Journaling Retreat Tips: What do you do?

How is it possible to have enough to do in a journaling retreat that lasts, ideally  12-15 hours a day for 1 day, let alone anything more than that? Is something you might wonder.

It's easy, if we have lots of choices. So, what are the choices?

* Read the blog post from Monday and all of the links I have there and do them.

* Do lots of Stream of Consciousness writing--where you write for a 10-15 minute block anything that comes to mind. The key is to write fast. If you run out of anything to say, either write, "I don't know what to say," or rewrite the most powerful thing you wrote in the session. And keep repeating either, or both, until you know what to say.

* Do several journaling exercises or prompts. Look throughout this blog. Download a free copy of my book, THE JOURNALING AND STORYKEEPING ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 2013 and do anything found there. Look at the other blogs I have recommended and listed on the side of my blog, including THE JOURNALING PATH blog. Trust me between all these, you have enough material to write for a lifetime.

* Make lists. List your memories, all the people in your life, all your favorite possessions, all of the places you've lived and work, your favorites of anything, TV shows you have watched in your life, movies you have seen, books you have read... Then, do a journaling entry about any and all of them.

* Look at your photographs and journal about them.

* What photos do you not have that you wish you had? Write about them, what happened, what you experienced, and why you wish you had them.

* Go to Flickr and find photos to inspire you and write about.

* Look up inspirational quotes and journal about them.

* Journal anything your heart desires.

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

The Sign of a True Journaling Retreat

What is the sign that you are taking a real journaling retreat?

Answer: You are still in your pajamas at 10:00 in the morning on a weekday.

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

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 Retreat

Every blog post I am doing this week will be to help inspire you to journal. Therefore, do all of the exercise or prompts listed.

Also, search my blog for more journaling ideas if you get stuck and are not sure what to journal. There is lots of material you can find on this blog. Trust me. As it is, while this is a new blog, there is enough material here to keep you busy for years and years.

~ Stacy Duplease
Journal Keeper & Memoir Writer

28 January-01 February 2013 5-Day Journaling Retreat

Welcome to a 5-Day Journaling Retreat. This week is meant to help us focus more on our journaling and taking time to refresh.

Let me start by saying, it does not have to be these dates for you to take part in a 5-Day Journaling Retreat. Take one whenever you can and read these notes and instructions.

Ideally, we will be out of town. However, how likely is this? If, however, we have put it on our calendar 5-years out, we might be able to be out of town, holed up somewhere, enjoying journaling for fives days and nights.

I put it on my calendar and have it planned out even more than 5 years in advance, but that doesn’t mean I can afford to get out of town whenever I desire. Also, there are some obligations I have to meet at times. But, I can take those 5 days off of work.

And, if I cannot, then, this is what I can do--and I assume most of you reading this are in the same boat. So, here is what you do:
~ What is the average amount of time you spend journaling each day? Make sure to journal more than that the next 5 days. At a minimum, you will journal for at least an hour longer than you normally do--and do so for the next 5 days. Ask your family to give you the time. Do not answer emails, do not answer your cell, and ignore all social media as well during the time you journal.
~ Journal how much you can.
~ Journal when you can.
~ Do this for 5 days.
~ It does not have to be these specific dates that I am writing for this retreat. Pick any 5 you can.

A SELF-PACED RETREAT
See the previous paragraph.

WHAT DO YOU JOURNAL FOR 5-DAYS?
1 See the section below for some suggestions. Read EACH of the links, please. And, do as many of them as possible. Also, make sure, no matter what, you add the journaling retreat suggestions made on your calendars/in your planners for at least the next 5 years.

2 Journal about anything you want.

3 Write about 5 memories at least and get as much on the page about them. That’s one per day for 5 days.

4 Do at least 10 items on your Future Journaling List--that’s two per day for 5 days.

5 What is something that keeps coming to your mind? Write about that.

6 Write about your plans for this week, this month, the next 3 months, the next 6 months, the next year, the next 5 years, the next 10 years, the next 20 years, the next 25 years, and beyond.

7 HOW are you? Write about this.

8 How is your journaling coming along? What are you getting out of it? What do you hope to get out of it this week, this month, the next 3 months, the next 6 months, the next year, the next 5 years, the next 10 years, the next 20 years, the next 25 years, and beyond.

