365-Journal Your Story Project Stacy Duplease Smashwords Edition, Copyright 2011 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 2 REMEMBERING YOUR PRESENT, LLC POQUOSON, VIRGINIA Website and Blog: www.2turtlesdesigns.blogspot.com Copyright © 2012 by REMEMBERING YOUR PRESENT, LLC and Stacy Duplease. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy or copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions. Copyright © 2012 by REMEMBERING YOUR PRESENT, LLC and Stacy Duplease. All rights reserved of photography on cover of this book. All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Remembering Your Present, LLC & Duplease, Stacy. 365-Day Journal Your Story Project ISBN 978-1-4659-3514-4 Please visit: www.2turtlesdesigns.blogspot.com PRINTED AND CREATED IN THE USA 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 3 21 January 2012, 14:18 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project I am going to start a couple different ongoing and recurring blog post projects. The first one is a personal and professional one for me that I figured I would share with you. You might be interested and might want to do it as well. If nothing else, it will work good as journal prompts for you. The 365-Day Journal Your Story Project is an introduction to journaling of sorts. It is to help figure out what it means to journal and what your niche is as far as journaling. After all, there are several different types of journals that you can keep. Stay tuned and have a great weekend! ~ Stacy Duplease 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 4 21 January 2012, 15:50 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 1 An Introduction GREETINGS AND WELCOME Welcome to the 365-Day Journal Your Story Project. This will be a journey of self-discovery and of remembrance combined into one. But most importantly, this is an introduction to journaling. WHAT IS JOURNALING? Let me give you synonyms and then give you a few different definitions. The other names for journaling might help you to start to form your own definition. There are all sorts of names that are synonyms for journaling. For instance: Journaling Diary Journalkeeping Journal Keeping Reflective Writing Writing for the Soul Writing for Your Life Writing Your Life Memoir Autobiography Record Scrapbook Therapist Friend Confidant Sacred Journey Chronicle 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 5 But, what is the most simplest definition of journaling? It is: Journaling is putting your life on the page. Definition #2: Journaling is the process of remembering your life up to this point, living fully in the present, and planning for the future. This is where things get fun. There are thousands of different definitions we can give of journaling. Literally. However, the definitions I will include today are what I find the most important. Definition #3: Journaling is putting your life on the page. It is the process of remembering your life up to this point, living fully in the present, and planning for the future. It is the process of self-discovery, memory keeping, planning, learning, and diving deeper so that you live a life of intentionality and purpose. In other words, journaling is living life to its fullest and not taking it for granted. Do you see? We are getting diving deeper as we go with these definitions. None is more true than the others. They just dive deeper to the heart of the matter. Definition #4: Journaling is putting your life on the page. It is the process of remembering your life up to this point, living fully in the present, and planning for the future. It is the process of self-discovery, memory keeping, planning, learning, and diving deeper so that you live a life of intentionality and purpose. In other words, journaling is living life to its fullest and not taking it for granted. Journaling forces us to be aware of each moment we are 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 6 alive. It makes us pay attention to all of the details and forces is to analyze where we are, how we got there, where we are headed, and why. Definition #5: Journaling is putting your life on the page. It is the process of remembering your life up to this point, living fully in the present, and planning for the future. It is the process of self-discovery, memory keeping, planning, learning, and diving deeper so that you live a life of intentionality and purpose. In other words, journaling is living life to its fullest and not taking it for granted. Journaling forces us to be aware of each moment we are alive. It makes us pay attention to all of the details and forces is to analyze where we are, how we got there, where we are headed, and why. Journaling transforms us to be better people and to live better, healthier, more purposeful lives. Take some time to ponder these definitions and see what you think. I welcome comments and questions. Feel free to email me at the addresses below or at hisfiction@gmail.com or you can add a comment at the end of any blog post. If you want me to share your comment or keep it private, let me know. Do you want to try this thing called journaling? Or, do you want to try it again? Or, do you want to try to journal from a new and different angle? Just give it a try. ~ Stacy Duplease 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 7 21 January 2012, 16:32 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 2: Paper or Digital (Part 1) CHOICES: PAPER OR DIGITAL? The most important decision you can make regarding journaling is what type of journal you want to keep. There are two main categories: Paper or Digital. PICK ONE I recommend picking one as soon as possible and experiment with it. See if it works for you. If it does not, try the other. You could even try each and see what you like the most. The beauty about journaling is: THERE ARE NO RULES. So, you can change and adjust your journal, and how you journal, as you go. JOURNALING HINT Experiment. See what works for you and what does not work. Make note of it in your journal. Then, make adjustments as often as necessary. WHAT DO I RECOMMEND? I debate if I should say this now or later. I decided to say this now so you can start thinking in these terms. I want to persuade you in any way I can to make your journal permanent and not give yourself the opportunity to have your journals lost because of some freak accident. (I have. That is why I say this.) It can cause you great pain that could have the potential to stay with you for the rest of your life. Literally. I am not making a bigger deal out of this than what is necessary. This is firsthand knowledge. I recommend in the end to have it digitally. I will spend the next several days talking about this and why. 