How My Journal Captured A Year of My Life on Paper.
A Curated Life Journal: A Year of Life on Paper
- What is it?
- Why do it?
- How do I create one?
The short quick answer ~ First, it is a notebook of this year’s life broken down into dreams, goals, and activities. Secondly, a place where you can turn for information. Thirdly, a record of things you did, you read, you listened to and ideas you are working through. To sum up, a journal of you of your year. At the end of the year you will be amazed at what happened, all the places you went and all you have achieved. Your Curated Life Journal will show you ~ your year of life on paper. This journal will also be a place of experimenting and processing what you want to bring into your life and what you don’t want in it.
How did it come about? Let me explain further
Well, one evening I was scrolling through Pinterest and saw all these Bullet Journals and Travel Journals. Those books called to me. I had left the Design World and started a storefront (more on that at another time). I missed my Designer’s sketchbook. But Bullet Journals – Wow! They are extensive and overwhelming in the same breath!
Why do I have a journal?
Back to as an Interior Designer I always carried a sketchbook with me. I used my sketch book to draw ideas for living spaces and to write out project lists. When I was at a job site I would sketch out designs on the spot for carpenters and clients. Sometimes, when I was out and about, I would draw something that caught my eye ~ a bookcase, table-scape or a flowering container. Once since I always had it in my purse, I used the sketchpad to draw herbs when I was waiting at an airport. My sketch book would often be the place I would make notes when someone recommended books and movies. Quotes often found their way into it as I came across them during my day. Basically, my sketchbook held everything I thought, saw and enjoyed during a year of my life on paper.
So I purchased a bullet journal. Then I started watching how-tos — OVERWHELM hit big time!!! So I put it aside until I needed a new morning pages journal then I wrote in it . Well like many ideas they need time to grow and blossom. I was starting this blog and I was walking into a new decade. I was needing direction back to me, my soul, and myself. Then it hit me this could be my atlas or my journey log or my clues about me.
So I started started carrying it like my sketchbook.
I started using it and writing down:
- Ideas
- Snippets from the books I was reading
- Lists for daily life
- And like before sketching out ideas.
Now after a few years my journal has evolved into a year of life on paper.
It’s a place I keep my affirmations so I can recite/review every morning. I have written my routines – in pencil so I can adjust them as they evolve. It’s where I can track savings, birthdays/anniversaries, meal plans, books I’ve read (it is amazing by the end of the year how many I’ve read), my gardening notes, and seasonal fun lists.
Within the pages I plan out the month so I know special days or if I need to plan something to look forward to. It is also where I keep notes and quotes on the books I’ve read. This is not to be overwhelming this is something that can be elaborate as you wish or as simple as you want. I have a blend of the two. Simply because life is busy and I don’t want the stress of “I need to get out my pens and draw beautifully”. Some months I have them colored and laid out. Other months it is in pen and pencil. That is okay to it shows my life as it is – some smooth days and some hectic weeks.
Like I said this is an evolving process – just as life is.
But I have decided to print a few photos this year and stick them in my book to truly make this a “Yearbook of My Adventures” Here are a few of my favorite things I use to make things colorful. I may add this picture of Gracie hanging out with me as a plan a month’s layout. Sign up for this Monthly Planner free download here.
I invite you to start thinking about what you want your journal to be and could be. If you want more information about my Journal Course check it out here. I also invite you to join the free webinar to create your dreams, goals and journal. Please leave a comment below and share your inspirations. Have fun!
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