A room by room journaling exercise or prompt

As you think of memories over the next year, there are all sorts of tricks to use to help us remember all of our past memories. After all, each of them have brought you where you are today and have made you who you are today.

Grab your journal and sit in every room in your house. Make a list of  everything,and I mean everything, you see. Once you do that, list every memory you have of each item. Then, write at least a page of each memory.

Then, think about all of the places you have lived and do the same as the above.

Then, think about other people's houses you have been in and the memories associated with the people, the rooms, and objects from each room if you can.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Post #6 My Personal Journaling

The last two days of journaling three of my memories has rocked my world. It has befuddled and amazed me. I never would have expected what happened. I know I have talked a little about this in a previous post; nevertheless, I want to go more into depth at this time.

How did I choose the three memories I chose? I did one memory at a time and picked the memory to work on that spoke to me the most and grabbed my attention. Then, I started to write whatever came to mind about each memory. And that was where things grew most interesting. I wrote about one typed page total of each memory. The first paragraph or two was where I wrote just the facts. There were no surprises there. It was after that the surprises came.

I wrote things I never expected and was able to glean new insight. I cannot stress that enough. It blew me away and that is putting it mildly. I learned how each of those memories shaped the woman I am today and why I do the things I do--and never realized.

The best part was how I kept making notes to write more about a sentence later. Moreover, I never would have thought of the stuff on my own if I hadn't journaled. Also, I did not use any prompts or a memory snapshot yet on any of these memories. Therefore, realistically, I will write another two to three pages on average for each memory. I will expand more on them later for my memoir. Never
mind how I also remembered several new memories I had forgotten and added to my Future Journaling of Memories List.

My life has been changed because of these new insights. I had not recognized how much things influenced me then and now--until I journaled about it this week. This is huge. Massive. Life-altering.

A week ago I would not have imagined any of this. I was rather I intimidated by the 125 memories list and wanting to write more in-depth accounts over 2013. Now, I cannot help but think I look forward to more of the same in 2014... and that thought does not intimidate me.

How exciting!

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

A safe haven: Your journal

Your journal is a safe haven. It welcomes you, all of you, warts and all. Your journal will offer you unconditional acceptance and will not judge. It could care less if you are ugly at times, have poor penmanship or grammar, or if you are too emotional.

Your journal would rather you come to it often, and be all of the above, than not. It values you and your time more than any human being ever could. It offers you a safe haven to be fully you.

Set your imagination free in your journal. It is welcomed. Dream big. Your journal will help all of your dreams come true and will record your journey.

Go to your journal often. It is safe. You are welcomed and accepted as you are, but your journal can also help your wildest imaginations come true.

Come.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Take some time this weekend

Take some time this weekend for you. Relax. Rejuvenate. Be good to yourself. Drink some coffee or tea. Take a long hot bath. Get your spouse or child to give you a back rub.

And, do the same with your journaling. Go to your journal for relaxing after another week of the daily grind. Find some inspirational quotes and write about them. 

Take some time to read a good book.

Just, whatever you do, take some time for you. Unplug for a bit. 

Enjoy! 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

Ever had one of those days?: My Personal Journaling

First of all, last night, I went to bed early because I felt like I was trying to get sick and wanted to fight it off. Then, for the fifth night in a row, I woke up at 3:00 a.m. and could not get back to sleep. fun.

I guess I should mention I got some really bad news last night, too, that I am trying to take in stride, but I am concerned and a little upset and am trying to figure out how I really feel about it--other than a little deflated. Once I work through the emotion, the logic will come. Unknowns are a little scary and bothersome at times.

Then, I got some bad news from someone close to me today and I wish I could give her a hug. But, we're thousands of miles apart. February cannot get here soon enough in that regard. 

Then, I went to run errands with husband--and we hit a bird! Hate that. It was upsetting. We are pretty sure it didn't make it. Sad. Yuck.

Then, I got home and our poor beagle had an accident in the house  he's our geriatric beagle, so what do you do--other than love him? 

Consequently, it's been a yucky day at moments.

But, I got more journaling and writing done in an hour and a half than I have gotten done the last five days. There is my blessing of the day... along with the precious time spent with my husband running errands. 

Journaling on yucky days sure helps. 

What do you do on those yucky days? 

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

JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

How has journaling helped you and your life? 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper