learned many lessons at this point. If you can, do memory snapshots. If it hurts too much, wait a couple of weeks and try again.

But, if you have anything in your life older than four months that you do not want to talk about or remember, I recommend kicking the door open once and for all. Your life is being actively and intentionally held back. You are not living the full and free life you could be. Do memory snapshot journaling of the stuff you try to deny, forget, or avoid. If you do not want to do so, you should seriously consider seeking professional help immediately with a professional counselor or pastor. Enough is enough. You deserve better. Freedom and fullness of life await you. Seek it.

Deal with your past and stop letting it deal with you. 

Re-read the previous sentence as many times as it takes for you to take it to heart. 

We will talk a great deal more about the tough stuff of life as we go throughout this year. But, I had to touch on it here before we continue moving forward with any kind of journaling. Dealing with the past is essential for every single one of us. Once we do, we can finally soar! And be joyful, peaceful, content, and happy.

Let us not remember only the good stuff. Let us stop living a lie and choose to live in reality. 

Again, I am sorry to be harsh. The truth is not always easy to swallow. It can sting. It can even kick our butts at times. But, the truth sets us free--and that makes it worthwhile. 

STRONGEST MEMORIES LISTS

PLEASE NOTE: If at any time you feel too upset to carry on with this journaling exercise, try to add more of a description of your positive memories. If that does not help you feel better, take an hour break. Then, try again. If you still are upset, take the rest of the day off of remembering stuff from the past. You might want to list recent memories instead for a while. List as many as you can. If none of this helps, you might consider talking to someone and see if that helps. Or, vent it out in your journal. My point is, if it is too difficult, do not push yourself too hard. Some discomfort is healthy, but not to the point of depression or fury. 

~*~ What in your life do you not want to think about? List it.

~*~ What in your life do you not want to talk about? List it. 

~*~ What in your life makes you feel uncomfortable--past, present, and past? List it.

~*~ What in your life do you want to avoid? List it. 

~*~ Make a list of the top 10 strongest and most powerful memories in your life for the positive. 

~*~ Make a list of the top 10 strongest and most powerful memories in your life for the negative. 

~*~ Now go back and write a sentence or two summary of each of the 20 memories you just listed. 

~*~ Wait a couple of hours and do your next ten strongest of each. Repeat all of the steps above with other memories you have not listed yet. 

~*~ If you feel like it, repeat this until you have every strong memory you can think of written down.

Yay! We survived a pretty intense day of journaling. We will talk more about memory snapshots tomorrow. See you then. 

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 11: Quick Journaling

WHAT IS QUICK JOURNALING?

Quick Journaling is summary journaling. It is getting rid of all the fluff and giving a summary. This is what you might think of as a diary.

TYPES OF QUICK JOURNALING

What types of Quick Journaling are there?

~ 1-Sentence QJ (Quick Journaling)

List 1 sentence to summarize your day.

~ 1-Paragraph QJ

List 1 paragraph to summarize your day. 

~ Calender QJ

Day 8, I mentioned Calendar or Planner Journaling. It is a Quick Journaling Technique.

Quick Journaling is something that can be done in ten minutes or less each day. That being said, what are the advantages and disadvantages for doing Quick Journaling of any kind? 

ADVANTAGES OF QUICK JOURNALING

~ It is quick for when you are limited by time, but want to get something down on the page at least. 

~ It is easy.

~ It is convenient.

~ At least you get something on the page. 

~ This can be the stepping stone for a deeper journaling session. Hence, Quick Journaling would not be your only form of journaling. 

~ If you are new to journaling, this is a good starting point.

~ Inexpensive.

~ Does not take up too much storage space.

~ It is a good starting point even if you have journaled for decades.

~ It is a nice summary. 

Before I list the disadvantages, know this. Quick Journaling is the starting point I use for all of my journaling. It is what I do every day 24/7/365. Therefore, while the disadvantages sound like I am saying never to do it, that is not what I am saying at all. Do Quick Journaling EVERY day--without fail. Then, add to it when you are able.

DISADVANTAGES OF QUICK JOURNALING

~ It is limiting.

~ It is superficial and shallow--if you want something more. (But, as a starting point for all journaling, Quick Journaling is required.) It is not very deep. 

~ It is easy to get bored. 

~ It is not very attractive.

~ It is not very creative.

