When I was 13, I remember starting to journal. I had so many things on my mind, and a small book with crisp white pages and a little lock with a key enticed me to spill out all those teenage secrets I thought the world would laugh about. Over the years, I accumulated diary after diary, mostly filled with recaps of the key events in my young life—written with the dream of reading them aloud to my grandchildren one day.

In the last ten or so years, journaling has become more of a tool than a ledger. I use it to make my thoughts visible. When they’re stirring in my brain and I can’t quite make sense of them, writing allows me to look at them.

I don’t do this often enough. I tend to forget the power that lies in journaling—like a favorite old song you once played on repeat but haven’t heard in years. And then, suddenly, it comes back to me: I can just write. And with that, clarity returns.

But as easy as it sounds, its way harder than listening to music. I need to find stillness before I can write. And for some reason, that peace only seems to arrive after I’ve done all the laundry, cleaned my desk, dusted the shelves, and … well, you get the idea

But once I do manage to sit down, the most interesting insights make their way onto the pages. Writing out what wants to come out has some kind of magic in it. As the words become visible in front of me, my thoughts organize themselves around them, and the clutter in my brain resolves.

I came across a picture on the internet that shows this process perfectly, and I’ve included it below.

Here is a summary of all the wonderful benefits of journaling (and there are probably more):

It’s a tool to make sense of our thoughts: Journaling helps unload the brain’s clutter and bring clarity. This also applies to ideas that sometimes come to us of the blue. (I carry a mini journal in my purse for that reason)
It’s a form of self-healing and self-discovery: There is now a space to release what’s murky, tangled, or dark. On the page, we can sort through it all—choosing what to carry with us and what to leave behind.
It’s a practice of presence: It is intentional time spent with yourself. And its much better than a pedicure—because you’re not just treating yourself, you’re transforming yourself.
It’s a safe space: There is nobody that can judge our private thoughts of shame, insecurity or pain.
There are no rules: You can write whatever you want, however you want. These are your thoughts, and you decide how to let them unfold.
It can be a shared (and bonding) experience: My friend Laura and I have journaled together in coffee shops, using prompts and a timer. Then we talked about our notes – a shared form of self-discovery.

We decided to share this experience with a wider audience.  

This Friday, at the Rockridge library, we are hosting a free journaling session.
If you’ve been meaning to sort through some brain clutter—or if you’re just curious what journaling might feel like—we’d love to see you there.
You can sign up here – it’s free.

And if you are unable to attend, give the following writing prompt a try and see what it brings out for you. I would love to hear how it went.

• What four words best describe my life right now and why?

Warmly
Janine