I began journaling pretty much exactly one year ago. I began because quite honestly, I could not figure out what was going on in my head at the time. Anddd I’m pretty sure my friends hated me for constantly talking about the same thing over and over – I don’t blame them, I was annoying.
At first the pages were pretty bland, just me spilling my thoughts out onto paper. With time, however, I began adding little drawings and paintings and the pages became so reflective of my emotions that my non-german-speaking friend (hey Rosie ;)) could instantly tell how I was feeling when creating them. Some, like the above, are quite self explanatory.
It’s crazy how simple writing on paper can actually make you feel. You know the feeling when you’ve just got a million thoughts racing around in your mind, and you’re just completely lost? Yeah, well this helps. For me, it feels like I’m talking to another person, like I’m helping someone else. That separation from yourself can sometimes be really refreshing, you get to see from another perspective. It gets rid of the anger, the frustration, the sadness and that overwhelming feeling of just everythingggg (without pestering other people too!). The only way I can really describe journaling is as mentally liberating; you get carried away in the words and further decorating the paper; you feel like a Picasso or da Vinci or Van Gogh (just vv free and artistic).
How do you get into journaling?
Well, as a young youth I could never ever stick to writing a diary: the „dear diary“ format just never really worked for me. I’d always try but I would cringe whenever I’d even begin so let’s not even talk about that.
But under the super intense pressure of not being able to deal with a boy (tragic, I know), I ran out of coping options. I decided to write, but in German. I felt that because I couldn’t understand what I wrote immediately after writing it I would feel less embarrassing, and I actually did. Therefore, I just kept writing and writing and writing and eventually, one year later, I feel comfortable enough to write in actual English (wow!!!!). Yeah, I’d say try writing whenever you feel a breakdown coming along, that’s when you tend to not actually give a shizzle about how cliche you sound.
Plus, you can always just start by writing down some quotes or poetry you like that reflects your own thoughts – I do that a lot too. Also makes me feel better about myself not being the only one feeling a certain way.
Don’t forget to write when you’re happy too! I realise I’ve been talking about only writing in extreme emotional conditions. Perhaps writing down the happy things happening in your life will help you remember them more clearly; you can add some cute polaroids too.
But on a basic note: if you want to journal, just get a cute notebook and find some inspiration on Pinterest – they have about a million examples how you can spice up your pages (sooo aesthetically pleasing). And stop worrying if it sounds a lil cringe, it’s for your eyes only if you want it to be.
Do it for the mems
That’s a big one for me now. Imagine being old, not remembering a lot about your teenage years (since old people always talk about how they want to be young again) and reading back your diary and remembering everything you did, you thought, you felt. That seems pretty extraordinary to me.
Letters are fun too. For example, I wrote myself a letter on New Year’s eve explaining everything that had occurred that year. The people I met, the places I’ve been, the sadness and the happiness I experienced. I also asked myself a few questions about the upcoming year, where I’ll go and what I’ll see. I sealed it and stuck it in my diary. Can’t wait to open it in 11 months‘ time!! (:
I added a few pictures of my journal onto here; I love looking back over it.
juliamzk 