[update] stopping a 35-year habit didn't last
The habit was daily journaling or 'morning pages' see https://loveisverbing.bearblog.dev/journal-exit/.
I managed to stop for a massive fifteen days!
The next post - which is a copy of my journal entry the day after I resumed (Tuesday) - will demonstrate its value to me and might even benefit you in the reading...
Meanwhile, these are my journal notes about the stopping adventure:
- First, it was a useful break.
- I saw how addicted the pen, hand and head were to scribbling.
- Less navel-gazing happened - pleasant
- Missed the mental untangling and rigor of examining thoughts - sad
- Paradoxically, began valuing the value of my own published words ! [I exchanged journaling for reading one poetical from each of my 2 current philosophical collections in print. New habit, will maintain.]
- Reading more bear blogs happened, along with considering that my own journal-prompted blogs might enrich readers in unknown tiny ways
- Observed that it's often in journals that the philosophical and non-human antics of 'today' (which might well find themselves in be a body of work for future books) are recorded. Saves typing, keeps them in one offline place.
- Finally, acknowledging much of my journaling honors 'the smalls' (and often feathered) family whose land my home occupies...
... so journaling has restarted, especially given the last point as I itch to record how the magpie reminded me of an essential story to tell about 'Mrs Magpie' in 'Legs from the Dregs' [current work in progress].
p.s. It has not passed notice that Mercury has turned retrograde since embarking on this adventure, and that reflecting, re-viewing and rewinding is in the air!
#rewind #journaling #value