The day after Christmas: Preparing for the New Year

It's the day after Christmas and I am in the process of getting back into everything--blog, google+ communities, journaling, etc. As I mentioned in the previous blog post, I even took some time off from journaling. 

Now, you need to know something. I usually do not take any time off from journaling--unless there has been some type of emergency. But, even then, I try to journal right through it. Hence, this was rare for me. It was hard. I knew what I was missing and I felt it. However, do I need to tell you how much sweeter it is to open my journal (metaphorically--since I do online journaling)?

I realize how much I needed some time off where I didn't do much of anything. I was pretty worthless and it felt great. 

We could not make it home for the holidays this year, but will be back home to Denver in the first third of 2012. Therefore, Christmas was just me and he. It was nice. We went for a drive along the Colonial Parkway and were able to see these Christmas swans:

That was a real treat and what I call a hug from God. 

Then, we started a new Christmas tradition: We watched the movie, THE SOUND OF MUSIC. 

The swans and the movie made our time very memorable for me. Then again, we also watched a couple cowboy movies and that made it memorable, too.

JOURNALING EXERCISE

So, how was your time off and Christmas? What did you do that was memorable or what happened that was memorable? 

Now, it's time for us to turn our eyes to the New Year

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease)

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)

Memories Quote

THE END OF THE WORLD: A JOURNALING EXERCISE AND PROMPT

Some say the end of the world is right around the corner, on 21 December 2012. That's else than two days away. So, what a perfect time to do this journaling exercise and prompt.

Let me say that I do not believe the world will end in two days (see Mark 13:21.). However, let's be real. 14 December taught us something very real and true. Life changes on a dime. We could very well die in two days. Aren't we supposed to live every day as if it was our last anyway? 

JOURNALING EXERCISE

It does not matter if you believe this to be true or not. Let's say that it is true--or we are told we have only two days to live. Answer these questions with that frame of mind:

* What would you do to prepare for the end of the world?

* What would you want to tell your loved ones?

* What would you want to do?

* What would you want to journal--in case there were any survivors? 

* What were your most powerful memories? Describe each of them. 

* Give a summary of your life. 

* How does this change how your live today, regardless? 

* Journal anything else that comes to mind.

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Living a Memorable Life: Day 3

JOURNALING EXERCISE

Please do not cheat and read ahead. Answer these two questions in your journal. Then, read this blog post entry. The two questions to answer are:

* 1 How would you define happiness? 

* 2 How would you define content or contentment?

IT'S MORE THAN HAPPY. IT'S CONTENT
A memorable life is more than a happy one. Happiness, after all, is fleeting. Happiness depends on circumstances, people, and emotions to feed it.

It drifts with the wind and the seasons of change. It is short-lived.

Few people are happy every day for all of their lives. Fewer have learned the secret of how to live a memorable life every day.

A memorable life seeks something deeper and far more lasting than happiness. A memorable life is one that is content at all times, in spite of people, places, things, or circumstances.

For the record, I think a lot of people define happiness really as contentment  but, there is a great difference between them. When you read what's next, I think you will see the great difference between happiness and contentment. I don't know about you, but I would rather be content any day of the week than happy. Read the next section and see why.

WHAT IS CONTENTMENT?
Let me grab a couple of dictionaries and see how they define CONTENT or CONTENTMENT:

When a person is content, they accept where they are, how they are, who they are, who they have, and what they have. In other words, they live the motto, "It is what it is." They do not pine for more than they have and are. They do not allow people, places, things, or situations to influence their state of contentment. Their contentment stands--no matter what. It's solid. It is not swayed.

But, is that to say they do not seek excellence? No. Not all all. Rather, contented people seek to make the most of the people, places, things, and circumstances they have today and do so every day. They live a memorable life where they are.

Yes. It's okay to dream if you are content. You know what you can control. If something has been on your heart  a dream, then you better go after it. but, don't ever take today for granted. Be satisfied with today as you seek to get to tomorrow. This is true contentment. This is living a memorable life.

Contentment is accepting the here and now and living it the best you can, with all you have, and all you are today. This is how you live a memorable life.

CONTENTMENT ACKNOWLEDGES WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL AND WHAT YOU CANNOT

 Contentment knows you cannot control people or circumstances. They are what they are.

Contentment knows what it can control: Your reaction to people, places, events (or situations, circumstances, and experiences), and things.

Just acknowledging those two truths brings contentment. You no longer have to live a constant battle. You have freedom because you know two truths that are life-sustaining. They sure get rid of the stress in our lives. Too many times, we are trying to fight for something  or change something, and nothing happens. This is why. we forget what we can and cannot control.

Living a memorable life means knowing when to let go, when to take control, and when to appreciate your life as it is.

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* Write your thoughts on happiness, now that you know the truth about happiness. 

* Write your thoughts about contentment.

* How content are you?

* How can you focus on what you can control and forget what you cannot?

* Is there anything you are trying to control, but you really can't?

* Now, how do you want to live a memorable life, after reading this blog post? 

* Write your definition of living a memorable life at this point, after reading Days 1-3. 

* What are your thoughts about living a memorable life?

~ Stacy Duplease