Film & Kay

Journaling ebbs and flows in popularity. I’m not sure I would ever recommend journaling because it is daunting, but it’s something I’ve been doing since I was 7. As I write that, I recognize how it sounds, so I’d like to elaborate. If I were 30 and someone told me to buy a notebook and write down my thoughts, I wouldn’t know what to think or say. Even now, when “someone” tells me what to do, especially if it didn’t come from my own inner voice, I often feel resistant. If I didn’t start young, it would be another box to check off of a wellness to do-list.

I don’t believe journaling is necessarily the panacea for answers as it is portrayed. I rarely read my notes unless I’m trying to unravel how I thought during a certain time period, for a certain predicament, and I’m usually pleasantly surprised by my ability to reason and think, even though, at the time, I felt several steps behind.

Having a record is a beautiful thing; I can see that I have changed and stayed the same. It is a glimpse into the ephemeral and the monkey mind. It shows me my circles, my profound moments, and the rawness of being. I often don’t give myself enough credit, as we all probably do. Whether the internet suggests writing as inspiring or not, listen to your own voice and follow your own process.