On Keeping Journals, Finding Ralph and Morning Pages
08/01/2010 # 20:44 # Creativity, Laura Cococcia, Writing # 8 CommentsPost written by Laura Cococcia. You can follow Laura on Twitter.
jour·nal (n.) - a periodical presenting articles on a particular subject
I moved back to New York City almost six months ago. And last week, I found all of my personal journals in two unpacked boxes that currently serve as coffee tables.
I discovered my very first journal – again.
I was seven. I had begged Santa for it. And, because Santa got tired of hearing me ask for one every five minutes, I actually received it before Christmas.
I’ve kept journals since then – through grade school, college, grad school, and even now. I don’t make myself write in them religiously, I just do it when I feel like it. I always know they are there when I need to get some thoughts down, try my hand at some creative writing or simply vent. No rules.
Just for fun, I thought I’d share the initial two entries from my first journal:
Saturday, December 19, 1981
I have just gotten you tonight. Santa gave you to me. I’m going to name you Ralph. Good bye. Love, Laura
Sunday, December 20, 1981
I love you diary. I put you on my Christmas list but now I have you early. I wanted you so bad. Isn’t Santa Claus nice? Love, Laura
Beyond Ralph: Stories That Keep on Telling
I found 20 more journals in my coffee table boxes.
I read every single one. Not the most efficient use of time, but oh, what a reflection of the different versions of me and all of the people who have affected my life in one way or another. The joys, the loves, the losses. I had a lot of laughs and a few tears.
Interestingly, I came across a particular one that wasn’t my own but was given to me by a high school friend; we’ve known each other since we were three. It contained stories, poems and pictures of our time growing up as friends – a truly unique gift that I had not looked at in years.
The pictures themselves brought back amazing memories. Many of them involved massive amounts hairspray and the bang teasing trends from the 1980s.
I couldn’t really say I was “hot” at the time.
But there were photos of my high school friends gathered around my mom’s and dad’s kitchen table, talking, laughing, playing cards – something we did many times a week. There were pictures from proms, my ballet recitals and birthday parties.
Revisiting and Revisions: The Morning Pages
Now, journals take many forms in my life. Of course, there’s this journal. A collection of stories from and about the people, places and things that make us interested and interesting.
I’ve recently been working with Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages Journal, based on a recommendation from a dear friend. Morning Pages are three pages of longhand writing that come to your head; the practice is meant to be used while working through Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Creativity. It’s a book I’ve been reading and loving for weeks. A multitude of exercises to help clear space for your creative brain and truly get to the heart of who you are as any type of artist, without apology.
The results have been astonishing. I’ve been clearer about what type of artist I want to be, the people who will support me and what it really means to be creative – by my own definition. Along the way, she includes numerous quotes from visionaries and normal people about the power of knowledge and art. More to come in a full book review once I’m done. You can also find out more about Julia Cameron and her projects at http://www.theartistsway.com/.
And now, to you…
If you keep a journal: What do you use it for? What have you learned – about yourself, about others – as a result of your practice and process?
If you don’t keep a journal: Let us know why (no judgment). Whether or not you write it down, you still have a story.
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Hi, Laura:
Journals? Sure. I tell everybody to keep them. And I am the most inconsistent journaler ever. But I have also found my journals from when I was a kid and it’s such an eye-opener reading them!
Happy New Year — and thanks again for reviewing my book Up at the Villa: Travels with my Husband. It’s one year old this week!
Linda
Hey Linda! Nice to hear from you. I can’t believe it’s already been one year! Wow – I hope you’re doing well!
All hail The Artist’s Way! That book truly changed my life. Re: journaling, my creative writing teacher in high school inscribed a journal she gave me with the following quote:
“Every word a woman writes changes the story of the world, revises the official version.” -Carolyn See
Amanda! So great to hear that there’s another fan out there and I love the quote – I printed it out and put it on my bulletin board. Hope to see you soon!
Oh journaling. I have so many from college days. My college days were very hard – I studied electrical engineering in both undergrad and (gasp!) grad. So I studied A LOT because it was so hard for me. And I was just coming into my own so I had boyfriends who often broke my heart. And I lacked all the confidence and self-esteem I have today (maybe a bit too much!) So my journals are filled with heart breaks and how I am going to reach every dream on my own because I don’t need anyone along the way. Filled with poetry, song lyrics, and motivational quotes. Lo and behold, I found the love of my life so now, I am grateful to those losers, and yes, I treasure those journals but no longer journal. Perhaps I may start again. Love the idea of Morning Pages. THANK YOU!
Hi Farnoosh! First – wow, electrical engineering. I am amazed and impressed. I can relate – sometimes I feel like my journals are just a laundry list of all of the heartbreaks! But, yes, like you – there are motivational pages and quotes and nuggets of wisdom from my younger self that were important then. The Morning Pages are worth a try…it is only a 3 minute commitment, which is great for me :) Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
Laura Cococcia´s last blog ..Lessons From Miraval: Practice Patience
Hi Laura,
It’s Marjana from Garp review again. As a teenager I have kept many journals. Instead of rebelling and going against my parents, journals were my escape into the world of understanding. Writing helped me cope with peer pressure and many other things we encounter while growing up. I have recently started a new journal. I was planning to expand my family and wanted my future baby to know everything preceeding his or her birth. This includes my emotions, my beliefs, my adventures, current events in the world, and other interesting details. It will be the first gift I give my child (due on July 12th). I am also planning of writing a children’s book for him or her one day but that is only an idea for now. Good luck in finding your true creative identity! Love your journal and I’m sure you’ll be very happy in anything that you do.
Marjana´s last blog ..House Hunting
I absolutely love that you’re creating a journal for your baby, Marjana! What a treasure and what a gift! I think it I appreciate your comments on this and on Garp and am so glad you’ve joined the group.
Laura Cococcia´s last blog ..From TJCC’s Contributors: Lessons From Our Favorite Books