Journaling Retreat: Day 2: Letters

I hope your 5-Day Journaling Retreat got off to a good start yesterday. If it didn’t, the beauty is you have today to try to do so.

Today’s Theme is: Letters
Write several of the following letters in your journal. It’s up to you later if you really send them or not. But, you definitely want a copy of each in your journal regardless.

Letter writing is when we write for the sole purpose of reaching out to another. We express our thoughts, feelings, dreams, fears, ambitions, hopes, challenges, and everything in-between. We share a part of ourselves with another who cannot be by our side.

So, what letters are we going to write?

1 Write a letter to each of the 10 most influential people in your life who have helped you become the person you are today. They do not have to be alive, nor do they have to be someone you know. They can be authors, historical figures, etc. You might only get a few done today, but in time, do at least 10 people. Ideally, it would be 25 people.

2 Write a letter to yourself for you to receive the day you are born.

3 Write a letter to yourself to read when you are old.

4 Write a letter to someone who hurt you.

5 Write a letter to someone you hurt.

6 Write a letter to someone who inspires you.

7 Write a letter to God.

8 Write a letter to someone you know who died.

9 Write a letter to your closest friend.

10 Write a letter to someone you haven't seen in years.

11 Write a letter to each of your favorite book, movie, and TV show characters.

12 Write a letter to yourself in 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, and every 5 years until age 110. Where have you come, where are you, where do you hope to be, and so on. And write whatever else you want to say. Be thorough. Try to write at least 3 pages of single-spaced type for each of these letters.

13 Write a letter to your spouse in case you die.

14 Write a letter to your spouse and tell them how much you love them. Remember everything you’ve been through.

15 Write a letter to each fo your children and tell them how much you love them. Remember everything you’ve been through.

16 Write a letter to each of your children in case you die.

17 Write a letter to people of the Bible.

18 Write a letter to anyone else you can think of and for whatever reason.

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

Journaling 101

I am part of a collaborative blog with Lynda and Raymonde. It's called  THE JOURNALING PATH.

Every Wednesday and Friday, I contribute and write for a collaborative blog called, THE JOURNALING PATH, with Lynda and Raymonde. I am writing a Journaling 101 series every Wednesday and giving a journaling exercise or prompt every Friday. But, read Lynda's or Raymonde's stuff, too! They are much more eloquent than I am and have a wonderful take of their own in the world of journaling. Also check out their blogs and their Google+ communities. (Take a look at the side of my blog and their blogs are listed there. Or, go to The Journaling Path and their information is there.) They are wonderful resources to add to your storehouse of journaling material.

My Journaling 101 series started three weeks ago and is for beginning journalkeepers and for those who want to get another take on journaling.  Here are the blog posts so far and in order:

~ http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com/2013/01/journaling-101-introduction.html

~ http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com/2013/01/journaling-101-reasons-to-journal.html

~ http://thejournalingpath.blogspot.com/2013/01/journaling-101-i-now-have-journal-now.html

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

The key to journaling

Do what works for you.

It's that simple.

Do what works for you as you journal daily.

Everything on this blog is a suggestion. You are your own best judge. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Ideas for journaling entries: The news

Did you make sure to write about the Algerian hostage situation and the Inauguration of the president?

It's important to put news in your journals--to help bring proper context of your journal entries, how the world is, how the nation is, and how it impacts your life. every news story impacts us. Every story does, after all. 

So, do not forget to write about those two things, and anything else in the news that captures your eye or heart.

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

What are your journaling plans for 2013? A journaling exercise or prompt

So, what are your journaling plans for 2013?

What do you want to work on? 

What is your dream?

What are your goals? 

What do you hope to accomplish? 

What do you hope to change?

What do you want to focus on in 2013?

How will your journal help 2013 be your best year yet? (And every year thereafter, may it also be said that it is the greatest year of your life yet.)

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

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

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

How to Do a Mind Map in List Form

Do you know how to do a mind map--or what that is? Check out this link if you have no idea what I am talking about or how to do it: 

http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk/make-mind-map.htm

This blog post is on how to do the lazy person's version. It's the mind map simplified  you might say. 

It's like doing a SOC (Stream of Consciousness) Journaling, or Free Association,  but it's in list form. 

MIND MAP LIST: HOW TO DO ONE

* Figure out a word you want to focus on and journal more about at this time. It can be anything really. 

* Write the word at the top of a page in your journal. 

* Then, write any word or short phrase that comes to mind after that word. 

* Keep writing words or short phrases as they come to mind, as long as it applies to the original word.

* When you get stuck and cannot figure out what else to write, re-read your original word.

* Do this for ten minutes or more. 

* Then, pick another word from this original list and do a Mind Map List of it.

* Make sure to journal about each of the words you used in this list. There is a reason why they came to mind and why they came to mind when they did. 

SAMPLE:

2012

Old year

New Year is 2013

Tough year was 2012

Lots of news

Summer Olympics

Elections

Aurora Movie Theater Shooting

Jamestown 

Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

Andy Griffith died

Kate Middleton is pregnant

2012

Whitney Houston died--shocker, but not

2012

12 months

2012

Vacation

2 visits

Busy year

Recommitted to journaling

Hurricane Sandy

TV Shows Revenge, Grimm, Once Upon a Time

Neil Armstrong died

Felix Baumgartner and his jump (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Baumgartner)

Kindle Fire HD 4G

Samsung iii

Tim Tebow

Payton Manning

Denver Broncos

Storykeeper 2121 blog

Family Tree

You get the idea. That's how to do a mind map list. 

A Review Day

Take some time today to have a Review Day of your journaling in 2012.

If at all possible, do a review of 2012 until 31 December 2012.

