Each day contains its different events, feelings, people which constantly challenge us to grow into the person we are. I was curious to see this change within myself, so when I received a brand new journal in late December last year, I spontaneously decided to journal daily. Since then, I have taken around five minutes out of each day to sit down, reflect, and write. Each page describes a funny or meaningful quote from that day that resonates with me, three things that I am thankful for, and the feelings that I experience.
There are some people who do not remember what they had for breakfast that morning or what they did last weekend. My day journal allows me to flip back to a random date a couple of months ago and distinctly remember that individual day. Journaling daily allows me to remember that every day is beautifully different. Because of that, I never want to forget the significance that each day has on transforming my life, especially at such a critical point in my life while I am in college, and that is why I choose to reflect on them.
Reflection is the key to self-growth. Without turning back to my first journal entry from last December, how would I be able to recognize the immense growth I have achieved in that short time span? How would I be able to learn valuable lessons that will prevent me from mistakes? Acknowledging the growth in myself is one of the most rewarding experiences that I have found in my reflection. Also on a simpler note, this reflection allows me to recall memories-good or bad. In retrospect, nearly all of the things I wrote down as stressful were not as important as I once thought they were.
Day journaling allowed me to realize that nothing is forever, especially life. I am lucky to have lived each and every day in my life, and with each day, I look forward to everything I am offered on this earth. In this way, journaling has humbled me. I am not the centre of anything; rather, I am a member of the community created on Earth. And instead of using this journal as a means to pat myself on the back, my humbling experience involves my self-criticism.
In the past half of a year, there have been instances where I have done wrong, led people wrongly, or given my limited time to the wrong people. Like I said, life is temporary, so why would you waste the limited time that we have on this beautiful Earth to be sad, stressed, or anxious because of toxic relationships?
My journal empowered me because like I write in each page every day, only I am capable of writing my own story. I cannot wait for the next chapters of my story, but I am willing and excited to take them as they are: one day at a time.