Celebrating Words: The Pursuit of Journaling

 

Twenty-nine years ago, on Christmas Day, my parents gave me a blank journal. It had a puffed cover with patchwork art - featuring a cat! - and hidden on the inside were hundreds of lines waiting to receive the deep, inner thoughts of a fifteen-year-old girl.

That was the day journaling was born in my life. I started Christmas night, writing about the two dreamy men I simply couldn't decide between, wondering how in the world I could ever pick. (They made it simple for me. Neither one picked me, although both of them graciously received me as a real-life friend, even into adulthood.)

I wrote and wrote until every page was filled, and then I found more blank books and scribbled those pages full, too. I wrote dreams, prayers, fears, and most of all, the newsy happenings of every day in the halls of high school.

Sometimes I read back over a handful of pages, and I have to shake my head and laugh. Oh, the things that mattered to me so deeply back then! Bless my teenage-Bekah heart. Bless my college-Bekah heart. Bless all my Bekah-hearts.

Along the way, I found that I can type so much faster than I can write by hand, so I have moved my journaling into computer documents that I print out and house alongside my treasured books of yore.

I know that some of the pages I write will never be seen again. I would have to read for hours every day to read back through every word I have written over twenty-nine years. (And truthfully, some of those seasons were painful in real time. I don't think I want to revisit them - even if just for reading over what took place.)

If that's the case, why even bother journaling? Why spend the time to put words on paper or screen? Why invest time and materials to spew words that will be hidden for the rest of time?

For me, the joy of journaling is found both in relieving the tension in my brain that comes from its sheer fullness and in the things I learn as the thoughts leave my mind and find their way into print. 

The words build up in my mind and stretch inside my skull until they have to leave. They have to go somewhere, or I fear my mind will explode. Journaling offers a place of safe release for the thoughts that have to go somewhere so new thoughts can be born.

I don't always even understand what I'm feeling until I see it come out of my mind in the words of my journal. I've learned so much about my life, my God, and myself just by seeing my thoughts in print. That gift is priceless to me and worth every bit of the journaling.

Of course, I understand that I'm a writer and you may not find the same delight in words. The joy of writing may not be something that matters to you. But as we start this new year, I urge you to try some journaling. Dare to value your thoughts enough to transcribe them! What if you discovered it really is a passion you didn't even know you had?

If you don't know where to start, you can search on Pinterest for journal prompts. Many bloggers have made lists of ideas for journal fodder. Some are monthly lists that stay close to seasons and holidays. Others are topical prompts, so you could pick something that matters to you at this time. (Even though I've journaled for way over half my life, I still tried journal prompts and timed writing last summer just to do something different. It was a great exercise that I thoroughly enjoyed!)

Our words matter. Our thoughts matter. If you want to try something new in this new year, why not spend some time in the pursuit of journaling? You probably already have the materials, you can do it in the warmth, coziness, and solitude of your home, and you just might find you really love it!