Tuesday, December 30, 2014

JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.30.2014.)



JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.30.2014.)
---
JOURNALING PROMPT: END OF YEAR JOURNALING
What has been the biggest surprise from this year?
What has been the biggest, most important, lesson learned this year?
What was your greatest weakness in 2014?
What was your greatest strength in 2014?
What were your ten greatest blessings in 2014?
--------------
MY PERSONAL MORNING JOURNALING
Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 714 p.m.
---
Need to get a few things out and down on the page so I can get to the substance and the heart of the matter. Once I get the extraneous stuff out that's weighing me and my mind down, it frees up heart and mind space so I can go deep and focus on the stuff of real meaning in my life.
---
JOURNALING HINT AND TIP
What do you need to get on the page so you can get to the stuff of substance?
---
MY TO DO LIST
Let me get this out of the way. MUST get haircut this week. My hair is driving me CrAzY.
Get Kara's medicine from vet.
DAV.
Moving checklist, create one.
---
B and I have been fighting and suffering from the crud off and on for a week and a half. Ugh. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Sorry. Had to complain.
---
I just got an idea for a writing prompt for blog. Wrote that. Now I'm back.
---
Words?
I'm finding it difficult to find the words and focus my thoughts on something really important to me. I tried to find them yesterday at no avail. Sigh.
It's raining cats and dogs, by the way. 729 a.m.
---
A JOURNALING HINT AND TIP: Yep. I am definitely all over the place. But, there's a lesson I learned long ago. Go with it. Write what you think is extraneous nonsense down on the page. Later, you will see a pattern or will have an AHA moment. It's when we get frustrated or don't capture the nonsensical we lose great opportunities for self-reflection, creativity, and insight. So, get it all down, no matter how odd or out of place. These moments are when our minds are trying to file something away or bring forth new thought.
Okay. Words. What about words? Sigh. Ahh, yes. I remember.
---
Two days ago, my husband and I went to Historic Jamestowne.
Thank God it wasn't as painful as the last time we went.
I have never felt more at home than I felt there.
I felt this the first time we went there. Peace. Belonging. A homecoming.
The first few times it just didn't make sense.
Then, when I started to work on our family tree, and do some genealogy, then it made sense. A whole lot of sense. It was then I discovered I had family members come to Jamestowne in 1607.
MORE
---
JOURNALING HINT AND TIP
Write MORE in a place you want to explore and write more about later. Then, focus on what comes to mind now.
---
2014 brought the decision for B and I not to have children. We can't and we're older.
So, exploring my family tree is particularly painful. My rich family legacy (and tree) ends with me. The same goes for my husband. Ouch times two.
It is so rich with meaning I don't want it to be lost. But, who would care, besides me/us?
Hah! I figuratively slap my forehead and remember this: Stories matter.
Any questions? I ask myself and shake my head.
Stories matter.
Every story should be captured on the page.
My story is my family's story. This story is of the birth of the United States of America and is a Christian story. This story is your story, too.
My story is the true history of the United States.
My story is also how we made our way West.
Every story is sacred and that means this story is sacred, matters, has meaning, and has shaped who I am.
---
Why was it painful to go to Jamestowne the last time we went? I knew we were moving and I had to start saying goodbye. To my home. To my origin story. To the origin story of the United States.
---
Family Tree Journaling is also memoir.
This is what calls me and beckons.
Learn these stories.
Tell these stories.
Family and nation matters.
How all of these shape who I am and my life are important to explore.
Every story matters.
My Family Journaling will help me come alive and will help us learn the truth about history.
Every story is sacred.
My family story is a very unique one and should be told.
------------
MY JOURNALING FOCUSES FOR 2015
Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 817 a.m.
1 My RYP Journaling Stories
2 Journaling Stuff
3 Journaling Stuff for Christians and Blessings Journaling
4 Jamestowne 1607 Family Tree Journaling
5 Home DIY Journaling
-------------
MY JOURNALING SCHEDULE 2015
Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 824 a.m.
1 My RYP Journaling Stories: Daily.
2 Journaling Stuff Daily.
3 Journaling Stuff for Christians and Blessings Journaling: Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
4 Jamestowne 1607 Family Tree Journaling: Tuesday, Thursday.
5 Home DIY Journaling: Tuesday, Thursday.
Unless I write more... These are at the very least.
------------
MY BOOK COVERS
I just wanted to explain.
My book covers are plain and are temporary. They are not the final product by any means. They are simply to help distinguish between books until I publish the books and have a real book cover. 
------------
OH, DEAR
Written December 29, 2014, Monday 832 a.m.
I just realized I forgot to include Critter Journaling in my journaling schedule. But, then I realized I will naturally include it anyway in My RYP Journaling Stories.
Phew.
-------------
MY BLESSINGS JOURNALING AND BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST (12.29.2014.)
1337 The pitter-patter of rain as it kisses the Windows.
1338 The sounds of beagle sleeping peacefully.
1339 The warmth of Zack Beagle as he snuggles against my left side as it sit, journal, and count my blessings on our sofa.
1340 My Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9-inch, 1st version. It's what I use to do most of my journaling and writing. What a major blessing. It's just large enough it's a pleasure to use, but small enough to carry everywhere--and I do.
1341 Kara, our elderly, once feral, deaf, declawed, cancer cat hasn't really played many children, if at all, since we got her. Well, hubby and I sat on sofa two nights ago and we heard her playing with a ball in the hall! Then, when we went to bed, we still heard her. Yay! 1342. And, she played with the ball yesterday 1343 and this morning 1344. Talk about a way to make me smile.
1345 Also, Lady Kara is now roaming our first floor freely. She feels comfortable enough to do so. Hadn't until last week. 1346. She still won't go upstairs, but there is progress. She could, though, if she wanted. Yay! 1347. Also, we never lock her up in the study now. 1348. We used to so she and Sinan wouldn't fight. They may argue now, but she puts him in his place and he runs off. So, all is well. Yay! 1349.
1350 Clean sheets.
1351 Sleeping on clean sheets.
1352 Revelation 20.
1353 Psalm 145:5 TLB
1354 Snowmen
1355 Snowman coffee cup
1356 Warm shirt
1357 Favorite style, favorite color, warm shirt on a colder day
1358 Preparing for what is to come.
1359 Planning on home DIY stuff. Fixing up a home. Making it ours.
1360 Looking forward to owning my first house in fourteen years.
1361 Hubby and I owning our first house together and it will be our only house 1362.
1363 Looking forward to no longer paying rent.
1364 Going to Historic Jamestowne on Saturday.
1365 Kara is getting pudgy. The once malnourished cat is healthy. She is not fat. She is at a healthy weight. Finally. Took three and a half months, along with two types of medicine (thyroid and anti-nausea). (The medicines are a blessing. 1366 and 1367.) Too easy. She looks really good. 1368. Acts healthy. 1369. Would never guess she was elderly or had two types of cancer. 1370. Thank God.
1371 Today is a quiet day.
1372 Ran some errands.
1373 Starting to get a vision for the RYP Journaling blog and journaling hints and tips writing, the journaling resource.
---
A JOURNALING PROMPT: IT'S YOUR TURN
Count your blessings for today.
Count your blessings for December.
Count your blessings for 2014.
Count your blessings for different things in the past.
Count your blessings for 2015.
-------------
NEW YEAR JOURNALING PROMPTS
Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 142 p.m.
What do you hope happens in 2015?
What do you expect or want from your journaling in 2015?
What journaling do you want to do in 2015?
How many blessings per day do you want to count in 2015?
How much journaling do you want to do each day or each week in 2015?
What is your one word for 2015?
-------------

JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.30.2014.)





JOURNALING HINTS, TIPS, AND PROMPTS (12.30.2014.)

---
PLEASE FORGIVE THE FORMATTING ERRORS 
*** I haven't been able to figure out how to fix the formatting errors in this blog post. Please excuse this. ***
---
YOUR JOURNALING SHOULD... ( JOURNALING HINTS AND TIPS 12.28.2014.)
Written December 28, 2014, Sunday, 1058 a.m.
Journaling should help you compensate and deal best with your weaknesses.
Journaling should magnify your strengths.
Journaling should help you learn from the past and remember, live fully in the present, and prepare for the future.
Journaling should make you more you. 
Journaling should help you search for and count your blessings in each moment
---
JOURNALING PROMPT
Does your journaling do each of those five things?
How can your journaling bring out more of each of those five things? Be thorough in your reply. 
----
BRINGING THE POINT HOME
Over the last few days, I've realized how those five facets of journaling are benefits of journaling, but also are absolute requirements. If our journaling doesn't bring these facets and shoulds out, then we have missed the mark. And, we are probably bored with our journaling and out journal is probably bored with us. After all, we will be spinning our wheels, wasting energy and time, and getting nowhere. 
Our journaling should help us vent out the yuck in our lives and bring out and focus on the good. If it isn't, we need to adjust what we're journaling and/or how we are journaling. 
---
JOURNALING PROMPT
How can you get the most out of your journaling?
--------------





MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES, BOOK 1
---
WRITING MY STORY
Written December 29, 2014, Monday, 340 p.m.
This year, I will write my story. 
I've meant to do it for decades now, but simply haven't done it. Oh, I've tried, but it just hasn't felt right or sounded right. Or, I start with a theme, but then life happens. I go through a storm and that theme no longer seems as important, so the latest life story or memoir I worked on would then die a quick death. 
So, here I go again. I want to try to write my story and leave my legacy. 
---
AN UNIVERSAL, TIMELESS THEME
I realize it will take several books, but that's okay. I have enough life material to write a library full of life stories. Are they interesting enough to write and share with others? You bet. I will make sure to share them in such a way, they will be interesting and will make people want to read them. 
Now, how do I go about that?
The whole theme idea, which is how most memoir writers write nowadays, works really well. There are several best sellers out there because of a theme. The catch is to find a theme that is timeless for my stories now and those that will happen as I write. Timeless so that whenever someone reads it, no matter where they are or when they read it, it applies to them. 
What is my timeless theme this go-round?
Hmm. I'm not sure. 
And, do I share any of this journaling entry in my story?
Wait. There is a theme that is absolutely timeless. It's timeless in my life and in others. It's a theme everyone can relate to, no matter what era.
The theme is that of JOURNALING.
Yep. Journaling. This is the common thread in all of my stories.  I can continue writing my stories if I keep this theme, no matter what happens and what curve ball life throws my way. No matter the storm, and no matter how much sunshine, journaling is my main life theme. It always has been, is now, and will always be. 
Journaling is my universal and timeless theme for my stories. 
My company's name is: Remembering Your Present, LLC.
My blog is called: RYP Journaling. 
Hence, this book's title only makes sense: MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES. 
-------------
MY RYP JOURNALING STORIES (12.30.2014.)
Written December 30, 2014, Tuesday, 851 a.m.
--- 
MORNING JOURNALING AND BLESSINGS COUNTED JOURNALING
{NOTE: I'm going to start counting my blessings within my journaling and in my blessings list; needless to say, you will see numbers within my journaling. I bet I will count all the more. }
What a blessed morning it is (1400). God is so good (1401)--all the time (1402).
It's been a precious morning (1403). The critters all know B is returning to work after Christmas and having the crud, so they are extra alert and clingy (1404). 
Sinan (Turkish name for "spearhead," for he is the spearhead of trouble--pronounced ' See-name-n') Orange Maine Coon cat hung out with B as B got ready for work (1405). Then, Sinan wanted to cuddle with B as B sat on the sofa with Zack and me and B had a cup of coffee (1406). Once the coffee was gone, Sinan assumed it was game-on and wanted B to play before he left for work (1407). I got some really good pics of cuddle and play time (1408).
Then, it was Kara's turn. She is only an indoor cat now (1409), but, oh, how she loves to have the front door open so she can look out the storm door (1410). She bellows until we open the door. Too cute (1411). Thank God, her lungs are doing well enough she can bellow (1412). 
Also, she doesn't try to run outside (1413). She knows she has it good (1414), but sure likes to look out, thank you very much. She gets bossy about that. Love it. Too precious (1415).
B left and neither cat is in sight. Poor! Vanished. But, Zack sure is a snuggle bug (1416). Yay!
---
BLESSINGS COUNTED JOURNALING WITHIN MY JOURNALING
I am really enjoying counting my blessings as I journal (1417). It's bringing depth (1418) and more meaning to my journaling (1419) and I am counting more blessings because of this new way of journaling (1420). Consequently, I'm really enjoying this change (1421). 
I'm being lazy and taking my time getting up, around, and ready this morning (1422). There's no reason to rush (1423), but all the reason to slow down, enjoy, and truly live (1424-1426). 
Plus, Zack normally has bad dementia when B returns to work after the weekend. He does better if we snuggle on the sofa. So, here I sit and journal (1427) and we are both thoroughly enjoying the snuggling and special time with one another (1428).
I cannot help but giggle with joy (1429), Lord, as I count all of these blessings, gifts from you (1430). 
How many blessings have I missed because I just tried to keep a Blessings Counted List? I realize I can copy and paste this journaling entry into my blessings counted journal (1431).
Sinan is now looking out front storm door (1432). 
I swear both cats are the nosey neighbors who would gossip. (Chuckling.) 
I can tell how much I have journaled by how much battery life I have left (1433). This morning, so far, I have the lowest  have seen and I started with 100% (1434).
I have had several AHA Moments this morning (1435). The first was when I realized for the JOURNALING STUFF FOR CHRISTIANS devotionals, I want to focus on heaven/eternity (1436) and Revelation 21-22 (1437-1438). 
Lord, You gave me that insight (1439).
We tend to forget to live for eternity--today. It's for eternity we live today.
The other AHA Moment of insight was when I thought to count my blessings as I journal (1440). 
Moreover, another AHA Moment of insight was when I realized that JOURNALING STUFF, the main and big resource book and library, will act as the "all-inclusive" resource of journaling and will be all of my blog posts (1441). From there, I will divide the posts into other books (1442).
I want most of the material to be on the RYP Journaling blog for free, but to give you the option to purchase the edited material, plus some additional material, in one convenient place (1443).
So, this blog to book is the JOURNALING STUFF: A RYP JOURNALING RESOURCE is all-inclusive. It will help inspire us to journal.
I cannot believe tomorrow is the last day of writing JOURNALING STUFF: A RYP JOURNALING RESOURCE, BOOK 1 (1444). (Then, it's editing time 1445 and publishing time 1446.)
The new material I post on the blog, starting January 01, 2015, will be part of Book 2 (1447). Book 2 will consist of material from January 01 to June 30, 2015 (1448). 
I will then offer Books 1 and 2 individually (1449) or as a bundle (1450). 
I cannot wait to see what happens because of these blog posts (1451) and each subsequent book (1452).
And, I cannot wait to hear the stories, journal entries, journaling goals, journaling questions, and journaling hints and tips from fellow journal keepers on this journaling journey (1453). 
---
JOURNALING PROMPT
Journal your thoughts.
What jumped out at you and why?
What do you can think of counting your blessings as you journal?
Count some blessings.
Share your journaling stories, thoughts, and questions as a comment at the end of any blog post send an email, or tweet to #RYPJournaling. 
-------------

Monday, December 29, 2014

A SIGH OF RELIEF, A CONFESSION, A MAJOR BLOG BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT, AND JOURNALING HINTS AND TIPS