~ This is more like a diary and can me very impersonal. It's just the facts ma'am in many ways.

Stacy Duplease

Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 10: Types of Journaling

There are several different types of journals you can keep. As a matter of fact, this list will constantly grow as we realize how versatile journaling really is. So, please note that the list below is not the extensive, all-encompassing, exhaustive list. But, it is a start.

Up to this point, we have discussed the Your Story Journal. (See journal type #1.) However, what you have not seen is how many different types of journaling you can do. That is what we are going to look at at this time. Please note that each of these types of journaling can be its own book. So, the list below will be a summary list. We will go into the depth of each later.

~ Your Story Journal

This encompasses several, if not all, of the types of journals below. It's the etc. etc. Etc., misc., all-encompassing journal. It can constantly change and transform as your tastes, wants, and preferences change. It keeps things fresh and it is hard to get bored with this journal. 

~  Dreams and Goals Journal 

This is your bucket list, planning journal of your dreams. It's using goals to make your dreams come true.

~ Art Journal

~ SOC Journal (Stream of Consciousness Journal)

~ Idea Journal

~ Writing Journal

~ Inspirational Journal

What inspires me?

~ Life Events

~ Reading Journal

Keeps track of books you read and your experience with those books.

~ Prayer Journal

~ Bible Reading Journal

~ Personal Growth Journal

~ Weigh Loss (Dieting) Journal

~ Creative Writing Journal

~ Letters to God

~ Letters to ??? Journal

~ Scrapbook Journal

~ Financial Journal 

Helps you eliminate debt and invest for the future.

~ Health Journal

~ Therapy Journal

~ Healing Journal

~ Pain Management Journal

~ Exercise Journal

~ Time Capsule Journal

~ Travel Journal 

~ Gratitude/Blessings Journal

~ Project Journal

~ Nature Journal

~ Quick Journal

~ Calendar/Planner Journal

~ Problem Solving

~ Life Cycles Journal (Childhood, Teenage Years, Adulthood, Engagement, Wedding, Marriage, Pregnancy, Raising Children, Later Years, etc. Each lsited is a different type of journal, by the way.)

~ Grief and Loss Journal

~ Divorce Journal

~ Sickness Journaling

~ Doodling Journal
~ Sentence a Day Journal
~ 5-Year Journal
~ Topic Journal
If you want more of something or less of something in your life. 

~ Etc. Etc. Etc.

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 9: Why Journal?: A List

Here it is Day 9 of this 365-Day Journal Your Story Project and I wanted to discuss reasons to journal. Why journal? Why take the time out of a perfectly good day to journal? What benefits are there?

I need to be frank about something. There are more positives, benefits, and reasons why we should journal than I could ever compress in one day's lesson. Books can be written about each reason, as a matter of fact. I want you to know that I am not exaggerating at all when I make these claims. Journaling, apart from exercise, is the most beneficial thing you can do for your health and well-being. 

Now, since admitting books can be written about each of the reasons I will list below, I will keep today's discussion to a summary list. I will expand upon these reasons later.

Also, please note, some fo these may sound like they repeat, but there are differences in them. Trust me. I will expand upon them later, once again.

Another note: I do not think there is any reason more important than the other. Journaling is overall a good thing. That is the summary. So, the list below is not in matter of importance or in priority order.

WHY JOURNAL LIST?:

~ Why not journal? 

I list that first, before we ever look beyond this, for a reason. Why not? What could it hurt? What could be gained? What can you lose if you do not? So, why not journal? That is a reason. It is not a question. 

~ The reasons to journal are endless.

~ Journaling helps you live the most healthy life you can live: spiritually, emotionally, physically, socially, and mentally. 

~ It helps you to remember your present and live intentionally--so you stop taking it for granted and prevents you from thoughtless living.

~ It is easy to do.

~ It is inexpensive.

~ It is priceless.

~ It is enjoyable.

~ It is versatile. 

~ It decreases stress. 

~ It decreases depression.

~ Journaling decreases anger.

~ It helps you feel better inside and out.

~ It helps you to remember.

~ It increases happiness.

~ It increases joy.

~ It increases peace.

~ It increases contentment.

~ It helps you to remain aware.

~ It is cheaper than a therapist. (Except if you are suicidal or homicidal--or are dealing with some major stuff. Then, do both!!!)

~ It is a creative outlet.

