2023 journals

These are my new journals for the start of the year. The blue one is for morning pages and occasional writing. It has dotted pages, so I can write both ways, vertically or horizontally depending on my mood.

The small one is for art journaling, I love to create in tiny journals! I finished its cover this weekend and organized the first pages.

I had in mind my word and colour of the year when setting them up: Expansion and blue!

I added my own stickers on the cover to personalize it. I only kept the message on the bottom, it goes well with my journaling intention.

I still need to work on my gratitude journal. I have a few pages left in the one I’m using now, so I’ll keep going until I have time to set up the new one.

“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation,
is not only life-changing but life-expanding.”
Jen Williamson

notebooks

My journaling notebook has a few blank pages left in it, probably it’ll end exactly in the last few days of the year.

I already have a new notebook, actually three new ones, I haven’t decided yet which one to use next. Since it’ll only be a few days before the new year, I better wait to start it in 2023. I’ll keep up with my writing using inserts for my travel and passport notebooks.

I buy a bunch of these tiny inserts, they have a plain cover so I decorate them the way I’m inspired to do at that moment, and they are always at hand to be filled up with words and dreams.

“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation,

is not only life-changing but life-expanding.”

Jen Williamson

And you? Have you chosen a notebook for the new year?

time

i’m here this morning pondering about something my son said yesterday. we were talking about how 2022 is almost ending, December is starting and we haven’t done many planned things for this year. He said to me:

“don’t worry, time is linear. months, years all these are created by men, time isn’t something that starts and ends, it’s constantly going on and on. we only realize the changes of the seasons because we live in Canada, if we were at the Equator, where is 30 C year-round, the seasons wouldn’t make a difference.”

wow! without expecting i received a wonderful lesson yesterday. according to him months and years created by man are nonsensical. His thoughts have only strengthened my point of view that what matters is the moment, being here and now.

anyways, habits are difficult to change, so i’m wishing a happy new month to you!

joining Moonwashed weekly prompt – nonsensical

2022 journals

It’s unbelievable, but we are almost at the end of 2022! Today the clocks went back one-hour giving goodbye to daylight saving time. As a tradition I put my twinkle lights up. I love to have them on when I’m back in the evening, now it will be dark and they are one warm welcome.

My 2022 journals are also getting chubby, a sign that the year is ending. This year I’m using 3 journals: One for morning pages (the orange), the small one on the top right is a kind of gratitude and quotes journal, and the one on the bottom is a travel journal.

I just got new inserts for my gratitude journal, hope they last until the end of the year! But it’s ok if not, this means that I’m having more things to be grateful for. 🙂

I love to start the new year with a new journal for the morning pages, I’ll start to look for it, basically the colour, I don’t like to change the brands I’m used to. It will be a Moleskine or a Leuchtturm, both have excellent paper quality and it’s nice to write on their pages.

And you, and plans for a new journal?

Hope you have a great week ahead!

draft

focus
a click, a sound
exploding the senses
pencil caressing the paper
just like
an addicting enthusiasm
opposing ideas
reaching the ground
thunder

Tanka Tuesday – theme prompt “The Nature of Lightning” – I’m sharing a Butterfly Cinquain about my process of creating a draft, putting ideas together, scribbling, and words floating until they reach the paper, the ground, and an explosion. Hope you enjoy it!

secret message

“Make something great” :: I found this card yesterday while cleaning my stationery drawer. I liked the background colour of the card, it matches my nail polish and called my attention among much other stuff inside the drawer.

We don’t need to make something ‘great’ but can make ‘great’ the tiny things that make us happy. I hadn’t journaled for a while, always letting it for later. You know how journaling is essential to me, and in spite of it, I was letting this habit slip from my hands. Writing a little bit early morning is a tiny act, but great for my mind.

I opened my journal and just glued a few images on the paper. I didn’t write, but sometimes images speak more than words.

I love to find secret messages on my way, and you? Are you paying attention to what comes toward you?

30/30 – it’s the little things

Yes, it’s the last day of my little challenge, it’s the little things! Hope you have enjoyed the ride, and I have inspired you to pay more attention to the tiny little things around you.

It’s a beautiful morning, fresh and the birds are singing. I’ve my cup of coffee and my journal open. I’m writing this post and thinking if it was worth posting every day, sharing a little bit of my day, mostly my mornings. Looking back at the posts and reading all the comments I’ve no doubt that it was worth every bit of it.

The online world can be scary sometimes, but I’ve true friends here and it’s always wonderful to connect with you.

The little thing for today is my journaling practice. I’ve already posted about it here, since it’s one of my favourite little things I decided to end this challenge with a photo of my journal.

Thanks for following along! 🙂

“Accomplishments give you a sense of confidence and encouragement.”
Catherine Pulsifer

18/30 – it’s the little things

Saturday morning laziness, isn’t it good? Saturday used to be the busiest day of the week for me when my kids were little. I had to take them to sports classes and camps, we had our weekly library visit, and I had to go grocery shopping, and plan the snacks for them to take to school the following week…

Now the kids aren’t kids anymore, young adults taking care of their own schedules. I’m enjoying the slow sipping of my coffee, writing, blogging and thinking about what I should do to enjoy this day. Of course, I still need to do grocery shopping, cook, do laundry and clean the house, but everything on my own time. No pressure!

Hubby found this feather in the backyard and saved it for me. Simple pleasures along the way. I took this photo yesterday, the pages are prettier than today’s where I have more scribbles than nice handwriting.

“Once she stopped rushing through life, she was amazed how much more life she had time for.”
unknown

13/30 – it’s the little things

A new week ahead, blank pages to be filled up with words, draws and most of the time just scribbles. The main point is to give me a few minutes of calm and reflection, to organize the day/week. I’ll write a list of stuff I need to accomplish this week. It’s so awarding to check each item out when completed. A bullet journal is what this kind of journal is named. I had a special notebook for my lists, but I’ve given up, I feel more comfortable having everything in one notebook.

Hope you have a great week, and below is a nice quote about journaling, it really resonates with me.

“This pouring thoughts out on paper has relieved me. I feel better and full of confidence and resolution.”
Diet Eman, Things We Couldn’t Say

07/30 – it’s the little things

Journaling practice has been one of my favourite activities, a ‘me time’ which always brings me comfort. I’ve done it for many years, on and off, but more constant during the last 10 years. I call it “morning pages” referring to Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way when I write early mornings.

Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing,
done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*–
they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about
anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes
only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and
synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put
three pages of anything on the page…and then do three more pages tomorrow.
Julia Cameron

I also love to add images to my journal pages, or simply a layer of washi tape. It will depend if I find an image that goes well with my feelings at that moment.