How it all Started

On July 30, 2017, I slipped into darkness. I know the exact date and circumstances because I have the journal to prove it.

In 2017, I was caring for a family member full time. One morning, I had a particularly difficult time getting her to cooperate. Frustrated, I left her in the care of another person, then went for a walk to let off some steam. I debated with myself about the best way to handle the unwanted behavior going forward. By the time I returned home, I had a plan.

During my working years, I kept a planner, so it was natural for me to continue keeping one after I left my job. The planner helped me record appointments, plan meals, and remember travel details. Basically, it served as my extended brain.

I went to my planner and wrote what happened, my solution, and a couple of paragraphs describing how the situation made me feel.

That’s when the lightbulb came on.

My planner began to have a dual purpose:  a system that organized my life, and a journal that documented it.

Since then, journaling has become a habit. I document the high points of my day, work through challenges I face, and describe what I did to make myself feel special. I write about how grateful I am for the people in my life, as well as how I brightened someone else’s day. One good thing about journaling is that I can look back and refresh my memory about an event that occurred on a particular day.

According to researchers, journaling is good for your mental health, and I can attest to that. Journaling has additional benefits, and you can read about some of them here.

If you know someone who is having a hard time, share with them your journaling experience. It may be the lifeline that they need.

Go and grow,

Cris