My journal calendar prompt for January 3rd is decided. I went with two decisions I’ve made so far today and two I try to make every day. Here’s my entry:
Today: research and writing over painting, short sprint over long walk;
Ongoing: hope over despair, action over inaction.
What did you decide today?
Happy New Year, friends! I’ve just filled in January 2nd on my printable journal calendar and thought it might be fun to share my entries this month.
Today, first and foremost, I noticed the weather. It’s freezing! Thankfully, it’s not windy, so our trip to the dog park this morning was quite pleasant. While we were there, I noticed that our puppy, Sundae, seems much happier playing among many dogs than one on one. As more and more dogs arrive, she bounces from dog to dog, saying hello and making friends, hoping one or two will give her a good chase. It’s such fun to watch and after a few too many late nights, decadent treats, and out-of-town visits during the holidays, it’s lovely to get back to our usual routines.
What did you notice today?
Just in time for 2019, I made a printable journal calendar! It's jam-packed with more than 200 prompts that make it fun and easy to capture a memorable moment every day from January 1st to December 31st.
I’ve always believed that journaling brings together two important actions — the creation of a unique life’s record and the opportunity to find meaning and direction right there in the middle of it all.
But the longer I journal, the more I see that there’s even more to it than that. Equally valuable to the record created and the meaning and direction chosen is the potential for journaling to develop, strengthen, and broaden the mind and spirit.
The longer I journal, the more fascinating details I notice out there in the world, the more often I’m able to turn my attention to the things that matter most, even on my worst days, and the more deeply I’m able to appreciate each step along the way.
Long story short, it’s not just the journal, it’s the way that journaling sends us out into the world with curiosity, a desire to notice and take meaningful action, and an ever-better understanding of how to make the best of our own lives in our own way and in our own time.
Even if it starts with just a moment or two of reflection each day in a printable journal calendar.
Sending you my very best wishes for the remainder of 2018 and for a year to come filled with wonder and boundless possibilities for discovery.
I started a new journal today, which always feel so good. Oh, the possibilities!
I knew exactly what I wanted on the first page — a new do your thing printable I’ve been working on. I printed the half-letter version and glued it right onto page one.
It was such fun to create a whole page with huge type and just one prompt. I’ve already got my response in mind . . . of course, as so often happens, I can’t keep it to just one thing. So far, I’ve got optimism, journal pages, apple crisp, and a few more — all of which I’ll write there, on the first page, to remind me whenever I need it, to do my thing.
If you’d like a copy of my do your thing printable journal page, you’ll find it right here — and it’s free!
What do you do like no one else?
Lately, I’m dreaming of big, meaningful words and bright colours. This new journal experiment is a colourful reminder that dreams come in all sizes and your imagination can embrace them all — from the little ones just for today to the magnificent ones that reflect your unique approach to your one-of-a-kind life. Happy dreaming, friends!
Speaking of love . . . I’m in love with the way these pages came together. Playing with colourful words and writing whimsical, even surprising, prompts to go along with them . . . you guys, this stuff makes my day.
Each page is designed to be journaled in the moment and can be used over and over again, whenever you’re in the mood for some quick, colourful reflection on your one-of-a-kind world. All you have to do is print and start writing!
You’ll find them in the new Colourful Words section of my shop. (The love page . . . of course . . . is free!)
Happy journaling!
Playing with words today. The first leads to the next, then to the next and so on . . . from curious all the way back to curious.
Is there one word that jumps out at you? Is there one that brings to mind a moment from your day?
Even during the most unpredictable of days, there should be parts — even teeny tiny details — that are just as we would like them to be. Don’t you think? (And if turns out there aren’t, let’s use this printable prompt to embrace the challenge of making them happen.)
My three things today are: giving a super-short journal talk in my community tonight (even though it makes me super-nervous), a lovely stretch of quiet in my workspace to prepare, and a steaming mug of strong coffee first thing this morning.
What’s on your list?
I’m still experimenting with rainbow colour schemes and oodles of prompts on the page. The result today is a quick, quirky excuse to take a step back from the noisy world and think about the people with whom you can truly be you, the places you’d go back to in a heartbeat, the things you hope for, and all sorts of other unique details from your one-of-a-kind world. It’s free to print right now. All you have to do is hunt down a bright pen, pencil, or marker (or three!) and start writing.
Where will you start — things, people, or places?
Is this a scary prompt?
It felt like a scary prompt when I first started working on this page last week. It was inspired by a difficult conversation, in which I found myself wondering what it felt like to be the other person. And then it occurred to me that I don’t think I’ve ever asked this exact question of myself before. Possibly because I wasn’t sure what sorts of answers would bubble to the surface.
Now that I’ve had time to think it through, I feel as if I’ve broken new ground in my own experience of the world and I have quite enjoyed unpacking the three words that came to mind in response — even though they were not easy words.
How about you? Have you ever thought about the words you’d use to describe the experience of being you? What would they be?