Time For a New Journal

People who keep journals live more than once.

I cannot believe it's already December when there are so many things I still have to accomplish.  Traditionally every year I begin a new journal.  This year's journal is almost full.  Yup, in addition to this blog, my tumblr, FaceBook page and all of the articles I write, I keep a journal.  I use it for brainstorming, logging ideas and recording cool things that happen to me.

I peeked inside to see what my goals were at the beginning of the year.  My revelation was that I barely completed any of the creative projects I had intended to.  So I began to skim through my journal to see exactly what it was I did this year.

After taking this photo my loyal mascot made herself comfortable.

It turns out I did a lot of things like: travel, attend conferences, events, meet cool new people and catch up with dear friends and family.  Pushing myself to try new things helped me to grow spiritually and intellectually.  It becomes very clear while reading my journal that in addition to having a wacky sense of humor, part of my evolution has been finding my voice which turns out is the voice of an activist.

Before I look to the future and begin composing that long list of dreams and goals for the new year I'm taking the time to look back and relish the things I've done and learned.

Do you keep a journal?

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"For any writer who wants to keep a journal, be alive to everything, not just to what you're feeling, but also to your pets, to flowers, to what you're reading." May Sarton

"Keep a journal, and don't assume that your work has to accomplish anything worthy: artists and peace-workers are in it for the long haul, and not to be judged by immediate results." William Edgar Stafford

"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train." Oscar Wilde

"This diary is my kief, hashish and opium pipe. This is my drug and my vice." Anaïs Nin