~ Journaling is fun, enjoyable, and pleasurable.

~ If you are a writer, journaling is a must. 

~ It helps decrease anxiety.

~ It helps with PTSD.

~ It strengthens your immune system.

~ It helps with circulation.

~ It helps to lose weight.

~ It helps you plan.

~ It helps you to list your dreams and goals and make them come true.

~ It is a good traveling resource.

~ Journaling is something to do with art.

~ It is good for reflection.

~ It is good to self-analyze.

~ It is good to help capture memories past, present, and future.

~ Helps you deal with change.

~ Journaling helps you bring about change and transformation.

~ Helps you commit to action. 

~ Helps you keep track of things.

~ Helps you keep track of prayer and answered prayer.

~ It is the best habit you can ever get into.

~ It helps decrease procrastination.

~ It helps you budget and manage your time.

~ Self-awareness (to get to know self)

~ Journaling helps you to count your blessings (aka gratitude or thanksgiving).

~ Helps you express yourself.

~ Helps you express what you are feeling.

~ Helps you to overcome.

~ Helps you deal with your past so your past does not deal with you.

~ Helps you plan for the future. 

~ Helps you get rid of burdens.

~ It brings maturity.

~ It helps you to vent.

~ Journaling helps you to see the big picture, as well as the fine details--and everything in-between.

~ It is fast.

~ Helps with addictions.

~ It is easy.

~ It helps you remember life lessons (lessons learned). 

~ Helps decrease pain (helps with pain management).

~ Decreases boredom.

~ It is convenient. 

~ It is a way for you to keep your personal history.

~ It helps you to keep track of history and historical events. 

~ Journaling helps you to remember your family history and stories.

~ It helps you to remember the stories of others around you.

~ It helps you see in a new way.

~ It helps you to remember your childhood.

~ It helps you to remember your engagement period.

~ It helps you to remember your wedding.

~ It helps you to remember your pregnancy.

~ It helps you to remember your children and their childhood--all the stories and memories thereof.

~ It helps with personal growth and development.

~ Journaling helps with professional growth and development.

~ It helps with spiritual growth and development.

~ It helps with emotional growth and development.

~ It helps with mental/cognitive growth and development.

~ It helps with social growth and development.

~ It offers you solitude.

~ It helps you to be still.

~ It helps you to decrease busyness.

~ It reminds you of what is mot important and what really matters in your life. 

~ Journaling helps you to see the cycles in your life.

~ It brings increased clarity.

~ It helps you solve problems (with problem solving; making decisions).

~ It helps you to talk something out.

~ It helps you to see things as they really are. It strips all of the stuff that does not matter and the clutter--and gets to the heart of the issue.

~ It sharpens your writing skills.

~ It sharpens your creativity.

~ It helps you to keep track of things.

~ It helps you remember your to do list.

~ Etc. Etc. Etc. 

Check out these reasons as well:

http://www.easyjournaling.com/2011/07/101-reasons-to-write-a-journal/ 

http://www.appleseeds.org/100_Journaling.htm

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

New Journaling App for Androids

Wrote on 04 February 2012, Saturday 8:00 p.m.


I am always on the hunt for new Journaling tools... and alas! I found my most favorite ever! I got it for my Amazon Kindle Fire and am quite thrilled about it.

The funny thing is I have seen it before... I must admit to something here and give some background here. I know not to do this. It is a pet peeve of mine. Yet, I fell prey to it. Sigh. Hanging head down. Blush. I fell for the judging a book by its cover mistake. Every now and then, I do a search for  a Diary or a Journaling app. I have seen one, but thought it was kiddie...too childlike for me... However, I decided to try it this evening. (Why not?)


The app is: Icon Diary


You can find it here: 
http://www.amazon.com/GalleryApp-Icon-Diary-Free/dp/B006U5LGIO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=mobile-apps&qid=1328463984&sr=1-1

It is fun. It could be considered an app for kids... girls in particular... But, I am a girl (of the grown-up variety)... So, I absolutely love it!!! I think I will fall even more in love with journaling because of it. And I did not think that was possible.


It has cute icons and pictures I can add to each journal entry and make it look quite attractive. It brings out even more creativity out of me. I love it.


I cannot draw, so this app makes a fun art journaling page I cannot do normally. I now can do an art journal, which was something I never thought I could do since I cannot draw or paint... except with words.
I email each entry to myself so it is a permanent record. Then, I will save it as a pdf and I will create a folder for them.