9 Review your journaling and do this link:
http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/11/review-of-your-journaling-with.html

JOURNALING RETREAT SUGGESTIONS
Take a look at these blog posts and apply to a 5-day journaling retreat:

~ http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/11/journaling-retreat.html

~ http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-journaling-retreat-part-2.html

~http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-storykeeper-odyssey-journaling.html

~http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/12/another-memory-snapshot-or-mining-your.html

~http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/12/journaling-retreat-stirring-up-memories.html

ARE YOU PARTICIPATING?
It does not matter when--January of 2013 or November 2050, please let me know if you are participating in this retreat.

For those of you who are participating in January 2013, I would love to dialogue with you at the Journaling & Storykeeping Google + Community, or on blog post comments.

ENJOY!

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

Event: 5-Day Journaling Retreat

How is your 5-Day Journaling Retreat? The dates for this 5-Day Journaling Retreat are: 21 January-25 January 2013.

However, you can look at this blog post at any time, even years from now. The dates don't matter  What is important is at least once a year having a 5-Day Journaling Retreat in your life. When you have one, look at this blog post, along with the other posts I post this week.

Also, you can still read these posts and have a mini-retreat every day of these 5 days. Your mini-retreat can be one hour or fourteen. It's all up to you and what your schedule can afford.

Have you started it? Do you not have the time to do it this week?

Yesterday was when it was supposed to start for me. However, I forgot that my husband had the day off, thanks to it being MLK day. So, I am starting my retreat today and will extend it through Saturday or Sunday. 

However, yesterday, my husband and I went to my most favorite spot on earth. We went to Historic Jamestown. I get tears welling up in my eyes just writing about it, never mind thinking of Jamestown. And I sure am now.

Why the tears? And why am I mentioning this in a blog post about having a journal retreat, you might wonder.

As you have learned about me by now, I say and do everything for a purpose. It's intentional and deliberate  I am conscious of the words I write and when I write them. I am also this way about journaling, memoir writing, and when I am having a journaling retreat. I am even more so when I teach/coach, inspire, and encourage people to journal--and what to do with journaling and memoir writing. Therefore  mentioning Jamestown is important to me and to this blog post.

Why? 

Did you read the part when I said I went to my most favorite spot on the planet a few paragraphs back? This is important to my journaling retreat--and can be a lesson for you and your journaling retreat. 

If you cannot get away, and I strongly suggest you do at least once a year, for your journaling retreat, you can take mini getaways. Go to your favorite spot that inspires you and makes you feel your muse is alive and on fire. Go to where you feel the hand of God--and where he speaks to you. Go to your heart's place. Go. 

I went to Jamestown yesterday to feel reconnected with the place and to speak with God. I went there to prepare for this 5-Day Journaling Retreat. I knew if I couldn't be there, visiting there for even a couple of hours was better than nothing. It would be what I can reflect on during my journaling retreat.

If I couldn't go to Jamestown  I would remember what it's like to be there, and read past journaling entries of when I visited, along with looked at the photos I have taken there. I've taken thousands. That brings me there. That way, even when we move out of state one day, I can still return. 

Now, what is your favorite place  Go there. If you can, go there physically. If not, go there in your mind, heart, and spirit. 

And... Journal.

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Journaling Retreat: Stirring Up the Memories

Journaling Retreat

Well, we are about halfway through our second day of our journaling retreat. I just thought I would check in with you.

JOURNALING EXERCISE AND PROMPT:

* So, how are you really? 

* How has today's journaling retreat been for you?

* How is it for you to remember the memories--the good, the bad, the ugly, and the indifferent? 

* Has stirring up the memories been a good or tough thing? 

* What are your favorite memories that you've listed?

* What are the most powerful memories you've listed?

* What are the most life-changing memories you've listed?

* What has surprised you?

* What memory snapshots do you want to do? 

* What have you learned through writing your memory list?

* Is there anything you want to share?

* What do you want to write more about? (Which memories?)

WHAT NOW?

So, what should we do now that we are almost halfway through our day? 

* Keep doing whatever journaling prompt or style you want to associated with this memory list retreat. 

* Do some memory snapshots.

* Write a paragraph of journaling of 7 different memories.

* Write 1-page for 1 memory.

* Etc. Etc. Etc.: Do whatever you want to do. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journaling Retreat: The Day After

Journaling Retreat

Why don't we grab our favorite beverage and some food, if we haven't done that already? Then, while we are at it, we should probably grab our journals so we can start our day of journaling.

In this case, we are on Day 2 of our Journaling Retreat. However, this blog post can be used in the future for the day after a journaling retreat. It was a retreat in which our goal is to get as many memories down on the page from our lives as possible: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the indifferent--all of them. Today, we will spend another day doing much the same. However, there will be a few differences.

