Patience

Be patient with yourself as you journal. Cut yourself some grace.

Your journal and your journaling do not have to be perfect. Experiment. Have fun. Explore.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Your life: Round 2

How would you describe your life now?

What is working for you in your life right now?

What isn't working and how can you improve it?

Where are you going in your life?

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Your Life

How is your life going?

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Self-care

Do you take good care of yourself or do you neglect yourself in any way? Do you perform routine maintenance?

There is a form of self-care to many people neglect. Your journal is one of the best methods of self-care.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Honesty

Honesty is a critical foundation with journaling. Be honest first and foremost. Your journal is the one place you can, and should, be honest.

If you ever think twice about writing something down, you should.

If you ever try to avoid writing something down, you should.

Why did I say the last two comments? It is because they are true. If you second-guess what you write, or try to avoid what you write, then you are not being completely honest. If you are not being completely honest, you have issues you need to work through. Your journal is the best place for you to do so.

Be fully honest. Your journal can take it. It will pay off for you. You will learning about yourself that surprise you and will help you understand more about would you are and how what makes you tick.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Find what works

The biggest key with journaling is to find what works for you. So, experiment and find what inspires you to journal the most. It might take a while to find. Just keep trying and experimenting.

But, be warned. The moment you find what works for you can change. Be willing to change and adjust at all times. When you do need to adjust, so you will journal more, then experiment again.

Find what works for you today. Experiment until you find what it is and do it.

How do you know what works? The answer is simple. You should be inspired to journal for hours without batting an eye. You should write a page and it only seems like you wrote a sentence.

So, find what works for you today. Experiment until you do.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Just Journal

Just journal. Put your pen to the page or your fingers to the keyboard and write.

Don't second-guess what you are writing. Just journal. Grammar does not matter. If it makes sense doesn't matter. If it isn't what you preferred to write, it doesn't matter. Just journal. After all, if you just keep journaling, it will get better and will start to resonate.

If you don't know what to write, just start. Even write precisely that, "I don't know what to journal." Before you know it, you will know what to say.

Sneak time in and journal. You can always find a couple of minutes here and there throughout the day to journal. And you can sneak time in everyday.

So, just journal. Our have more to lose if you do not.

Experiment. Try it. Have fun and see what happens.

Just journal.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Remembering Your Present

This is one of the main reasons why I journal. It helps me live the best life today. Journaling helps me live consciously and with awareness. It helps me to live intentionally as I constantly am remembering my present. In other words, I appreciate today, each day. It helps me realize how every day is a gift and journaling helps me stay focused on this endeavor. Journaling makes me appreciate today and live the best life possible.

Journaling helps me live a better life. And, do you know what? It can do the same for you.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Autphor

The Journaling and Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

"The Journaling and Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013" is already 91 pages in length. Would you believe it?

I am thrilled with the progress. 

It's going to be the most extensive resource for journaling and memoir writing out there on the market. 

I hope it will be a tool people use year after year. And, of course, I will update it every year. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

When life is hard

When life is hard, journal.

Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

When life is hard

When life is hard, journal.

Journaling is...

Journaling is anything you choose it to be and can change by the day. It's all up to you.

Journaling is flexible and creative that way.

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

The Cost of Journaling

Journaling costs as much or as little as you choose.

You can journal for free, providing you have a computer and the internet   Or, a cell phone, laptop, or tablet--with internet capability.

Or, you can buy a fancy paper journal for a lot of money.

Journaling can also cost some of your time each day. 

However, it's the cost of not journaling that is the most costly. 

The lack of journaling in a person's life, for whatever reason, means losing out on the benefits of journaling, of which they are numerous. The lack of journaling means a life that isn't reflected upon or remembered. Its's a life that is not as appreciated or lived to its fullest. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

The Cost of Journaling

Journaling costs as much or as little as you choose.

You can journal for free, providing you have a computer and the internet   Or, a cell phone, laptop, or tablet--with internet capability.

Or, you can buy a fancy paper journal for a lot of money.

Journaling can also cost some of your time each day. 

However, it's the cost of not journaling that is the most costly. 

