Journaling is a life line for me. I have been doing it off and on for years. When I stop journaling, I stop thinking clearly. When I get anxious, I need to sit down with PEN AND PAPER (NOT DIGITAL) and start to write.

Sometimes, it is a "Brain Dump" where I get everything out of my head so I don't forget important things. Dumping everything out on paper helps me see what is in my head and start to organize the material. It is hard to organize it in my head.

For example, if I started to write down what is on my mind right now, in a brain dump sort of way it might look like this, except not nicely typed up - what comes to mind:

Brain Dump, March 7 (I use pen or pencil and paper)

First thing that came to mind when I wrote the date was, March 7, 1987 - the anniversary of my dad's marriage to Ruth Ann, random, I know, but that is how my brain works.

Pick up grill cover.
Buy hardware at Lowes
Frame painting of "Baby David"
Put away "It's the most wonderful time of the year" poster
Pack
water plants
divide my african violet
prep for starting seeds
check with accountant about kids taxes
text Katie
pharmacy
prep Car Seat Safety class
and the list goes on...

This is not necessarily what I would consider journaling for memory keeping purposes, but it is still important journaling, non the less. It is the kind of journaling that opens up flow. If I am stuck in life, I journal.

If I am anxious, I need to journal. If I am sad and reminiscent, it does help to journal.

If I am content, I want to journal so that one day, I can look back and read about it.

Do you journal? Tell me more!

Have you never tried it? What is holding you back? I challenge you to try it. Pull out a cheap Staples brand notebook and start jotting things down. Let me know how it goes!

All you need is a writing instrument and paper!