I cannot recommend it enough.


Stacy Duplease -- Sent from my Kindle Fire

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 8, Calendar Journaling

Welcome to another day in this series about journaling your own life story. This is an introduction to journaling series, but can give even veteran journalkeepers ideas. 

I am starting the second week of this series with a type of journaling I consider precious. It is actually probably the most meaningful journaling to me and in my life. Calender Journaling is the most basic, easiest to use, and is a daily requirement for my personal and professional journaling. 

So, what is it? How do you do it? And how can it benefit everyone?

WHAT IS IT?

First of all, you can call this Planner Journaling, Schedule Journaling, or Calendar Journaling--whichever your personal favorite is... go with that term. For me, Calendar Journaling is my favorite terminology. So, I will call it this throughout today's discussion. 

The Simplest Definition: It is what you think it is. It is journaling on your calendar or planner. 

It is more than your To Do List, however. I make sure to write people, places, what happened, my emotions, and memories associated with each--in the time slot. Hence, this is best done digitally or with a paper calender that is a daily planner, not a monthly or weekly because you will not have nearly enough room.

Now, let me give you an example of what I mean:

03 February 2012, Friday, 11:30 a.m. Lunch with a girlfriend at Mongolian Barbeque. I am excited because it gets me out of the house, socializing with someone more than my beagle, cat, two turtles, and husband. Also, she has a seven month old daughter, so that adds to the delight. It reminds me of my family and close friends in Omaha and how I used to do this with them. So, it is a bittersweet thing. I can't wait to see what happens. Looking forward to the food, company, and discussion. I want to share with her what hubby and I are doing for Valentine's Day. It might give her an idea, wink, wink. 

I will add to the description and journaling after we have lunch.

I will admit this is a much lengthier description than I normally give. It is usually about 3 sentences or so. 

Now, if I do not have time to journal anything more than that today, I can come back to it later and add more to it. But, it is something at least. It is not forgotten and is recorded permanently. Now, do you see why I find this journaling such a gem?

Then, at the end of every day, I add an entry about my overall daily experience, feelings, thoughts, achievements, memories, etc. 

WHY IS THIS A GOOD JOURNALING TOOL OR TYPE OF JOURNALING?

I have my calendar linked to my email, to my pc, to my cell, to my Amazon Kindle Fire. It is on everything and I can use it at any time. 

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Do this every half hour all day long ideally. It is so easy that doing it in 30 minute slots is easier than you think. Do it every hour if you cannot do every hour. Do every 2 hours if you cannot do it every hour. 

Have your TO DO item on your calender listed first in the time slot. Then, add whatever your heart desires. Just make sure to include thoughts, emotions, description/summary, and conclusions.

At the end of the day, write a high and a low. What was a high point of that day? What was a low point? Then, your voerall impression of the day and what was most memorable about the day. I write all of this in the time slots in which I sleep so I have enough space to write this material. 

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF CALENDAR JOURNALING?

It is the most simple form of journaling you can do. 

When you run out of time, this at least gets memories listed. You can expand upon them later. At the end of the week, I recommend doing extensive journaling on at least three items on your calendar from the previous week. 

HINT

If you want to print out your planner, you will need to mess around with the properties to figure out how to get every time slot to be pritned to its entirety. It may try to cut off some of what you say if you do not figure out and adjust the settings. 

Enjoy!

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 7, Where to Begin, and Self-Evaluation

JOURNAL ENTRY

Now that you have your journal bought and set-up, it is time to begin. I hope the prospect is exciting to you and not intimidating.

What we are going to do today is not something you should do every day in your journal. It is an every now and then activity. (I recommend once every three months or so.) If you do it too much, it can be too much and cumbersome. Plus, you will become repetitive. What we will do today is self-evaluation.

So, grab your journal and let's get started. Answer at least the 1st ??? questions. If you want, do the rest. The more you do, nonetheless, the more you will get out of this exercise. 

SELF-EVALUATION

With each of these questions, answer in one word, one sentence, and then at least one paragraph. Also, explain your answer. 

* Who am I?

* What makes me tick?

* Am I happy? 

* What do I believe?

* If I could change anything about my life, I would change...

* I love this (fill in the blank as to what 'this' is) most about my life...

* I like this (fill in the blank as to what 'this' is) least about my life...