The lack of journaling in a person's life, for whatever reason, means losing out on the benefits of journaling, of which they are numerous. The lack of journaling means a life that isn't reflected upon or remembered. Its's a life that is not as appreciated or lived to its fullest. 

Record of your life

Your journal is a record of your life.

Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

Journal Check-In Journaling Prompt and Exercise

Please grab your favorite beverage and your journal and answer the following questions:

* So, how is your journal and your journaling coming along?

* What do you think of your journal?

* What do you think of your journaling?

* How often are you trying to journal?

* How often are you journaling?

* What have you experienced with journaling?

* What do you want to do more with your journaling?

* What do you want to do less of with your journal (at this time)?

* What have you learned from your journal or from journaling?

* What has been most memorable with journaling?

* How have you changed because of your journal or because of journaling?

* Is your journaling a habit yet? (If not, hang in there. Keep journaling. It will become one.)

* Do you comprehend yet how important journaling is in your life? (If not, hang in there. In time, you will be able to say yes--emphatically.)

* What do you like to do most in your journal or with your journaling?

* Describe your journal and your journaling.

* If you could do the ideal journaling, what would that look like? What would it take for you to do today, this week, this month, this quarter, and this year, for you to do it?

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

The Journaling Path Blog Network: http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

2013 and January Journaling and Memoir Writing Classes Notes

As you might have guessed, the homework for last week and this week have their purposes. Last week's homework was meant to get you to write the top 125 memories from your life  that came to your mind. This week, you are fleshing out 5-7 memories and writing as much as you can about each.

Are these classes nothing but busy work and homework? You might wonder. 

But, I bet you see at this point that there might be a method to my madness. There is one. Trust me. Today, I wills tart to explain a little of what that is,

Journaling is very personal--and so are your memories. My whole goal is to help give yourself the permission to experiment and get these things down on the page, so you can leave your legacy and start to write your memoir. I have provided some guidance with the homework, but I've left a lot of it up to you. Why? It's because you need to experiment and figure out what works for you. You need to feel free when you journal--and not have so much instruction that it stifles your creativity or your flow. 

That being said, if you were too lost or stifled, I was sure you would contact me and request help--or search my blog for more tools to help you--of which there are plenty. 

HABIT GROWING

I have not wanted to ask you to set a daily word count goal. That can put undue pressure on you and can stifle your muse. Therefore  I have not done so. However, can you see, this week in particular, that you are starting to write a certain number of words per day? 

You are developing the journaling habit without even realizing it. And, as to how many words per day... It you are new to journaling, I recommend 500 words or so. If you are a regular journalkeeper, I recommend 1,000. But, again  the choice is up to you. Do what works. That's the bottom line. And, make it your goal to journal a little more every week. 

If you are writing your memoir, this is really important. Make a decision as to how many words you want to write a day--and get after it. The average word count for a memoir is 80,000 to 100,000 or so words. Some are a lot more and some are less. 

PATTERNS

What comes to mind, when it comes to mind, is important. There are patterns there and reasons there you will need to explore. Are you starting to see this?

MEMOIR WRITERS

Your journal is your first draft of your memoir. 

We need to mine through our memories and then figure out the patterns  so we know how to write our memoir. We will start to see the patterns next week. Hang in there. But, your journaling is the first step that's needed. 

YOUR MEMORIES

Your memories are a key as to what has happened to you, who you were, who you are, who you will become, and where you go next in your life's journey. So, mien them deeply. Get all of them on the page, and keep writing as much as you can about each of your original 125 memories. Keep an ongoing FUTURE MEMORY JOURNALING LIST so that you can also mine those later. 

HOMEWORK

* What patterns are you starting to see?

* How has mining your memories impacted you? 

* What new memories have you uncovered as you think about other memories?

* Do you see how you became who you are today and why?

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper

Control

My journal is the one thing in this life I can completely control, if I desire.

However, there is nothing more powerful than writing in my journal and being surprised with what I said on the page. Therefore, sometimes it is nice to relinquish control and see where the muse might lead.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Always with me

My journal is easily accessible. After all, I carry it with me 24/7/365. I keep it in my bag, on my night stand, on my desk, and even carry it in the kitchen or restroom. It is always with me. I can journal any time, anywhere.