Therefore, whether you have a 1-day journaling retreat or a 14 day one, this blog post will provide more information for having a journaling retreat of your own--or joining me on my planned journaling retreats. 

JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT:

* So, how did your journaling retreat go yesterday? What did you think about it?

* Did it go as well as you hoped--or not so well?

* How many pages of journaling did you get done? (But, remember  it's about quality--not quantity. I am asking this question merely as a point of reference.)

YESTERDAY

I had several thoughts yesterday as I made my memory list:

1 "Wow! I forgot that."

2 "That reminds me."

When I would write or re-read my memories, they would remind me of other memories.)

3 "What perfect timing before Christmas."

I get sentimental at Christmastime very year. this year is no exception. It was a wonderful time to focus on memories. It gave me a big warm fuzzy on the inside for the most part. (Note to self: Do this every year just before Christmas. It was worthwhile.)

3 "I'm stuck."

I would get stuck. I would get to the point I didn't know what to do, think, or write next.

4 "I'm tired." 

By the end of the day I was exhausted. I could not write another word until I took a break.

Yesterday went better, and worse, than I imagined at the start of the day. I do not know about all of you. Also, I had never done such an intense day of memory listing. Never. Not like that. The truth is I would do it all again--and will today. But, I learned a few things I will do differently today, which I will share with you in a moment.

MY STORYKEEPER ODYSSEY OF 2013

My goal for 2013 is to get all of my memories down on the page and in my journal. I also want to write about each of those memories and focus on writing a great deal on a few of them. I want to look back at these memories from today's eyes and see where I have come, where I am, where I am headed, and where I want to go from here. 

I want to look at how my experiences, memories, and stories have shaped who I am today. I also want to make sure I write the stories of others' in my lives as well--since their stories have undoubtedly shaped mine. 

TODAY'S JOURNALING RETREAT

Our goal of this 2-day journaling retreat is to get as many memories listed from our lives as possible in our journals. We want to try to write enough of a description that we can look back it a year from now and know what memory we referred to as we listed our memories. 

Make sure to get as many memories down on the page as possible, using the prompts described in this blog post:

http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-storykeeper-odyssey-journaling.html

I also recommend doing as many of the prompts as possible, and a few of your own, so you don't get too tired, too bored, or get to the point you are tried and need a break. Keep it fresh.

If you do get stuck, pick one of the memories you have listed and write more about it. In fact, you might want to do a Memory Snapshot of the memory. 

MEMORY SNAPSHOT JOURNALING: 

It's okay to do steps 1-5 with just one memory. You can also just do #1-2 for one memory or #1-5. However, just remember how the more you do, the more you'll get out of this exercise. What you want to do exactly is up to you. 

~ 1 List in your journal at least 5 memories you have or haven't mentioned previously. Give each of the 5 memories a memory title, date (or at least approximate season or month as well as year), how old you were, a paragraph description, and how it's shaped your life.

~ 2 Choose 3 of the memories and write about a page about each. (Do one paragraph or 10 pages--depending on your time and your drive that day). List each of the 6 senses of: discernment/intuition, smell, sound, taste, touch, and sight regarding each memory. Also, answer who, what, where, when, why, how, and what-if questions in regards to that memory. (You may also choose to do a SOC about them as well.)

~ 3 Choose 2 of the memories which stand out to you the most and take 3-7 snapshots/photos of the memory with your imaginary camera. If the memory is crystal clear and you remember lots of detail, make it 7 snapshots. If it's foggy, make it 3. If it's in-between, you decide how many snapshots. Then, describe each in your journal. This will add about a paragraph per snapshot per memory.

~ 4 Take 1 snapshot from each memory and write it from the perspective of a stranger who's looking into the moment. Remember, the stranger doesn't know any of the people or events in the snapshot until the stranger sees this snapshot for the first time. Be descriptive.

~ 5 Plan on what future memories you might want to do this with later. 

IT'S THAT TIME

Shall we get started on our journaling retreat today? I will write more blog posts periodically to help us along. 

~ Stacy Duplease

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.

Journaling Retreat: How is your memory list coming along?

How is your memory list coming? 

So far, I have 10 pages total. But, I am putting an extra blank line between each item on my list to break it up so the list doesn't all run together for me. 

I am making note of this so we can note our progress--not to brag or make us feel guilty. It's meant to inspire us to create a longer list faster instead. 

Let's see how many we can list now! 

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

Journaling Retreat Suggestion: Memory List Making with a Loved One or Friend

Get someone else to help list memories with you. And, write them down. 

Mom and I are doing this today--and it's awesome to share this together--and what a perfect time of year to do so. 