A SIGH OF RELIEF, A CONFESSION, A MAJOR BLOG BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT, AND JOURNALING HINTS AND TIPS
Written December 24, 2014, Wednesday, 440 p.m.
---
SEARCHING
Several months back, my PC died. It ran out of storage and had a virus and it couldn't be fixed, even after the computer experts tried to do what they could to salvage the poor thing. I got everything saved down to my eternal hard drive. Or, so I thought.
I just haven't had the time to get everything set back up on my new laptop and have been doing what I could when I could. So, I decided to take out the external hard drive and start to save everything from my laptop and I wanted to find a couple of old files on it as well. The thing has everything on it from the last ten years.
---
NOT FINDING THEN A SIGH OF RELIEF
Well, I tried to access a file on the external hard drive today--and at first I could not find any of my files. It said it was empty. Much panic set in, but I decided that it simply could not be. I reminded myself I was smarter than that and could find the file, regardless of what the screen said.
It worked! Hallelujah!
The only problem was I had no idea the file name of what I was looking for. Huh. Scratched head. Then, it just so happened, in the first try I figured it out and found the file I wanted. Another hallelujah! And, a high-five! (What a blessing. Whew.)
---
CONFESSION
So, here is where the confession part of this blog post comes into the picture. 
I have written other material: books and blog posts on journaling--well before this blog. And, a while back, I started to save everything I ever wrote about journaling and started to compile the original "JOURNALING STUFF: A JOURNALING RESOURCE" book. That was the material I was looking for and finally found on my external hard drive. 
---
A MAJOR BLOG BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT
The previous material I have from the original "Journaling Stuff Resources and Encyclopedia" is 265 typed pages. It's unedited and I will add to the material. Needless to say, I will take everything I write in 2014 on this blog, plus the original material, and will make one large book for you to be able to put on your bookshelf. 
I will be moving to Wyoming and unpacking in February and March 2015. Then, I will be able to finish editing this material and will add to it as well. 
Therefore, I can say this safely.
I will finish editing this hefty resource by May 30 at the absolute latest.
Hence, the e-book version will be published by June 15, 2015.
The paper version will be published by June 30, 2015. If there is any way possible, I will try to publish it sooner. But, this is the latest possible date. 
So far, it's about 365 pages of material. 
Tada! That's the announcement. I am so excited. 
-------------





---
WHAT'S TO COME OF THE BLOG TO BOOK WRITING
From there, I will work on editing and adding material to the blog posts written from January 01 to June 30. 
I will publish that material in two ways:
1 A book of just that material (Jan.-June 2015)
2 A book of everything published by June 30, 2015, plus Jan. to June 2015 material
I will then do the same with the material from the last half of 2015. I will offer the material in one book or in three individual books. 
Of course, the larger book will also be less expensive than if you buy the books individually. 
So, stay tuned!
--------------
​WHAT MAKES YOU--YOU?​: A JOURNALING PROMPT
Written December 28, 2014, Sunday, 1051 a.m.
Who are you?
What makes you--you? Take ten minutes and so a SOC (Stream of Consciousness) Journaling about this. Then, continue with the rest of the questions/prompts. 
What makes you who you are?
How would you define yourself?
What is important to you and why?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
What brings out your weaknesses?
What brings out your strengths?
What makes your spirit soar?
What do you do for rest?
How do you take care of your soul?
What activities mean a great deal to you?
How does your schedule life up to who you are?
Journal anything else that comes to mind.
-------------

THE BLOG TO BOOKS IN PROGRESS









Those four blog books are what is in progress right now. Each of the three will be continual segments of most, if not all, blog posts. 
Stay tuned.
-------------
CHANGE OF BOOK TITLE AND COVER
Written December 28, 2014, Sunday, 129 p.m.
I've changed the book title to:
"JOURNALING STUFF #1: A RYP JOURNALING RESOURCE, BOOK 1"
--------------


Sunday, December 28, 2014

JOURNALING HINTS AND TIPS (12.28.2014)