* I am hopeful because...

* What is my emotional state right now?

* What is my mental state right now (my thought-life)?

* What is my spiritual state right now?

* How is my social life right now (with friends and family)?

* My biggest dreams are...

* I wish...

* My schedule is...

* When I think about my past, I think of... 

* I need healing in this area of my life...

* I need to remember...

* This (fill in the blank) inspires me...

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

RYP Journaling Starters and Questions (Prompts) List #1

This is an ongoing list I will add to continually at the bottom of the list. 

Make sure to go through and answer all of these at least once. Ideally, you will go through this entire list once a year. 

Also, when you feel stuck or want to add some spice to your journaling, answer some of these questions. When you answer these questions, make sure to answer why you answer your question in the way you do. 

Another suggestion: With each of the RYP Journaling Starters and Questions listed below, make sure to ask them in the past, present, and future tense. Each tense will glean new responses. Also, when you answer each starter about your past, you might want to answer the question regarding each decade of your life.

* Who am I?
* What do I think of my life?
* What is my favorite color?
* What do I believe?
* Who are my family members and friends?
* What is my favorite food?
* Where do I live?
* What is my favorite drink?
* When will I be the happiest?
* What are my favorite books?
* What are my favorite Tv shows?
* Where are my favorite places?
* How would I define my life?
* What do I like to do?
* What are your goals?
* What are my top 10 most powerful memories?
* Who are you married to? Describe them.
* List you favorite memories with your spouse.
* List your favorite memories with each person in your life.
* What do you regret?
* If you were living the best life possible, what would that look like?
* What matters to you?
* What do you like to do?
* What memories bring you pain?
* What does a typical Monday look like in my life?
* Tuesday?
* Wednesday?
* Thursday?
* Friday?
* Saturday?
* Sunday?
* Where do I work?
* What dreams of mine have come true?
* What do I do?
* When did I marry?
* What was my wedding like?
* What are my dreams?
* What are my favorite songs?
* What are my goals?
* Do you like who you are?
* What have I accomplished?
* How would I describe myself? 

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

RYP Journaling Starters and Questions (Prompts) List #1

This is an ongoing list I will add to continually at the bottom of the list. 


Make sure to go through and answer all of these at least once. Ideally, you will go through this entire list once a year. 


Also, when you feel stuck or want to add some spice to your journaling, answer some of these questions. When you answer these questions, make sure to answer why you answer your question in the way you do. 


Another suggestion: With each of the RYP Journaling Starters and Questions listed below, make sure to ask them in the past, present, and future tense. Each tense will glean new responses. Also, when you answer each starter about your past, you might want to answer the question regarding each decade of your life.


* Who am I?
* What do I think of my life?
* What is my favorite color?
* What do I believe?
* Who are my family members and friends?
* What is my favorite food?
* Where do I live?
* What is my favorite drink?
* When will I be the happiest?
* What are my favorite books?
* What are my favorite Tv shows?
* Where are my favorite places?
* How would I define my life?
* What do I like to do?
* What are your goals?
* What are my top 10 most powerful memories?
* Who are you married to? Describe them.
* List you favorite memories with your spouse.
* List your favorite memories with each person in your life.
* What do you regret?
* If you were living the best life possible, what would that look like?
* What matters to you?
* What do you like to do?
* What memories bring you pain?
* What does a typical Monday look like in my life?
* Tuesday?
* Wednesday?
* Thursday?
* Friday?
* Saturday?
* Sunday?
* Where do I work?
* What dreams of mine have come true?
* What do I do?
* When did I marry?
* What was my wedding like?
* What are my dreams?
* What are my favorite songs?
* What are my goals?
* Do you like who you are?
* What have I accomplished?
* How would I describe myself? 

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 6 and Page 1 of Your Journal (Part 2 of 2)

PAGE 1

Yesterday, we started to take a look at what to put on page 1 of our journals. It is critical to start off right. It sets off the tone of the entire journal. Moreover, when you get stuck and do not know what to do next in your journal, for whatever reason, you can turn to page 1 for some inspiration. Your page 1 will keep you on task. 

GOAL OF YOUR JOURNAL

~*~ Turn to the next blank portion in your journal. Then, ask yourself this question: What do I hope to accomplish with my journal?

~*~ Write all of the answers you come up with and make sure to put the reason why you wrote what you did. 

