Things that are just as you would like them to be

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?

 

What Is And What Could Be

As I was scrolling through Pinterest recently, I noticed the quote, “I see you in colours that don’t exist,” by poet Paul Matsumoto. Have you seen it before? I hadn’t, but it struck a chord.

I feel like this all the time. And not just in seeing people, but in so many of my experiences of the world. I find myself drawn to a vision of the world that doesn’t quite exist. Don’t we all? My vision tends toward kinder, slower, more accepting, less painful.

I often wonder how to incorporate that sensation into my journaling in a way that is constructive and rooted in everyday experience, but that also leaves room for expansion of the colour palette. It’s a constant challenge. It’s a fine line between aspiration and fantasy.

The truth is that I don’t know exactly how to do that yet. But it feels good to try. Today’s journal experiment is a step along the way – thinking about ways to bridge the gap between what is and what could be. It’s up in the shop if you’d like to take a peek.

For now though, do you carry a vision of a world that doesn’t quite exist? What does it look like to you?

 

People, Places, Things - A New Journal Page For You

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?

 

What It Feels Like To Be You

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?

 

Discovered A Beautiful Spot

I have the feeling I’ll be using this new journal page again and again.

First, I’ll write about our summer road trip to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia . . .

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. . . where there are beautiful spots at every turn.

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Even our puppy was impressed!

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The best part about documenting this beautiful part of Canada is that it puts me right back there. It reminds me what it felt like to stand on windswept shores and wander narrow paths — taking in the rocky outcrops and blue-grey ocean, listening to our girls’ quiet chatter as they walked, and watching our puppy trot along happily behind them. It was pure bliss. I can’t wait to go back.

What beautiful spots have you discovered lately?

 

Began Again

It’s time to begin again. Again.

The Patreon page didn’t work out the way I’d hoped. I still love the platform and its ideas for connecting creators and patrons, but I couldn’t figure out how to make it fit with my journaling. I ended up closing the page over the summer and lost my way for a time.

So this beginning is a tough one. I feel a greater sense of uncertainty than in past new beginnings and a lot more fear. Fear of the usual things, like looking foolish, like making unwise decisions, like failing. Again.

But I’m not ready to give up yet either.

This time around, the plan is simple: to write and post journal printables — here, on my own website — that aim to ask good questions and encourage insightful answers.

As always, my goal will be to create pages that make it a little easier to notice the good stuff, to document memorable moments, to make sense of the world around us, to discover the things that matter most, and to build the courage and confidence to set and pursue meaningful goals.

I’ve revamped my printables page, which now includes my free pages and pages that I’ve moved here from Patreon and my Etsy shop. I’ll continue to create printables — some free, some not — and post them as I go.

The printable I created for this post is all about beginning again. It’s part of my Life Story series, where I’m exploring the idea of capturing our life stories through everyday moments. As with all of my new printables, it’s available in four sizes to fit a variety of page and planner sizes. (Printing instructions can be found at the bottom of my new shop’s welcome page.)

Have you begun something again recently? What was your first step?

Are you thinking of beginning something again soon? What will you do first?