Journaling

Well, I have not yet succumbed to the flu, this A-Z Challenge, my editing, nor the new idea that is tormenting my brain. I'm alive and kicking folks, very much so.

Journaling is something that everyone seems to recommend. I've never seen a quote on Pinterest (or anywhere else, for that matter) that said "Don't journal!". So many authors (published and non) say that journaling is so important.

Personally, I've always journaled on and off. I still have a bunch of unfinished diaries from when I was little. Truth be told, they are the funniest things ever. When my cousin visits, sometimes we read them out loud and every time, giggles fill our lungs where the air is supposed to be. Most of the entries are on how much I hate taking naps, how much I love my mom, how mean my mom is, how much I love my mom again, how much I love Barbies and Polly Pockets, and the list goes on and on. Later on, the entries evolved to writing about the fun my best friends and I had and my crush and how much he was totally in love with me, because, let's be real, an eleven year old and a fifteen year old is NOT weird.

Now, when I journal, it's mostly thoughts and feelings, about people and life in general.

Journaling is a great way to just keep life in order. To just breathe in and out, and be who you are. It's all about self-discovery. To truly journal is to embark on a great adventure, one of finding out so much of who you are. It's also a fabulous way to work on your writing voice and discover your strengths and weaknesses, both writing and otherwise.

I have a tendency to get caught up in the heat of things and to react RIGHT AWAY. I have a thirst for justice, for things to be as they are supposed to be. Unfortunately, I have caused people I love to suffer because of the hastiness in which I have reacted to things in the past. Journaling has really helped me to pause and self-reflect before responding or retaliating.

For my Harry Potter homies, it's sort of like Dumbledore's pensieve. I use journaling as a way to "get out" my excess memories and emotions. It helps me to see things differently and calm down and, ultimately, just enjoy life more.

It's also perfect for when you need a break from your characters. You can take a needed escape (because, seriously, we all need it sometimes) from your WIP and yet still be writing.

Do you journal? What do you journal about?