~*~ Then, number them in order of importance. Then, decide how many of those goals you want to focus on specifically in this journal. Whichever you decide, make sure to put them on the next blank lines on page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Make sure to circle or star all of the other reasons you did not put on page 1. You will refer to them again when you start your next journal. 

QUARTERLY GOAL

~*~ Turn to the next blank portion in your journal. Then, ask yourself this question: What do I want to accomplish in my life over the next three months? 

~*~ Write all of the answers you come up with and make sure to put the reason why you wrote what you did. 

~*~ Then, number them in order of importance. Then, decide how many of those goals you want to focus on specifically in this journal. Whichever you decide, make sure to put them on the next blank lines on page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Make sure to circle or star all of the other goals you did not put on page 1. You will refer to them again when you start your next journal. 

YEARLY GOAL

~*~ Turn to the next blank portion in your journal. Then, ask yourself this question: What do I want to accomplish in my life over the next twelve months? 

~*~ Write all of the answers you come up with and make sure to put the reason why you wrote what you did. 

~*~ Then, number them in order of importance. Then, decide how many of those goals you want to focus on specifically in this journal. Whichever you decide, make sure to put them on the next blank lines on page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Make sure to circle or star all of the other goals you did not put on page 1. You will refer to them again when you start your next journal. 

LIFE MISSION STATEMENT OR GOAL

~*~ Turn to the next blank portion in your journal. Then, ask yourself this question: What do I want my life to represent? Or, what do I want to do with my life?

~*~ Write all of the answers you come up with and make sure to put the reason why you wrote what you did. 

~*~ Then, number them in order of importance. Whichever you decide, make sure to put it on the next blank lines on page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Make sure to circle or star all of the other goals you did not put on page 1. You will refer to them again when you start your next journal. These extras might become a new quarterly or yearly goal.

Tada! That is it for page 1.  Tomorrow, we will start the journaling journey. I am so excited. I cannot wait! 

Stacy Duplease

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 6 and Page 1 of Your Journal (Part 2 of 2)

PAGE 1

Yesterday, we started to take a look at what to put on page 1 of our journals. It is critical to start off right. It sets off the tone of the entire journal. Moreover, when you get stuck and do not know what to do next in your journal, for whatever reason, you can turn to page 1 for some inspiration. Your page 1 will keep you on task. 

GOAL OF YOUR JOURNAL

~*~ Turn to the next blank portion in your journal. Then, ask yourself this question: What do I hope to accomplish with my journal?

~*~ Write all of the answers you come up with and make sure to put the reason why you wrote what you did. 

~*~ Then, number them in order of importance. Then, decide how many of those goals you want to focus on specifically in this journal. Whichever you decide, make sure to put them on the next blank lines on page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Make sure to circle or star all of the other reasons you did not put on page 1. You will refer to them again when you start your next journal. 

QUARTERLY GOAL

~*~ Turn to the next blank portion in your journal. Then, ask yourself this question: What do I want to accomplish in my life over the next three months? 

~*~ Write all of the answers you come up with and make sure to put the reason why you wrote what you did. 

~*~ Then, number them in order of importance. Then, decide how many of those goals you want to focus on specifically in this journal. Whichever you decide, make sure to put them on the next blank lines on page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Make sure to circle or star all of the other goals you did not put on page 1. You will refer to them again when you start your next journal. 

YEARLY GOAL

~*~ Turn to the next blank portion in your journal. Then, ask yourself this question: What do I want to accomplish in my life over the next twelve months? 

~*~ Write all of the answers you come up with and make sure to put the reason why you wrote what you did. 

~*~ Then, number them in order of importance. Then, decide how many of those goals you want to focus on specifically in this journal. Whichever you decide, make sure to put them on the next blank lines on page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Make sure to circle or star all of the other goals you did not put on page 1. You will refer to them again when you start your next journal. 

LIFE MISSION STATEMENT OR GOAL

~*~ Turn to the next blank portion in your journal. Then, ask yourself this question: What do I want my life to represent? Or, what do I want to do with my life?

~*~ Write all of the answers you come up with and make sure to put the reason why you wrote what you did. 

~*~ Then, number them in order of importance. Whichever you decide, make sure to put it on the next blank lines on page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Make sure to circle or star all of the other goals you did not put on page 1. You will refer to them again when you start your next journal. These extras might become a new quarterly or yearly goal.

