I am always looking for new ways to fulfill my creative itch. My newest endeavor is to start journaling. I saw something called an Art Journal on Pinterest (my favorite website) and I was instantly hooked. I spent hours upon hours looking up different types of journals. There are art journals, fabric journals, dream journals, bullet journals, quote journals and so on. I decided to combine all of those and create a journal unique to fit me! I am only a few days in and I truly believe that everyone should keep a journal. Here's why:
1. Journals are very therapeutic.
Don't be mistaken, I am not talking about a diary. This journal doesn't contain my deepest secrets, but it is a great way to relieve stress and create stories and other works of art that make the journal individualized to you. Writing down bad thoughts or happy quotes are great ways to get your mind thinking positively.
2. A journal can help you get to know yourself.
The main purpose of keeping a journal is to track the growth of yourself, your thoughts and opinions. Having a creatively documented book can help you track your growth or even just look back to see how you've changed over time. Some Pinterest boards have prompts for each day of the year and the sole purpose is to track growth. Other boards and websites provide prompts that are fun, creative and really get you thinking about life, your beliefs and other topics you would not openly think to write about. All of these prompts can make your journal personal to you. There is no "right" way to journal and more importantly, there is no "right" way to get to know yourself.
3. The possibilities are endless!
This is probably my favorite part about the journal. I am not the most artistic person, but I do like to add color and simple designs to my journal pages. Journals can be decorated with anything your mind could imagine. Some people go all out and use expensive paints in their journals. Some people sew things into their journals. I think it all really depends on the preference of the journalist. As a person who loves to write, I plan to include short stories, poems and other creative prompts in my journal.
Like anything else, journaling is something you most likely improve at over time. The organization, the topics to write about and the creativity all take time and experimentation to discover. With all of the summer days we have off, why not try something new? You most likely won't regret it.