If the mood strikes... if I get an idea... if I can steal the time... if I am inspired, I am able to journal.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

What?

Journaling helps me figure out how I am, what I am thinking, how I am
feeling, and what has happened.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Strength

Journaling helps me to find my strength when I feel weak.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Love

Journaling helps me love more.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The importance of journaling

Other than praying and reading the Bible, I do not know of anything I could do that is more important to my life.

And, when I pray, I pray journal. And when I read and study the Bible, I journal. Therefore, my life habit, and way of life, of journaling is the most influential thing I do in my life.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Download at Smashwords

The latest version of THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 2013 is ready to be downloaded at my bookstore.

Check it out. It's FREE. (See link below.)

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

The Journaling Path Blog Network: http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

All-Inclusive

Journaling is meant to be an all-inclusive part of your life. It's not meant to be something you do separate from any of the parts and pieces of your life. 

In other words, we always think that we need to do... fill in the blank... and then journal.

Or, we journal and then do... fill in the blank.

Isn't this where we go wrong?

Journaling is meant to be part of every single segment of your life. Journaling is life, after all. It's our thought, emotional, and spiritual life--all rolled into one. Therefore, whenever we try to segment our lives  we get it wrong. We need to include journaling in every part and in every segment. 

Journaling is all-inclusive. It's not exclusive. It's not instead of or in spite of. Journaling is meant to be included in all parts of our lives -just as our journaling includes all parts of our lives. 

I think once we change this perception in our minds, we will journal more and get more out of our journals. Hence, we will live more and get more out of our lives as well.

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper

My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: My Personal Journaling

I am starting to see how important it is to include all of my life as I write about my memories and my memoir. This 2013 Odyssey cannot include just my memories. 

So, welcome to my life already in progress--as I also reflect on my past memories.

Let me start off with where I am today. I am a journalkeeper, blogger, writer, editor, and publisher and have these projects I am working on in 2013:

1 My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013

2 The Journaling and Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

1 is about my memories.

2 is about journaling and writing a memoir (a how-to). 

Both are projects I feel passionate about and are what I want to write with all of my heart, mind, body, and soul. In fact, they are what I must write. I feel absolutely compelled to write them both. It's as though God is speaking directly into my ear. I can hear him that clearly about these two writing and journaling projects. 

My story needs to be told, as I encourage others to tell their story. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper

A Journaling Quote

Journal in your own way

in your own time

in your own place

about whoever you desire

for whatever reason

whatever you want

-- just journal.

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper

Dealing with your stuff: A journaling exercise or prompt

It's important to deal with your stuff, so your stuff does not deal with you. 

So, what stuff keeps working on you, coming to mind, chasing you, tapping on your shoulder, pulling you--good or bad? (Journal your response.) 

It's important to acknowledge your stuff, so you can deal with it--so it will not deal with you. If you don't, you cannot move on. There will be no forward motion in your life. The days might go by, but you end up being stuck where you stuff first started to collect and brew. 

What do you need to deal with?

Start this today. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper

Dealing with your stuff: A journaling exercise or prompt

It's important to deal with your stuff, so your stuff does not deal with you. 

So, what stuff keeps working on you, coming to mind, chasing you, tapping on your shoulder, pulling you--good or bad? (Journal your response.) 

It's important to acknowledge your stuff, so you can deal with it--so it will not deal with you. If you don't, you cannot move on. There will be no forward motion in your life. The days might go by, but you end up being stuck where you stuff first started to collect and brew. 

What do you need to deal with?

Start this today. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper

The JAS Encyclopedia and Everything I've Ever Written

The JAS Encyclopedia is the abbreviated name I am going to use from time to time regarding, THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 2013. 

Yesterday, an idea hit me regarding the JAS in 2013 project. I need to collect everything, and I mean everything, I've ever written and even thought about journaling--and go through my journals--as I also write more on journaling for the JAS Encyclopedia in 2013 project.

So, that's what I am going to do. I might not put it on the blog, but will put it in the JAS Encyclopedia. After all, I really want to write new material for the blog. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper

Run to your journal

Do you ever feel like you need to runaway and get away from it?

Run to your journal instead. Runaway to the journaling world. It's the safest place to escape--and it will force you to deal with your stuff.

