today while shopping ...

Today while shopping I noticed a display of beautiful journals, more beautiful journals to choose from than I had seen in a long time. While looking through them to see if there was one that I couldn't live without, I was approached by a very sweet man. This man asked me if I was going to treat myself to a new journal. I told him that I was considering it. He asked me if I am a journal writer or if journal writing would be a new adventure for me. I shared with him that I teach journal writing as a sacred practice, as a way of tracking dreams, as record keeper for all forms of rites of passage ... life is a continuum of rites of passage. He was impressed and delighted that I was a journal writer.

He shared with me that he had recently given one of his nieces a new journal to track her life. He gave the journal as a high school graduation gift. He said that he told his niece to start a journal now, so that when she wanted to write her memoirs they would be easier to remember. He told her that she should get out and have a good life, a life worth writing about. He said that he told her that she should only write about the good in life and never about the bad.

I had much to share with this man, as I too believe that we should only track the good in life. I shared with this man about my "ah ha" when my grandchildren were born ... that I must only write the good and the loving and the special things in my life, because one day my grandchildren may read my journals. I told the man that I realized that I want to be known for having lived a life worth living.

This man agreed.

He then asked me if I noticed that when I only started writing about the good, that more good came into my life? I let him know that my entire life changed for the better and that I am so grateful that I took the time to record the changes, the good and only the good, the day to day ways that my life has improved.

It was so amazing to talk with this man. He was such a kindred spirit, it was almost like I was talking to myself at times. He was such a messenger.

So here it is ... for the kabillionth time ... do you use a journal?

Yes. Good ... now try tracking only the good things that happen in your life.

No. Good ... start today and track only the good things that happen in your life.

Report back to yourself in a month, in a season, in a full round of seasons.

Oh and if you want a good journal, Lassen's in Ventura has some beautiful journals for you to choose from.

I purchased a beautiful journal with a stained glass, style image of Mother Mary on the front cover. I usually use an artists journal and have one that I load daily with only the good. I call my artists journal my "dream catcher" ... thanks to the inspiration from "JVM" years ago, when he gave me my first "dream catcher". I've caught so many dreams over so many years, that they have all started to come true.

So the reason for the Mother Mary journal is this ... I am going to start my memoirs. The Memoirs of ... The Memoirs of ... The Memoirs of ... I know, and you may find out later.