Here is where to find the information as to how to review your journaling for 2012:
http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/11/review-of-your-journaling-with.html

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Storykeeper

Priorities and 2012 and 2013: A journaling exercise or prompt

* List the priorities in your life for the year 2012. 

* Put them in priority order. Number them.

* Go through each item and review and analyze how you lived up to keeping it  it your life. What did you do well in keeping it a priority--and in its rightful order? What did you not do so well?

* What would you want to improve next year? What will you want to repeat next year? What do you want to change for next year? 

* What are your priorities for 2013--in numerical and priority order? 

* Why is each item your priority? 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper, Writer, & Author

Letter from your journal about 2012 journaling exercise and prompt

If your journal could write you a letter, what would it say to you about your 2012?

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

How to get the most out of your journaling

Do you want to know the secret about how to get the most out of your journaling?

The answer is simple: Journal every single day.

Journal as often as you can throughout the day.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

One of a kind journal and journaling

Do you know what I love about journaling? Well, besides everything, this is what I love:

Each journal is one of a kind.

Every journal entry is unique.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Write a letter to your journal journaling exercise or prompt and 2013 preparation

Before 2012 ends, take some time to do this journaling exercise or prompt in preparation for 2013.

JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
Write a letter to your journal and tell it what you expect of it for the year 2013. Be very specific and thorough.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

2012 Journaling: A journaling exercise or prompt

Think of your journaling in 2012.

JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
* What do you think of your journaling overall in 2012?
* What does your journal mean to you?
* Describe your 2012 journaling.
* What did you like most about your journal in 2012?
* Did you journal enough in 2012?
* What do you want to do more of in your journaling in 2012?
* Who, besides you, did you journal most about in 2012?
* Where did you journal in 2012?
* When do you journal the most?

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Journaling Preparation for 2013: A journaling exercise or prompt

2013

I recommend starting with a new journal on 01 January 2013. If you need to buy one, do. If you do digital journaling, start a new journal now as you do this journaling exercise or prompt. 

One the first page of your journal, write the following:

* Your name

* Write the date: January 2013

* Your 1-word theme for 2013

* Your 6-word theme for 2013

* Your 6-word goal for 2013

* Your inspirational quote for 2013

* Your goal for January 2013 

* Your inspirational quote for January 2013

Journaling Tip or Hint: Do this for every month you journal as well as for each new journal. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper & Storykeeper

2013 Dream: A journaling exercise or prompt

2013

JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
* What dream do you want to accomplish in 2013? Why? How?
* What goals do you need to set in order to make your dream come true?

Make sure to put the dream and each goal in your planner or schedule
in order to bring the dream and goals to pass.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

2013 One word theme journaling exercise or prompt

2013

Let us take some time over the next five days to prepare for the year 2013.

One of the ways to do this is to come up with an one-word theme you
want to focus on for the year.

It can be something you want to do, change, or focus on for the year.

JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT
Jot down some ideas until you know precisely which one word you want
to focus on this year.

When you do come up with the one word, put it on the very first page
of every journal you create that year. And make sure daily, weekly,
monthly, and quarterly to focus on your one word theme. Also, review
and see how he word changes your life in 2013.

My one word theme for 2013 is MEMORIES. That is what I want to focus
on and pursue.

Please tell me yours. Add a comment to the end of this blog post,
sense an email, or tell me on my Google+ community. I would love to
hear yours!

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

TIME OFF--EVEN FROM JOURNALING

While it is true that I journal every day, I also think that it is imperative to take some time off from everything every now and then--and I mean everything. I call it my extended Sabbath and/or vacation. It is important to refuel and recharge.

The last few months have been a busy time for my husband and me. Actually, busy does not quite cut it in description. We have been slammed. We have barely had time to breathe.

Needless to say, we have taken some desperately needed time off from everything. It has been quite delightful for this four day weekend. We have been able to sit on our rears and watch movies, read, enjoy one another's company, and relax. That has been a blessing.

I even took time off from journaling. Gulp. Yep. I sure have. I needed it, believe it or not. Time off from everything is sometimes more important so we can put more of our heart and soul into things later. This was one of those times.

That being said, it was not easy. I have felt a chunk of my heart was missing because I took time off from journaling. But, it was worth it. Do you want to know why? It's because I have more to offer my journaling this next week. I will be refreshed and ready to tackle preparation for the New Year.

(Written on Christmas Day)

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

(Image Credit: Microsoft Online Images)

The Journey of a Journal

The best journey we can go on in our lives is in our journals. It is the best exploration we can do and is worth every moment.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

A Change of Life

A journal can change your life--if you let it.

The question is, will you? Will you let your journal change you? Will you do what it takes to let your journal change your life?

Journaling, every day, as much as possible--and reviewing and evaluating your experiences and lessons learned is the key.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Journaling Retreat: Checking In and Journaling Exercise

Journaling Retreat

We are over halfway through the day and should have quite the list of memories so far. 

JOURNALING EXERCISE:

* So, how is your memory list coming? Is it going better or worse than you imagined?

* How long is your list?

* What memories have surprised you?

* What have you forgotten and remembered?

* How have you compiled the list so far? What has worked and hasn't worked for you?

* Pick three memories to write a paragraph more about at this time.

* What memories have you made at different restaurants? List them.

* What foods and recipes remind you of memories? List the memories. 

TIPS

Have you tried to re-read your list as you go--to see if any other memories sre stirred up and remembered? 

Have you talked with someone else about your memories and see if they could help you jog your memories? 

MY PROGRESS

I have 20 pages so far of my list  But, I've been emailing back and forth with my mom who has reminded me of some memories and I have done the same with her.  Then, when I see her emails, it reminds me of something else. This has been helpful.

But, now I am getting sleepy and have slowed down with my list  So, I am going to try to switch it up for a bit and think of all my favorites--of anything and see what memories I can think of associated with each.