Take some time this day to run to your journal. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

The Journaling Path Blog Network: http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

Confession and Running To: My Personal Journaling

I have a confession. I need to run to today (not runaway from). I need to run as fast as I can to my Lord who can bring me comfort and tell me that everything is going to be okay. I need to rejuvenate in him and seek some healing.

I have a million things that need to come first. My to do list is long as can be. But, it will wait.

However, there are times when we have to deal with something head on--or it will deal with us. I think the time is now for me. I need to acknowledge some feelings and thoughts that I try to push down. You know... Act strong. 

I trust God and his timing. He knows best. He sees things through divine eyes and I only see through my small, scarred, limited, sinful, and human eyes. 

But, that doesn't mean that sometimes I don't feel beaten. That doesn't mean I don't feel low and yucky. That doesn't mean I have a lack of faith. It's just that after four+ years, it can be difficult to wait... To be patient... To not know when my prayers will be answered.

And, have you noticed that when other people's same prayers are answered, and yours hasn't been... It can hurt? And, you feel guilty for feeling that way? That's where I am at today.

The truth is in four years, I haven't cried once about this. I've remained strong. I've held to my faith. I've trusted. I have tried to do everything I can to push through, to keep moving forward, to not feel sorry for myself, and to know that God has bigger, better, perfect plans. 

He promised me this prayer will be a yes answer. But, it's in his timing, not mine. I know he is preparing me and my husband for this. I know he is preparing everyone else for it, too. 

But, sometimes, it's hard to remain forever strong and faithful.

Sometimes, I just want a hug by God. A reminder he hasn't forgotten. A reminder that it just isn't time yet--that it will happen--and he is proud of the race I've run so far. 

It hurts.

So, today, I am going to take some time and not be so strong and sort through everything I've dealt with for over four years. It's time. 

I am running to--deal with it. Not runaway from and avoid having to do so. 

I am running to God and want to see if he has anything to say. I sure could use a word from him. That is for sure. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper 

Memories

Memories are a gift given to us by God.

They remind us how we have lived.

The question is how well we have lived, are living, and will live. 

Our memories can help us live a better life today and tomorrow--if we mine through them and find the nuggets that show us how we got to where we are today and who we are as well. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

The Journaling Path Blog Network: http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

Oops

I am writing in the car and did not mean to send last email... which posted to blog.

Oops.

~Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Writer

Why Journal?

Why should you journal? Why would you want to journal?

There are a million reasons to journal--and that is not an overstatement. I will list a few of why you might think about journaling or what you could add to your journaling. Why journal? Here's why. It's to help you...:

* Remember your life, memories, experiences, choices, and everything about every day.
* Achieve better health: mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and even socially.
* Lose weight or maintain your weight.
* Eat right and healthy.
* Get in shape and be the most fit you can be--and stay that way. To help you train.
* Gain a fresh point-of-view or perspective.
* Learn what makes you who you are. Self-discovery.
* Track your journey.
* Leave a legacy.
* Process things that have happened, or are happening, in your life.
* Financially, get out of debt, track what you spend, help you prepare for retirement, and help you save.
* List the pros and cons so you can make the best and informed decision.
* Figure out your life's purpose.
* List your dreams and then achieve them through the setting of goals.
* Achieve your goals, which lead you to your dreams.
* Vent and throw-up on paper. at times, we can have an ugliness inside of us that needs to explode. It's best to explode on paper and not at people, right?
* Track the patterns in your life and those stand-apart moments.
* Conquer and achieve pain management.
* Reduce stress.
* Reduce anxiety.
* Deal with your past.
* Remember the A-HA moments in our lives, the monumental moments.
* List why we are thankful or list our blessings.
* Acknowledge what God is doing, has done, and will do in our lives.
* Plan to live the most ideal life we can live--and live it.
* Plan for 5, 10, 20, and 25 years from now.
* Find encouragement when we need it.
* List our favorite inspirational quotes or scripture.
* Pray.
* Mediate on an inspirational quote or word.
* Figure out what we think.
* Figure out how we feel.
* Figure out where to go from here.
* Remember the people in our lives--no matter how short-term or long-term they are in our lives.
* Let us know what we need to work on in our lives.
* Plan a trip and vacation.
* Work through a problem.
* Live a better life.
* Creativity and imagination--so they soar.
* Inspire the muse.
* Be better writers.
* Write a book. That book we've always wanted to write--or the one we just thought of recently.
* Write our life story.
* Achieve success.
* Plan to have a baby.
* Raise the kid(s) we've got.
* Draw closer to our loved ones.
* Grow a stronger marriage.
* Grow a garden and appreciate it.
* Remember where we have traveled and to capture the memory of our travels today.
* Remember why and how we fell in love.
* Get through a divorce or break-up.
* Remember where we've lived.
* Remember our school days.
* Remember our workplaces.

~Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Writer

Anytime, Any Place

Journaling is the most convenient hobby, or way of life, an individual can have. After all, a journalkeeper can write at any time and in any place. All it takes is a way to write, whether paper and pen or cell or tablet.

Also, journaling is inexpensive and easy to do.

Journaling is quite enjoyable for just those reasons.

~Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Writer

My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: My Personal Journaling

MY FIRST MEMORIES

I remember several images from when I was to young to really understand, but can see images. 

I remember looking at my feet and being in the baby swing. 

I remember my dad bringing home diapers one night from the grocery store. He stopped off and got them on the way home from work. 

I remember my blankets (my blankeys) and my bottle.

I remember when my dad but my baby bottles into glasses. 

I remember my Golden Retriever, Sunny, begging as I ate in my highchair.

I remember Sunny as a puppy.

I remember helping my dad wash his car. 

I remember sitting in a wading pool out front of our house, drinking from my bottle.

I remember Sunny eating holes in our backyard wooden fence. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

Why is this blog called Storykeeper 2121?

A Storykeeper is someone who does journaling and memoir writing daily. They want to get their entire life on the page--as a means of exploration of self, to celebrate life, to remember what God's done in their lives, and to leave a legacy. 

The ideal is that the legacy will be remembered to the year 2121 and beyond. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

The Journaling Path: A Journaling Blog Network

Lynda Solorio, Raymonde Savoie, and myself have formed a blog network on journaling. 

The Journaling Path offers extensive journaling tools, tips, thoughts, prompts, and exercises for every journalkeeper. 

Please take a look at this blog network at this ink: http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

The Journaling Path Blog Network: http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

The Journaling and Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013 Download

I have the first version of THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 2013 ready to download for FREE at my Smashwords store:

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

There will be a lot more material added to it through the course of 2013. Therefore, since this is an incomplete and unedited version, it will be FREE throughout 2013. 

I will download a new copy of the book to my bookstore at least once a week and will let you know when it is available on a blog post that will have the heading of: DOWNLOAD THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 2013. 

Check it out. This is pretty exciting. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

Ugh!

Please forgivr (case and point)  typos and the poor formatting of the last few blog posts. I will correct them later today.

When I write from Cell or Fire, it happens.

~Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Writer

2013 and January Class Notes and Homework

2013 Journaling and Memoir Homework Week 2:
Complete the homework of the January class, but with one exception. Rather than write about 5 memories, write about 7 this week. So, that is write about one memory per day.

January Class Homework:
This week, write about 5 memories. Use all seven days to write as much as possible for each.

Both Classes Notes:
This week, we are going to start to expand our memories and get the whole picture of the memory on the page. So, how will we go about it? Do the following with each memory:
1 Act like a reporter on the scene and write what you see and hear.
2 Switch to your perspective and ask who, what, where, when, why, and how questions of the memory.
3 Add all five senses: taste, smell, touch, sight, and hearing/sound.
4 What did you think, feel, sense, and pray?
5 Do you have any photos of the memory? Pick three and describe each photo, if you do.
6 If you don't have any photos, and could take three to fix, what would you take? Describe each photo. This is called Missing Photo Journaling Exercise or Prompt.

~Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Writer

Making Mistakes: A journaling exercise or prompt

Have you ever made a mistake? If so, what was it and what did you learn from it? List all of the memories associated with it. Have you dealt with it or does it still deal with you? What do you think about it today? How has it shaped you and your life today? Have you forgiven yourself for it?