JOURNALING HINTS AND TIPS (12.28.2014):
JOURNALING BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 28, 2014
-------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS BLOG POST
1 ME, MYSELF, AND I AND JOURNALING
2 JOURNALING IS A JOURNEY
​3 WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT JOURNALING?​
-------------
1 ME, MYSELF, AND I AND JOURNALING
Written December 21, 2014, Sunday, 1203 p.m.
---
THE GODS OF ME, MYSELF, AND I
We live in a me-centered, self-focused world. It's all about me is the theme of society.
How can "I" be happy? How can "I" succeed? How can "I" get ahead? How can I... fill in the blank..
It's all about me.
If you don't think I'm great, to h--- with ya!
If you don't put me first, then...
Our trinity is not Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Rather, it's me, myself, and I.
We have made ourselves gods.
If we are focused on self, we are not focused on anything or anyone else.
If we are thinking of self, we are not thinking of anything or anyone else.
We are, oh, so prideful.
Remember this: Pride ALWAYS, without fail, comes before a fall.
And, I hate to tell you this, but confidence is pride. Self-confidence means you are focused on self and if you are focused on self, you cannot be confident in anything or anyone else.
So, what does journaling have to do with the me, myself, and I trinity?
How can journaling help us to focus on the deeper?
---
JOURNALING AND THE ME TRINITY
Journaling is what we should always, without fail, do FIRST and FOREMOST (of course, pray and reading your Bible are the absolute first, but then, we should do journal. I referred to what we should do first--after these musts).
We should journal everything out first. Capture 'it' on the page, whatever 'it' is.
Journaling through our emotions, through our irrational thoughts and fears/anxieties/stresses, and our to-dos are what we should. we should get it out. After all, when we do that, then we see things with the proper perspective.
If we capture EVERYTHING on the page, then we gain the proper perspective. Then, in turn, we will no longer put self as the center of life and living.
Journaling helps us see how there is far more to this life, to this world, than self and the me trinity. 
Try focusing on self when you think of someone dying of cancer.
Try thinking of self when you know that another man has gone to war--for you so you don't have to. He has left his family for you. (Or she. It isn't always a he.)
Try thinking of self when you go to the hospital, a nursing home, or hospice.
Try thinking of self when you hear or read the news.
Journaling helps open us up to the bigger world and universe. There is so much more to this world than self.
And, how shallow am I if I ever think this for a second, let alone a minute or even a day?
Journaling helps us get "I' on the page and reminds us of perspective--how there is so much more. 
Turn to your journal. Get 'it' out of the page so you can see beyond the here and now.
---
A JOURNALING PROMPT
1 Journal your thoughts?
2 How do you feed the me trinity and god?
3 How will you use journaling to take you off that pedestal and live in reality--that there is far more to this life and world than self?
-------------
2 JOURNALING IS A JOURNEY
Written December 21, 2014, Sunday, 101 p.m.
I don't know about you, but the thought of going on a journey is something I romanticize. It is something I seek eagerly. As a matter of fact, I love to read fantasy (and enjoy fantasy television shows and movies) because in every fantasy, there is a quest. (Oh, the thrill!)
A journey. A quest. For a treasure, to accomplish something, to go somewhere.
It's exciting and is dangerous.
Think "Harry Potter," "The Lord of the Rings," "Hunger Games," "Divergent," "The Chronicles of Narnia," "Once Upon a Time," "Grimm," and "Sleepy Hollow." These are all about a quest and a journey.
Imagine yourself going on a quest and journey. Picture it. The excitement. The adventure.
Journaling is a journey.
Journaling is a quest.
It's a journey, a quest, we take every day for the rest of our lives. Needless to say, it is endless and ongoing.
---
A JOURNALING PROMPT
Journal your thoughts.
---------------
​3 WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT JOURNALING?​
What is so great about journaling?
Doesn't it take a lot of work?
It's writing, right? How can writing ever be great?
Doesn't journaling take time?
So, seriously. What is so great about journaling?
Well, I am so glad you asked!
Journaling brings perspective. It brings a proper point-of-view. It makes you get a grip and see things in a more wholesome way and from a different-point of view. Keeping a journal forces you to deal with your excess baggage and lighten your load, needless to say. It might even make you "take out the trash" so to speak. Journaling makes sure your focus is on what matters, what is really important, and what lasts.