Tada! That is it for page 1.  Tomorrow, we will start the journaling journey. I am so excited. I cannot wait! 

Stacy Duplease
Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com

365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 5: Page 1 of Your Journal (Part 1)

IMAGINE A BLANK BOOK

I hope you bear with me if you are a digital journalkeeper. I will talk about opening your journal and turning to the first page. Use your imagination here. I love the imagery of opening a paper journal or a blank book and flipping through the empty pages and having the realization my life will be put onto those pages. Wow. There is something magical and sacred there. It is quite special. After all, a journal is my life reflected on the pages of what was once a blank book.

You just can't see that with a digital book. But, you can sure imagine it. Hence, I will make allusions of having a paper journal as we go along over the next 361 days.

YOU HAVE YOUR JOURNAL

At this point in time, you have bought your journal, pens, paper, paint, and anything else you need in order to journal. 

You also have a plan of if you want to write, type, email, or paint (just a few examples).

Regardless of the type of journaling, they all begin with the first page. It is a blank page.

So, now what?

PAGE 1 OF YOUR JOURNAL

Do not let the blank pages intimidate you. I realize this is easier said than done, but hang in there. I will help you to start each journal off to the best start you are able. 

Every time you start a new journal, do everything listed here today and in Day 6. Why? The way you start off your journal...and the first blank page...is what sets the mood and tone of the rest of the journal. Consequently, it is important to begin your journal well.

So, what are the components of a good page 1? I will list them below and then will go through each of them one by one and explain them to you.

ELEMENTS OF PAGE 1 OF YOUR JOURNAL

1 Name of journal (title)

2 Your Name (if it is not in the title)

3 Start Date

4 End Date and a blank line

5 Address and Phone

6 Inspirational Quote

7 Goal of journal

8 Quarterly Goal

9 Yearly Goal

10 Life Goal/Mission Statement

GO TO PAGE 3 TO FILL OUT PAGE 1 OF JOURNAL YOUR STORY

As you can see, this might be a couple of pages in actuality. Consequently, if you are doing a paper journal, leave the first couple of pages blank. We are going to start on page three of this journal in order to fill out page 1 of this journal. We need to do some exercises before you will be ready to fill out page 1 and 2.

~*~ Go to page 3 your your journal.

~*~ TO DO

Every time you see this symbol, ~*~, it marks something for you to do. 

DATE, DAY, AND TIME

~*~ Other than on pages 1 and 2, every time you start a new journal entry, or at the top of every page, make sure to write at the very least the date, the day, and the time. I also put where I am writing. But, that is optional. You might find it cumbersome at first, but in time, you will appreciate it. Trust me. 

PAGE 3: EXERCISE 1: NAME YOUR JOURNAL

It is time for you to come up with a name for your journal. 

~*~ Jot down some ideas of names/titles for your journal.

Here are some examples. I will put my name in them as an example:

1 The Journal of Stacy Duplease

2 The Chronicles of Stacy Duplease

3 The Story of Stacy Duplease

4 The Life and Times of Stacy Duplease

5 My Story

6 My Life

7 Use the date. For instance: January 2012.

8 If you are Christian, here is an idea: His-Story, My Story

9 Use a word you want to focus on: Love. Peace. Joy. Patience. Serenity. Etc.

TO DO ON PAGE 1

~*~ Pick a name. You can change it in your next journal if you want. 

~*~ Write the name at the top of page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Write your name if it is not in the title on the second line of page 1.

~*~ Write today as the Start Date on the next line of page 1.

~*~ Write: END DATE on the next line of page 1 and leave a blank for the end date.

~*~ Write your address and phone on the next line of page 1. You might want to put your email address as well.

NEXT PAGE: WHY JOURNAL?

~*~ At the end of the ideas of titles you wrote for page one, and at the next blank space, write all the reasons why you are journaling. We will look at more reasons on Day 7 of this book.

NEXT PAGE: INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

~*~ At the end of the reasons why you journal you wrote for page one, and at the next blank space, write several inspirational quotes. Look them up if necessary.

~*~ Pick the inspirational quote which speaks most to you in this moment. Star it or underline it. 

~*~ Write the inspirational quote on Page 1 on the next blank line. 

That is enough for today. We will finish with Page 1 tomorrow. 

Stacy Duplease

Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction