Who Am I? My Life and Aim as a Journalkeeper

Who am I?

I am a journalkeeper. I am a keeper of a journal and have been for over thirty years now.

My life is one of journalkeeping, as I try to live a life of faith. The two go hand-in-hand.

My aim and purpose as a journalkeeper is to get my life on the page and remember the blessings of my life and my moments with God. 

Welcome to Faith Journaling

Welcome to a blog about faith, life, journaling, and the Bible. In other words, this blog is about the most important things in my life.

I hope this inspires you and motivates you to live a life of faith and of journaling. 

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)

Living a Memorable Life: Day 2

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE A MEMORABLE LIFE? 

Living a memorable life means to live a life of meaning, and to do so intentionally, every day. 

A memorable life is one that is remembered. 

It is living a life with the intent of making it memorable so that you can leave a legacy behind that inspires others. 

It's purposeful living.

Living a memorable life is to not take a moment for granted.

When you live a memorable life, you live the opposite of a wasted life or a life with wasted moments. 

I want this as my story every day from now and until I die. then, I want this for my epitaph:

She lived a memorable life as a memory maker, prayerful wife, and journalkeeper. 

Not a moment was wasted, taken for granted, or neglected.

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* Write your thoughts on everything you just read in your journal. 

FINE AND DANDY

All of that is fine and dandy. It sounds like it's full of platitudes and idealistic dreaming. And, it sure doesn't sound possible. Sure, it sounds nice. Who wouldn't want this said of them?

But, what if it was possible?

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* Write your thoughts on everything you just read in your journal. 

IT IS POSSIBLE TO LIVE A MEMORABLE LIFE EVERY DAY

It is possible to live a memorable life every day. Period. It's not just a dream or wishful thinking. It's do-able. It can be accomplished. 

So, why don't we start to explore how to live a memorable life?

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* Do you think it's possible to live a memorable life?

* Do you think it is possible to live a memorable life today?

* So, how can you live today as a memorable day? What does that look like? 

* Why should you live a memorable life?

* How do you want to remember your life when you reflect on it in the future?

* How do you want your live to be remembered when you die?

~ Stacy Duplease

Dreams Journaling Exercise

So, what are your dreams? What do you want to do with your life? Why don't you take some time to journal about your response to those two questions now?

Then, continue to answer the following questions:
* Are you in the process of making any of those dreams come true? Yes or no. It so, which dreams? When did you start the dream? What have you done to bring it to fruition?
* Look at each of your dreams and number them in priority order.
* Take a look at your number 1 dream first. Then, do the following with each dream:

Dreams are something that usually take years to make come true. They are not an overnight phenomenon. (NOTE: If you have some of those, they are goals. They are not dreams. Goals are short-term and are what you do to lead to making your dream come true.)

Goals are bite size chunks of actions you need to take in order to make your dream come true.

Answer these questions for each dream:
* Why is this a dream?
* How will you know when you fulfill your dream?
* What goals do you need to make your dream come true?
* Take each goal and write an action plan needed to make it be fulfilled. Then, put it on your calendar/planner.
* Every week, you need to check and see how each goal is coming along, along with each dream. You need to analyze that, along with what is working and what is not.

NOTE: Make sure to keep dreaming and make sure to dream big.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

It's the time of year for reflection

I do not know about you, but I cannot help but take the time every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas to reflect on the year. This year is no exception.

Have you taken some time to do so in your life?

By the way, at the beginning of every year, I make goals for the following year to help make my dreams come true.

I've done this every year for almost 20 years. It's a tradition in my life and is one I really value. That's what I love about journaling. I am given the chance to do so in a deeper way--and often reflect more often as I journal.

Let's take some time to reflect on the last year, the last 2-5, 5-10, 10-20, and every decade thereafter. It's the perfect time of year for it. Want to join me?

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Summarize Your Life Journaling Exercise

~ If you were to summarize your life in 1-sentence, what would it be?

~ If you were to summarize your life in 2-sentences, what would they be? 

~ If you were to summarize your life in 1-paragraph, what would it be? 

~ If you were to summarize your life in 2-paragraphs, what would they be? 

~ If you were to summarize your life in 1-page, what would it be? 

~ If you were to summarize your life in 2-pages, what would they be? 

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)

Journaling Quote

Journaling Quote

Journaling Quote

Review of Your Journaling (with Journaling Review Template)

INTRO (AND WHEN?)

Every week, month, 3 months, 6 months, year, 2 years, 4 years, 5 years, 7 years, 10 years, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 years, etc., it is important to review your journaling. 

WHAT IS REVIEW?

It is re-reading your journaling from the past periods listed previously in the Intro section of this blog post. Then, you summarize that period of time. Finally, you analyze that period of time in your journal. 

WHY?

Review is important to review for several reasons:

1. Review helps you remember--where you are, have come from, and are going--so you do not forget. 

2. It helps you to analyze things of/in your life.

3. You can see what patterns/repetition there is in your life.

4. It's important to take a look at the lessons learned.

5. Review helps you know what to change.

6. It reminds you of how far you've come.

7. It helps you to count your blessings.

8. It gives you a fresh/new perspective and point-of-view.

9. It gives you more manageable segments of your journaling so in 30 years, you do not have to re-read everything on a yearly basis. 

HOW?

Do this Review Journaling Exercise for each of the segments listed above. 

If you have journaled before, do this:

Do whichever of the steps are applicable below, according to how many days, weeks, months, and/or years of journaling you have.

1. Go week by week through your journaling and fill out the Journaling Review Template (JRT). Start at the beginning of your journaling. Do the JRT for each week until you catch-up to today. (TIP: If you did not journal every day, do the weekly for every 5 or 7-days of journaling.)

2. Take four of your weekly reviews (the Weekly JRTs) and do a month review for them (even if it's a period of time longer than a month).

3. Take three of your monthly reviews (the Monthly JRTs) and do a 3-month review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 3-months).

4. Take two of your 3-month reviews (the 3-months JRTs) and do a 6-month review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 6-months).

5. Take two of your 6-month reviews (the 6-months JRTs) and do a year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than a year). 

6. Take two of your 1-year reviews (the year JRTs) and do a 2-year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 2 years). 

7. Take two of your 2-year reviews (the 2-year JRTs) and do a 4-year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 4 years). 

8. Take two of your 2-year reviews  plus a 1-year review and do a 5-year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 5 years).  

9. Take two of your 5-year reviews (the 5-year JRTs) and do a 10-year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 5 years).  

10. Then, do the 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, and every 5 year denomination after that.

11. Do the next section after this one when you are caught up to today.

If you have not journaled before, or have done any fo the previous 11 steps, then do this:

The Journaling Review Template.

THE JOURNALING REVIEW TEMPLATE (EXERCISE) INSTRUCTIONS:

1. At the end of every week, do the Weekly JRT from your previous 7-days of journaling. 

2. If you have a total of 4 Weekly JRTs at this point, do the Monthly JRT. If not, skip to the JRT Section. 

3. If you have a total of 3 Monthly JRTs, do the 3-Month Review. If not, skip to the JRT Section. 

4. If you have a total of 2 3-Month JRTs, do the 6-Month Review. If not, skip to the JRT Section. 

5. If you have a total of 2 6-Month JRTs, do the Year Review. If not, skip to the JRT Section. 

6. If you have a total of 5 Year JRTs, do the 5-Year Review. After this, do in segments of every 5 years. If not, skip to the JRT Section.

JRT: JOURNALING REVIEW TEMPLATE

1. Write an one-sentence summary of this time period.

2. Write an one-paragraph summary of this time period.

3. List the top 7 memories, or top 7 memorable things, from this time period.

4. What went didn't go so well?

5. What went well and you want to repeat?

6. What lessons were learned?

7. What did you remember from the past?

8. What did you plan for the future?

9. Do a Stream of Consciousness (SOC) and write about whatever comes to mind about this time period. 

10. Write more about 3 of your 3 strongest memories or memorable things from this time period (as a continuation of #3). 

11. Write a 2-paragraph summary. 

12. Write anything else that comes to mind. 

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease. 17 Nov. 2012. Virginia Beach.)

Review of Your Journaling (with Journaling Review Template)

INTRO (AND WHEN?)

Every week, month, 3 months, 6 months, year, 2 years, 4 years, 5 years, 7 years, 10 years, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 years, etc., it is important to review your journaling. 

WHAT IS REVIEW?

It is re-reading your journaling from the past periods listed previously in the Intro section of this blog post. Then, you summarize that period of time. Finally, you analyze that period of time in your journal. 

WHY?

Review is important to review for several reasons:

1. Review helps you remember--where you are, have come from, and are going--so you do not forget. 

2. It helps you to analyze things of/in your life.

3. You can see what patterns/repetition there is in your life.

4. It's important to take a look at the lessons learned.

5. Review helps you know what to change.

6. It reminds you of how far you've come.

7. It helps you to count your blessings.

8. It gives you a fresh/new perspective and point-of-view.

9. It gives you more manageable segments of your journaling so in 30 years, you do not have to re-read everything on a yearly basis. 

HOW?

Do this Review Journaling Exercise for each of the segments listed above. 

If you have journaled before, do this:

Do whichever of the steps are applicable below, according to how many days, weeks, months, and/or years of journaling you have.

1. Go week by week through your journaling and fill out the Journaling Review Template (JRT). Start at the beginning of your journaling. Do the JRT for each week until you catch-up to today. (TIP: If you did not journal every day, do the weekly for every 5 or 7-days of journaling.)

2. Take four of your weekly reviews (the Weekly JRTs) and do a month review for them (even if it's a period of time longer than a month).

3. Take three of your monthly reviews (the Monthly JRTs) and do a 3-month review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 3-months).

4. Take two of your 3-month reviews (the 3-months JRTs) and do a 6-month review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 6-months).

5. Take two of your 6-month reviews (the 6-months JRTs) and do a year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than a year). 

6. Take two of your 1-year reviews (the year JRTs) and do a 2-year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 2 years). 

7. Take two of your 2-year reviews (the 2-year JRTs) and do a 4-year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 4 years). 

8. Take two of your 2-year reviews  plus a 1-year review and do a 5-year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 5 years).  

9. Take two of your 5-year reviews (the 5-year JRTs) and do a 10-year review for them (even if it's a longer period of time than 5 years).  

10. Then, do the 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, and every 5 year denomination after that.

11. Do the next section after this one when you are caught up to today.

If you have not journaled before, or have done any fo the previous 11 steps, then do this:

The Journaling Review Template.

THE JOURNALING REVIEW TEMPLATE (EXERCISE) INSTRUCTIONS:

1. At the end of every week, do the Weekly JRT from your previous 7-days of journaling. 

2. If you have a total of 4 Weekly JRTs at this point, do the Monthly JRT. If not, skip to the JRT Section. 

3. If you have a total of 3 Monthly JRTs, do the 3-Month Review. If not, skip to the JRT Section. 

4. If you have a total of 2 3-Month JRTs, do the 6-Month Review. If not, skip to the JRT Section. 

5. If you have a total of 2 6-Month JRTs, do the Year Review. If not, skip to the JRT Section. 

6. If you have a total of 5 Year JRTs, do the 5-Year Review. After this, do in segments of every 5 years. If not, skip to the JRT Section.

JRT: JOURNALING REVIEW TEMPLATE

1. Write an one-sentence summary of this time period.

2. Write an one-paragraph summary of this time period.

3. List the top 7 memories, or top 7 memorable things, from this time period.

4. What went didn't go so well?

5. What went well and you want to repeat?

6. What lessons were learned?

7. What did you remember from the past?

8. What did you plan for the future?

9. Do a Stream of Consciousness (SOC) and write about whatever comes to mind about this time period. 

10. Write more about 3 of your 3 strongest memories or memorable things from this time period (as a continuation of #3). 

11. Write a 2-paragraph summary. 

12. Write anything else that comes to mind. 

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease. 17 Nov. 2012. Virginia Beach.)

Make each day and journal entry count

Yesterday, I talked about how important it is to write at least one sentence of a journal entry every single day, 365 days per year. I cannot stress this enough. 

One sentence is bare minimum, however. The ideal is to a great deal more over time. But, start with one sentence per day. (Do 1 sentence per day for a week. Then, do 2 for a week at a minimum, then 4 sentences for a week, etc. The next thing you know, you will be journaling for a 30 minutes--then 1 hour per day. In fact, sometimes  you will journal for hours in a day. But, all of this comes in time, habit, and experience.)

The key here is to make your sentence, or however long your journal entry, count.

Let me repeat:

Make your journal entry count.

Don't just write: "Today was a decent day." Or: "I did dishes, cooked, and worked."

In a year, when you re-read that, will you remember that day? 

Rather, talk about something memorable from that day. In other words, what stuck out to you--good or bad? What got your attention?

So, for the one sentence, it can be something like these examples:

~ I focused on joy today.

~ I focused on this quote or scripture today...

~ I counted my blessings for having the spouse I have today. 

~ I realized my priorities have slipped.  

~ I wish there was more time in the day.

~ Busyness is making me live a mediocre life.

~ I remembered when I was little how for Christmas, the tree fell over and I had no idea how my mom could cuss. 

~ My dream came true today of...

~ I lost my job today at this company...

~ I am scared for the USA.

~ I've been walking around in mindless living. 

~ I miss...

These are deeper sentences. As a matter of fact, after you write that one sentence, you might not be able to stop writing and might feel compelled to write more. Saying, "Today could have been better " doesn't necessarily want you to journal more. You bore yourself. The other deeper examples are the opposite. 

The whole goal of living is to live well... Not just get by. So, how are we living today to make it memorable? If we are not, well... that tells us what we need to adjust. We should make each day count and each journal entry count. 

I recommend this even if you are beyond the one-sentence per day journaling. Go deeper. Don't just be shallow. Make your day memorable. 

***** TIP: If, at the end of you day, there was nothing memorable... Remember something from the past and get that written down on the page. Then, tomorrow, make sure you live a memorable day in some way--whether it is something you do, think, realize  plan, or focus on a motivational quote or scripture. Those can also be your making your day count sentence or journal entry. *****

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images online.)

~ Stacy Duplease

A Journaling Quote

Journaling Quote #4

Journaling Quote #3

Journaling Quote #2

Journaling is...

Journaling is writing the story of your life.

It is where you share your memories, lessons learned, and goals. 

A Journal is where you remember the past, live intentionally in the moment, and plan for the future. 

A journal is a story of your life and all of your: thoughts, prayers, emotions, choices, dreams, people, possessions, challenges, faith (and lack thereof at times), critters (pets), stress,   experiences, grief, photographs, births, art, books, realization, anniversaries, movies, new beginnings (starting over/trying again), TV shows, counted blessings, to do's, frustrations, music, work/employment/career, celebration, venting, death, marriage, separation, divorce, creative thought, song, poetry, happiness, friends, family, school, church, military life, exercise, food, recollections, homes, houses, vacations/travel, etc. 

Journaling is where you learn and re-learn your priorities and live them. 

So, again, I say that journaling is writing the story of your life--and everyone and everything your life includes. 

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper Author & Sci-Fi Writer

The Story of John Arundell and Roanoke (A Sci-Fi Time Travel Novel)

& 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