When you put your heart on paper and take the opportunity to re-evaluate some of the things that have happened, it can and does bring closure. Socrates once said something along the lines that an unexamined life isn't worth living. So, since our lives are so very precious and worth living, we honor the gift of life by the perspective and introspection journaling brings.
Journal keeping forces you to evaluate your life and make appropriate changes as needed. However, it also helps you grow deeper in faith, to dream big, and appreciate life. Journal keeping will also help you to live a healthier life. When you have the opportunity to look back at what you've put on paper during the ebb and flow of life, you'll see so clearly how you have grown and overcome through good times and rough ones, too.
Conversely, journaling also allows you to see those challenging areas that might need just a bit more work in your life. As you share your story in your journal, put that part of it down for a brief period of time and forget about it, then return to it a while later, and you'll quickly see the sunny spots as well as those areas which might still be overshadowed by the storm clouds which visit all of us from time to time.
There are two pivotal points about journaling, which I think are the most important:
First, journaling forces you to engage and to remember the present. You can't get by with being so busy you skip or forget the present. You also can't waste the present moment because you're recognizing the present. Remembering your present is the key to a full life. After all, this present moment is the only one you can control and this present moment is sacred. It is a gift.
Second, journaling teaches you how to leave your present behind. That's a play on words, by the way. I don't mean you walk away from this moment. Far from that! rather, journaling is the means by which you are able to leave your legacy.
Everyone has a story to tell. If you're living in the present and believe it's sacred, then you're living life in a deeper and more meaningful way. Therefore, your life is a Story with a capital 'S' and is made of several stories (smaller stories with a small 's'). You refuse to live a wasted, unevaluated life, so you have a Story and stories to tell.
To these ends, journaling is never a waste of time, unless you don't do it or don't understand it. Moreover, journaling is the most rewarding to those who put the most into it. Hence, remember, journaling is not something you can half-step. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.
-------------
​OTHER TYPES OR KINDS OF JOURNALING​ (JOURNALING HINTS AND TIPS 12.28.2014)
Written December 28, 2014, Sunday, 1003 a.m. 
---
ETC. ETC. ETC.
There are a few more types or kinds of journaling we haven't taken a look at yet and it's probably time to look at a few of them. 
Later, we will look more deeply at each, but I have the feeling in introducing them, if they have appeal to you, you can figure out what it means to you and how you want to do it. 
Otherwise, feel free to attach a comment to any blog post if you have any thoughts, questions, or suggestions about a specific form of journaling. Also, share what you do and what you've elarned. It would certainly be welcomed. You can also post this at Twitter.com under #RYPJournaling or send an email. (This goes with anything journaling related, by the way.)
---
FAMILY TREE JOURNALING
This is discovering information about your family tree and doing your genealogy. It's discovering information about your family you never knew and/or want to remember, along with your thoughts and how, or if, it changes your perspective or way of life. 
---
HISTORY JOURNALING
This type or form of journaling is done when you learn something about history and want to journal about it, your thoughts, what it means to you and your life, how it changes the way you see things, etc. 
--- 
NEWS JOURNALING
This is journaling you do after you see, read, or hear a news story. You journal your thoughts, what it means to you and your life, how it changes the way you see things, etc. 
--- 
READING JOURNALING
This is the journaling you do when you read a book, article, blog post, etc. You journal your thoughts, what it means to you and your life, how it changes the way you see things, etc.
---
TOPIC JOURNALING
Take any topic and  journal your thoughts, what it means to you and your life, how it changes the way you see things, etc. You know of a few others: travel journaling, love or relationship journaling, journaling about being pregnant or having a baby, diet journaling, exercise journaling, etc. 
---
SCRAPBOOK JOURNALING VIA WORDS
Have you ever tried to build a scrapbook for someone in your life or for yourself--capturing a moment in time? This type of journaling is doing that, but is with using words to paint the picture. 
---
WHY DO ANY OF THESE OTHER TYPES OR KINDS OF JOURNALING
There are times we just need to switch it up with our journaling.  These different types or kinds of journaling allows us this opportunity. Give it a try. You might say is spices up your journaling since variety is the spice of life.
-------------