Do all of the above for each mistake.

Be thorough and spend some time on this.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

What is your life purpose?: A journaling exercise or prompt

What is your life purpose?

Do you know? If so,when and how did you find out? And, are you living it well? If not, journal and pray the answer will come.

Spend a lot of time exploring this.

Journal about this at least once a week.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The Journaling and Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

MY PERSONAL JOURNALING

My last blog post shared my new blogging and writing vision. This is a continuation of those thoughts.

The idea came to me on what my blogging goal of 2013 was and let me know how to organize my blog posts and what blog posts to write in 2013. My passion is teaching, encouraging, and inspiring people to journal daily and get all of their memories on the page in 2013 and beyond.

I also realize I want to publish all of my blog posts in book format. But, it needs to be organized. So, how?

I decided, through the promoting the Lord, to write the first ever:

"THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 2013"

Wherein, I will take all of my blog posts and organize them from November 2012 to 31 December 2013 into THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 2013. I will offer an ongoing FREE and unedited version throughout 2013 in my Smashwords store. Then, in 2014, I will add material,edit it, and publish it for a cost on Smashwords and Amazon Kindle and a paper version on Amazon.

This has never been done before in history. No dictionary or encyclopedia has ever been written on journaling or memoir.

Then, in 2014, I will write new material and blog posts and will add them to the 2013 edition and publish the newest version in 2015. I will do this every year as long as I am able.

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am. This is my niche. This is my life purpose. I now know why I was called by the Lord to be a journalkeeper and writer, along with teacher and encourager of journaling and memoir writing.

I am so excited to go on this journey with you. After all, there would not be this blog, my Google+ Journaling and Storykeeping Community, or the thought of this encyclopedia without you.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

My Blogging and Writing Goal: A Journaling and Storykeeping Encyclopedia

MY PERSONAL JOURNALING

MY BLOG'S GOAL?
Yesterday, I started to get a clear vision as to what I want exactly from this blog. In other words, I asked myself, What is my overall goal and the main objective of this journaling and storykeeping blog?

The answer that came to mind ended up being a little intimidating. I want to create the world's largest journaling, storykeeping, and memoir resource, including journaling prompts.

Huh. Was this presumptuous or even possible?

I started to do some research and discovered if I keep going the way I am going with my blogging, I will most likely accomplish that goal by the end of this year.

Huh. (Another one.) Isn't that interesting? I could not help but think to myself.

This thought kept plaguing me since I thought of it. It has been in the back of my mind and has not let go of its grip on my heart.

So, how can I accomplish this? He answer is obvious. All I need to do is write journaling exercises and prompts, along with blog posts on everything regarding journaling, storykeeping, and memoir. That is too easy. This is my passion and has been for almost 30 years.

I keep thinking on this and just a few minutes ago, I got the idea to write a journaling and storykeeping encyclopedia. Every year, I can write a new version of it and add material to it. Throughout the year, I will offer it for free on Smashwords, but at the end of the year, I will edit it, add material, and publish it.

So, that is what I am going to do.

Welcome to: THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING ENCYCLOPEDIA, 1ST EDITION. (Real name is pending.)

This is what I am going to write in 2013.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Color Journaling Exercise or Prompt

Make a list of every color you can think of... include at least: white, brown, black, red, orange, yellow, tan or taupe, green, blue, purple, pink, lavender, grey, silver, gold, and turquoise.

List all the memories you can think of for each color.

Write a lengthy journal entry of each memory.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

2013 and January 30-Day Journaling Classes Homework

Day 7

The homework for today is two-parts:

1 Add more memories until you have at least 125 memories listed.

2 Pick one of the 125 memories and start to write a long journaling entry on it. Write at least one-page. Make sure to ask who, what, why, when, where, and how questions and answer when. Make sure to include all of the five senses.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Blog and Journaling Suggestion

I just wanted to share a suggestion with you. If you want to get the most out of his blog, and out of journaling, read this blog from the very beginning. You will discover a progression of what I share.

Only do that, though, as time allows. If you are already reading the blog, then keep doing what you are doing and go back to the beginning as you can. Then, you will get the most out of this blog and out of journaling.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author