Journaling My Way Through Life
I don’t really remember when I first realised that words were magical but there was a moment in my life that I found myself in awe of our ability to communicate our ideas and concepts on paper. For some reason I also realised that it could be done aesthetically, even beautifully if it was approached artistically.
I didn’t keep a formal diary until 1998, although I did often write down my thoughts and ideas on bits of paper from time to time.
The page above is from a journal I was keeping in 2006 (I think), a very funny story unfolded over the next few pages.
I kept diaries until around 2001 and tried to get them going again over the past 20 years. but it wasn’t until May 2000 that I decided to write on a daily basis. Whatever comes out at the time.
After getting into the flow and habit I soon realised that for me it is a form of meditation. Not only does it slow down my thoughts but it also allows me to be an observer. And at very special times I even find myself debating my own beliefs, viewpoints and ideas with none other than myself.
For me writing is incredibly therapeutic. It is almost like a daily counselling session.
I generally start my day by sitting down in quiet solitude with a cup of coffee and tapping away on my keyboard. I never really think about what I am going to write about. Sometimes it is simply a log of what I’ve been up to and on other occasions it might start with a word. For example, the other morning I sat down and the word “confidence” came into my thoughts. Off I went from there. It turned out to be a very rewarding session. Other times I just sort of converse with myself but because I write it down it doesn’t seem so much as if I am going crazy.
The main point is that since I have been writing each morning (and sometimes at random times throughout the day) I feel more in control of my life, I am less inclined to experience stress or to worry and from time to time I have earth shattering realizations.
One of the contributing factors to the apparent success of my current experience with cancer and the treatments that I have been doing is the fact that I have written about them as well as my thoughts, my fears, my questions, my conclusions and sometimes simply a log of what I have been up to.
I don’t really care one way or another if anyone else reads what I write. I’m doing it for myself. At the same time I’m putting it all in a section of my Blog called “Defrag Blues”.
In some ways my morning writing sessions are like having a morning shower. I don’t always need one but I sure feel good after I’ve stood under the warm water and cleansed my body followed up with a short burst of cold water to get me ready for my new day.
At times I tackle philosophical conundrums, at others I might look at myself as a father, some mornings I might question my self discipline and others I will just go on and on about some great music I had recently discovered. I doesn’t really matter what I write about. Sometimes it flows like a waterfall after the snow has melted and at others its’ like a drought in the inner sanctum of the Australian desert. Some words always find their way onto the screen and then at some point there comes a time when I feel satiated and I know that it is time to stop.
I believe that everyone could benefit from writing down their thoughts, fears, achievements, losses, loves, confusions and conflicts, pains and gains. It’s pretty obvious that I am in the fortunate position at this point of my life to possibly have a bit more time on my hands but you can make time for anything if you decide to or if you can see the benefits that it provides.