How we are doing our memories lists is through her listing memories to me in an email and sending it to me--and me doing the same. When we see one another's memories together, it sparks more for us to list. We then email another list. 

As we send email lists  I am cutting and pasting into a Word document for my total list of all my memories. 

We are also creating a new memory doing this with one another. 

This might be something to do as a family at Christmas, by the way. 

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

The Storykeeper Odyssey Journaling Retreat

Journaling Retreat

This Journaling Retreat is the start of my 2013 Journaling Project: 

My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013

This journaling retreat and next year for you can mean starting to get your entire life on the page. It's the start of leaving a legacy. It's the Introduction to your life. It will also be a good preparation if you want to write your memoirs one day. Your journaling entries are the first step. 

THE GOAL OF THIS JOURNALING RETREAT

The goal of the journaling retreat of 20-21 December is to get as many memories listed on the pages of our journals as possible. It can be in literal lists or however you want to do it. You can do a mind map, list, paragraph form, written on the page with no punctuation, other than bullet points or stars to set them off. You can number them or not. You can make each a different ink color. You can do each in a different font. Do whatever strikes your fancy and have fun with it. 

The goal is to get every single memory listed on the page that we can. We want to be thorough. If we take the next two days to do so, we have the potential of getting hundreds of memories listed.

We will not write more than a sentence to let us know enough to recall the memory when we return to the list later. For example:

My Golden Retriever Sunny, the log over the fence, when I was about 7 or 8. 

Or:

Visiting Mom at the hospital after her hernia operation. How old was I? Five? Ask Mom or Dad to verify.

You see, I am giving just enough information that if I do not return to the list for a year, I can still retrieve the memory and write more completely about it. This is the goal. 

WHY GET ALL OF OUR MEMORIES ON THE PAGE IN OUR JOURNALS?

The 14th of December 2012 was a good reminder to us all when there was the Shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school. We, or our loved ones, could die tomorrow. This is a hard fact, but nevertheless is quite true. Needless to say, don't we want to write all of our stories, and our stories with them, while we still can? There is no time like the present.

Also, I come from a family with dementia  Do I need to say anything more? One day, I will forget my memories... Journaling will preserve them.

And, I know someone who suffered from amnesia and forgot several years in their life. They asked their spouse to be their memory and their spouse to be their memory.

Or, what about the parent who gets run over by a bus? What would their children have to remember them by? Or, what about a sickness or a stroke? 

Or, what about for your future or unborn child? 

Or, what about wanting to remember your life--because you are proud of every year you've lived and count yourself blessed?

Or, what about wanting to remember what God has done in your life? 

These are some of the reasons why we should get it all down on the page.

WHERE DO WE START?

I am going to list some suggestions below. Do them in whatever order you want, in whatever way you want. Do each of the below as often as necessary or as you want. Just remember the goal: Get as many memories listed in your journal as possible.

* Do a SOC (Stream of Consciousness)--where you write down whatever comes to mind, the moment it comes to mind, as fast as you can. 

* List the decades of your life and go through each decade and list as many memories as you can.

* List your most powerful memories.

* List your favorite memories.

* List the life challenges you've had.

* List the successes you've had.

* List when you've come up short.

* List all the places you've lived and memories associated with each.

* List all the jobs you've had and the memories associated with each.

* Do a mind-map.

* List all the people in your life and the memories associated with each.

* Go to each room in your house. List as many objects as you can see and write the memories associated with each.

* Think of what each home you've lived in looks like and the objects found there. List the memories associated with each.

* Where have you traveled? List the memories associated with each. 

* What are your favorite songs of all-time. List them and write the memories associated with each.

* TV shows? List them and write the memories associated with each.

* Movies? List them and write the memories associated with each.

* Books? List them and write the memories associated with each.

* Authors? List them and write the memories associated with each.

* Take out old photos. Write the memories associated with each.

* What photographs are missing or were never taken? List them and write the memories associated with each.

* When did you go... to the zoo? to the museum? to other touristy, cultural places  List them and write the memories associated with each.

* List all of your pets and write the memories associated with each.

* Anything else that comes to mind. Etc. Etc. Etc. 

~ Stacy Duplease

A Journaling Retreat: Part 2: An Introduction and Planning

Journaling Retreat

Part 1 of this blog post series can be found here:

http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/2012/11/journaling-retreat.html

Every month, I do some type of journaling retreat between 1 and 14 days. Most of the time, I do it at home or at least go hang out somewhere else, like Starbucks or Barnes & Noble. Ideally, though, I would go to Jamestown or Yorktown and sit there and write. 

My latest journaling retreat is today and tomorrow. I, unfortunately, do not have the time to getaway and write, except maybe to Barnes & Noble. However  that's okay. Since I set up my new desk, my office is quite fresh to me and inviting. I actually would really lvoe to do my full retreat here. It's like a christening of the new desk.

NEXT JOURNALING RETREAT: 22-26 JANUARY 2013

This is the next planned journaling retreat I have on my calendar. 

SCHEDULED JOURNALING RETREATS

The other journaling retreats I have planned are:

07 February 2013

19 February

26-29 March

18-19 April

10 May

24-28 June

12 July

1-2 August

23-27 September

14-18 October

21 November

16-20 December

YOUR JOURNALING RETREAT

Even if you cannot take all day each day, would you like to join me in a journaling retreat? If you can give it at least one more hour each day than you do now, that is the start of taking a journaling retreat. Of course, the more time you can give it, the better. 

I apologize for not giving you more warning about this journaling retreat. However, I will still post blog posts as if you can take the time and join me in the retreat.

SCHEDULE THEM

I recommend getting the other journaling retreats on your calendar now so nothing else can get in the way of you taking the retreats in the future. If these dates don't work for you, you can always refer to these blog posts at a time that works better for you. 

NEXT

Stay tuned to this blog and you will get your instructions for what we're doing today for the Journaling Retreat for today and tomorrow.

~ Stacy Duplease

A 2-DAY Journaling Retreat

Thursday and Friday of this week, 20-21 December 2012, I am going to have a personal 2-day journaling retreat.

I will start to get a list of all my life stories that I want to make sure to write about and get down for permanent record.

Would you care to join me?

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Journaling Retreat

PLANS

I am taking a 3-Day Journaling Retreat this week (Wednesday-Friday). I will also do two days next week, but am not sure which days at this point. I am doing it from home, by the way.

WHAT IS A JOURNALING RETREAT?

So, what is a Journaling Retreat exactly? It's when you take one day to ten days of focused time to do nothing but journal. I plan on a minimum of 8 hours per day. 

PLANNING A JOURNALING RETREAT

As a matter of fact, I have taken my planner/calendar out at least five years and have my plans for my Journaling Retreats on it already. I do at least an one-day journaling retreat each month. And I sprinkle 2 to 10 days each month throughout the year. (For example, January might have a 7-day retreat, February a 3-day, March a 10-day, etc. I hope you get the idea.) Then, once a year, I go out another 2 to 3 years in my planner. 

If you work full time and have children, it might be difficult to commit to 8-hours per day. Do at least double of what you normally journal. And, do not let anything stop you from journaling--even if you have to give up sleep. You will find the energy you get from taking a journaling retreat will fuel your body and soul. However  do at least 5-days of a 24/7 journaling retreat once a year, along with a 2-day and 3-day.

I get my journaling retreats on my calendar so that nothing, other than hospital visit or death, can prevent me from going on one. There is no other excuse to stop me from journaling. Period.

WHY DO I PLAN MY RETREATS YEAR IN ADVANCE?

Schedules fill up quickly. Time passes quicker than we realize. That's why. 

HOW TO DO A JOURNALING RETREAT

~ Take the total amount of hours that you plan to do for this journaling retreat and divide by three. Write that figure and amount of time down. Each third represents: Past, Present, and Future.

~ PAST: Look at your past journaling entries, and your Journaling Reviews in particular. Do a Journaling Review Template on them. Do a SOC (Stream of Consciousness Journaling). Make sure to write down more past memories. Do journaling about several of your past memories. Expand these memories and their accompanying journal entries. Where have you come from? What have you experienced? How was your journaling? what have you learned?  Also, do whatever you desire. 

~ PRESENT: Where are you today? If you could live the perfect life today, what would it look like? What would it take for you to accomplish this feat? If you could do the perfect journaling today, what would it look like? What would it take for you to accomplish this feat? How is your journaling in the present? Do several SOCs. Do several journaling prompts and exercises.

~ FUTURE: Where do you want to be in the next month, 3-months, 6-months, year, 2-years, 5-years, 10-years, 20-years, 25-years, 30-years, and every 10 years thereafter? What are your dreams? What's your bucket list?  If you could live the perfect life in the future, what would it look like? What would it take for you to accomplish this feat? If you could do the perfect journaling in the future, what would it look like? What would it take for you to accomplish this feat? How is your journaling in the future? Do several SOCs. Do several journaling prompts and exercises.

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.)