By Kim Smith
I discovered Mari’s group (27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness) through Women on Writing. I’d been suffering a writer’s drought for almost a year, the same length of time I’d been struggling with an exceptionally severe depression. Coincidence? I think not!
The journaling appealed to me. I used to journal extensively, back in the days when I had youth, energy, health, and the energy to write, on my side! But over time my writing dwindled and almost disappeared entirely. Every so often, I’d dash a piece off, only to set it aside and forget about it
So, I looked at the group and thought, “I need this.” I took a leap of faith and signed up. I just had this good feeling…
And I wasn’t disappointed! I was warmly welcomed into the group. Despite this, I was shy at first, not sure what to say. But I just followed the lead of some of the more ‘vocal’ members and soon, I was sharing more of myself as each day passed.
When I journaled on the first day of the challenge, I felt positively uncomfortable! I felt awkward, incapable and voiceless. I sat and stared at the blank page. Mari had supplied a prompt. But where to start? What to say? I tentatively put pen to paper…
The first few words were difficult. The words turned into sentences. Then the sentences turned into a free-writing torrent. I was journaling! I was like a runaway train. I wrote and wrote. And I felt like I had all this ‘stuff’ just waiting to explode from my body. Where was it all coming from?
I was surprised at how much emotion and feeling that poured out during my journaling. Baggage from years ago popped up in my writing. With some issues, the emotion was so raw, I knew I had to revisit them again. Some of them, Mari prompted us to visit; others, I prompted myself.
Throughout this journaling process, I was not alone. All of us shared and encouraged and applauded each other. I felt comforted knowing that my fellow members were on the same journey of seeking. Of wanting to discard unhealthy patterns and thoughts, and creating new ones. Of wanting to create a better life filled with more happiness, more creativity, more joy.
As I journaled, I realized that a lot of my writing was sad or dark or anxious. With that awareness, I strove to balance my thoughts and words. To journal more about the good stuff in my life. Sometimes to journal about ONLY the good stuff! I wanted my journal to be something I looked forward to with pleasure.
In this way, as I worked through the 27 Days, I learned what worked for me, journaling-wise. I realized that some days I wrote a novel, some days nothing at all. Some days I was eloquent and passionate; others I had nothing good to say at all. But that’s all okay. And the really cool part is that besides my day-to-day Journal, I also started an Art Journal – where I combine words and art (even though I can’t draw a straight line). I’m totally lovin’ it!
The benefits from my 27 Days journaling experience…
- It totally kick-started my creativity
- It made me realize that I NEED to write.
- Sharing with like-minded souls is good for my soul!
And lastly, the words I always found hard to say…
Yes, I AM a writer!
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Kim enjoys country living in the pastoral province of Prince Edward Island. She has been published in print (More PEI Tales, Country Magazine) as well as online (Women on Writing). She’s managed to place in a few contests, but has yet to snag first place in any! Not surprisingly, she also ghostwrites articles and provides blog content for various web sites, with the occasional foray into social media and marketing.
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