4 Journals, 1 Writer

There is something endearing about picking up a new journal, running your hand on the cover, brushing through the naked pages, feeling the wind of the flipping pages up against your face like a spring breeze. Something about seeing your words; yours thoughts upon paper, filled up on each page. I enjoy journaling so much that I no longer own one, but four journals.

5 Year Journal Last December, I received something special for my brother Chris and sister-in-law Lindsey. That present is a light brown, hard covered diary called Q&A a day 5 Year Journal. This Potter styled diary contains 365 questions to be answered each day of the year, for five full years. Even when I’m not writing in it, I love just grasping this diary, admiring the ceiling lights reflecting off the golden laced pages.

After coming home from a New Year’s Eve dinner with my lady, I was ecstatic to to finally answer the first question listed for January 1, which asked, “What is your mission?”. Carefully taking a few minutes to think before writing away, I then replied, “My mission is to grow in Christ, follows dreams, be successful, enter new chapters, stay wise, stay kind, be bold, not be happy(be happy in love).”.

Personal Journal Having a journal full of questions to be answered everyday is a good reminder to tend to my personal journal. Not gonna perpetrate, I don’t always write in it everyday. When you have days that are less than thrilling it can neutralize the desire to rehash what went down. Then again maybe writing it out clears your head, or maybe you do so so you can laugh about those days later. If I can’t do it daily, I can at least write in this journal for at least once a week. Even a couple of sentences about my thoughts counts as a journal entry. If I miss a day or so, no problem. On the current entry date I can do my best to recollect what happened a day or so ago.

Prayer Journal Last September, I started keeping a prayer journal and declared that I would use it to keep track of endless requests and to build myself up spiritually. Shame on me for letting myself fall short on this one by not always writing these requests down. Many of us will always feel compelled to listen to someone who is going through a trial and tribulation, such as job searching; marital problems; financial struggles; illness; loss; etc. Many of us will go even further to say to that heavy hearted person that we will pray for them. If I’m worried that I’ll forget the request I will type it in the notes app on my phone, copy it down in my prayer journal when I get home, then come to Christ in prayer about it alone or in a group setting. Aside from motivating you to write, a prayer journal is a excellent way to motivate yourself to talk to Christ; care about others; reflect; and learn to appreciate how blessed you are.

Quote Diary. This past Thursday I turned 27 years old, or 27 years young as some would say. (To those who thought I was 18 or younger with this much facial hair, seriously?!) Though I didn’t make any gift requests this year, I did receive a couple presents from my loved ones. After thanking my girlfriend for a much needed razer to line my beard, I opened up and beheld another gift- a gift box containing an old fashioned feather pen; brown leather booklet with leaf design ink bottle; and a pen holder. I had always been intrigued by the nostalgic way of writing with a feather and dipping the point in ink every so often, so this in my opinion was an excellent gift.

The night after my birthday, I could almost hear the leather journal calling out to me m, begging to be opened up and scribbled in. What was I gonna use this for, I thought. After some beard scratching and ceiling staring, contemplating ideas, I did what everyone does nowadays- google it. As soon as typed in the google search book about what to use a journal for, I discovered a link which read, 11 Types of Diaries You Should Keep In Your 20s . The last suggestion in that article about what diaries to own was a quote diary. The quotes can be famous sayings, song lyrics, scriptures, even words you heard from someone you know personally. My first quote in this diary comes from the book of Psalms, the longest and my favorite book of the Bible. It reads,

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14 NKJV

If you too are a person who likes to journal everything, or if you desire build yourself up as a writer, I highly recommend owning more than one journal.