Christmas Journaling: Part 1 (or Birthday, Anniversary, or Valentine) (AKA Special People Journaling)

THE IDEA OF SPECIAL PEOPLE JOURNALING, GIFT JOURNALING, OR SPECIAL OCCASION JOURNALING

I just came up with a wonderful idea to give the special people in your life. (And, I am quite excited about it!) It can be used for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentines, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents' Day,  or any other special day you decide. 

WHAT IS IT?

So, what is it? It's putting together a journal of your journaling about them--and giving it to them as a gift. This also becomes a legacy for them to leave behind. And, make sure to keep a copy for yourself and your legacy. 

HOW DO YOU DO SPECIAL PEOPLE JOURNALING?

~ 1st, make a list of the special people in your life. List all of them. In time, do a Special Journaling for all of them.

~ Put them in priority/sequential order.

~ Think of the dates that you would like to give each person their Special Journal and write those beside each person in the next year. Then, do the math and write how many days you have until that date on the same line. 

~ For Christmas 2012 Journaling, since it is the 29th of November already, I recommend taking your top 3 or 4. Then, do a more extensive journal on them for next year as well. In fact, you might make it a Christmas Tradition. Also, I would think of taking another 3 or 4 and do a Special Journaling for them each year. Make it a tradition. For spouses and children, I would do this several times a year and at New Years or Christmas, I would combine the previous year into one big special journal--and add additional material. For aging parents and grandparents, I would do this a couple times a year as well. 

~ Do one person at a time.

~ Figure out how many days you have for that individual between now and the time you want to give them the journal. Then, do as many 10-minute chunks of journaling (the below journaling exercise) as you can. Put these on your planner to do in at least monthlysegments, if not every week or couple of days or so.

SPECIAL PEOPLE JOURNALING EXERCISE

Do the following in at least 10-minute segments (chunks) each--and do them as often as you can until you want to present them with the journal as a gift. Set a timer.

Make sure to do a SOC on each of the below items, make lists, and  so on. Of each item below, do a journaling entry on each of the things you listed.

~ Do a SOC (Stream of Consciousness) Journaling about them. Who are they to you and in your life?

~ When you think of them, what do you think of?

~ What qualities do they have that you love?

~ What memories have you made with them--recently and in the past? (Make sure to make an extensive list of each.)

~ What have they taught you?

~ What have they meant to you?

~ How have they shaped you to be the person you are?

~ If you could tell them anything right now, what would it be?

~ What does their home mean to you? 

~ Use your 5-senses and journal about them.

~ Make a list of items in their home, things in their wardrobe, meals they cook, places you go with them (or have , etc. Do 10-minutes journaling chunks--SOCs or lists--about as many of these items as you can.

~ Look at photos you have of them and journal about the memories behind each photograph.

~ Journal about anything else that comes to mind. 

TIP: Make sure to do the above items over and over--seeing what new ideas come to mind. Make sure to journal about each point you write about each item. Do that as many times as you can as well. 

TIP: Keep in mind that if any other thoughts or memories come to mind about that person, you get it in your journal. 

CHRISTMAS 2012 JOURNALING TIP: Take the top three or four people in your life tops and do the above items. Make sure to figure out your calendar and how much time you will need in order to do this for each person on your list. You also might think of doing this for New Years and Valentines. 

What a special gift to give the special people in your life. Talk about personal and memorable. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The Remembering Your Present Journal Keeping Series

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

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

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)