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 8 But, digital is permanent. You cannot lose them. They cannot be stolen. That being said, you might want to start with a paper journal and then type it up as you go. If you feel stifled by doing a digital journal, then by all means do the paper version. But, whatever you do, get it saved digitally. I will tell you why in the days to come. I do some of this. Writing it on paper, with my own hand, can have more meaning to me. It gets me to look at things differently with pen in hand. I find it a far more sacred act to write my journals by hand. I am not sure why, but I do. However, I make sure to type them up in my computer (not a typewriter) every day or at least every week if I do journaling by hand. (Why every day or week? That way I do not procrastinate and say I will get to it later. I have learned that this mentality can cause you not to type them up and you can lose your journals through a freak accident, act of nature, or them being lost or stolen.) If you are an artist and want to draw or paint or scrapbook for your journal, paper is essential. However, make sure to scan them and get them saved digitally as soon as possible. Again It is permanent that way. If you have never journaled before, I recommend doing it digitally from the very beginning. Do not make the paper kind a habit. It is far too risky not to do so. PAPER Paper journals are what you think. It is paper and pen. It could also be paintbrush, photos, and pen. It can also be a form of scrapbook. It can be typed with a typewriter (which is not permanent either). Paper journals can be the fancy blank books you see at the bookstore (and other places). Other possibilities are: ~ Legal pads ~ Steno Pads ~ Spiral Notebooks 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 9 ~ Loose-leaf paper ~ Scrapbooks ~ Photo Albums Remember with most of these, ink fades. Water, animals, and people can damage, steal, or destroy. Weather can destroy them as well. DIGITAL A digital journal is something you keep with a computer, cell phone, and/or other internet connected device. It is a permanent way to journal. Your computer, cell phone, tablet, and any other device can be destroyed and this journal will last. This is a forever journal. It cannot be lost or damaged. ~ Stacy Duplease 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 10 22 January 2012, 13:50 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 3: Paper or Digital (Part 2) Today is the third day of an introduction to journaling. We are going to look a little more at paper journaling and digital journals. PAPER JOURNALING: A VARIETY Let me make another note regarding paper journaling. We discussed them during Day 2 and this is an extension of that information. It is regarding one of the benefits about paper journaling is you have a great deal of variety. This is priceless, let's admit it. But, with that variety comes a cost. You have to also digitize it if you want it to be permanent. That is another step in the process. This is something to keep in mind. ADVANTAGES OF PAPER JOURNALING Let me recap about the advantages of paper journaling: 1 It offers the most variety. 2 You do not have to have electricity to do paper journaling. 3 Tends to be a little more creative. 4 It's more attractive to the eye. 5 If you like drawing, scrapbooking, or crafts, this is the best of both worlds. DISADVANTAGES OF PAPER JOURNALING 1 The paper journal itself can cost a lot of money. If you want to keep a constant supply, that costs money to keep the supply. The cheapest blank journal you can get is at Barnes and Noble and it costs $3 + tax a pop. If you write every day, it will last you about three weeks. [...]... 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 15 21 January 2012, 13:55 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 4: The Choice Today is the day for you to make the choice 1 How do you want to journal? Paper or digital? Make a list of pros and cons of each from your perspective 2 Make the choice 3 Buy whatever you need 4 Prepare whatever you need ~ Stacy Duplease 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE. .. You 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 18 might find it cumbersome at first, but in time, you will appreciate it Trust me PAGE 3: EXERCISE 1: NAME YOUR JOURNAL It is time for you to come up with a name for your journal ~*~ Jot down some ideas of names/titles for your journal Here are some examples I will put my name in them as an example: 1 The Journal of Stacy Duplease 2 The Chronicles of Stacy Duplease. .. 1 of your journal ~*~ Make sure to circle or star all of the other goals you did not put on page 1 You will refer to them again when you start your next journal These extras might become a new quarterly or yearly goal 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 22 Tada! That is it for page 1 Tomorrow, we will start the journaling journey I am so excited I cannot wait! ~ Stacy Duplease 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY. .. pull 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 26 my car over and journal something or I record it on my cell with voice recording and type it up when I get home Give it time Journaling will become a part of you I promise You just need to stick with it You'll never be the same if you do 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 27 Day 8 25 January 2012, 11:27 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project: ... to do all of them I hope this clears these things up Have a blessed journaling day! ~ Stacy Duplease 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 30 9 03 February 2012, 10:26 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 8, Calendar Journaling Welcome to another day in this series about journaling your own life story This is an introduction to journaling series, but can give even veteran journalkeepers... is a way for you to keep your personal history ~ It helps you to keep track of history and historical events 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 36 ~ Journaling helps you to remember your family history and stories ~ It helps you to remember the stories of others around you ~ It helps you see in a new way ~ It helps you to remember your childhood ~ It helps you to remember your engagement period ~... Duplease 3 The Story of Stacy Duplease 4 The Life and Times of Stacy Duplease 5 My Story 6 My Life 7 Use the date For instance: January 2012 8 If you are Christian, here is an idea: His -Story, My Story 9 Use a word you want to focus on: Love Peace Joy Patience Serenity Etc TO DO ON PAGE 1 ~*~ Pick a name You can change it in your next journal if you want ~*~ Write the name at the top of page 1 of your journal... Write the inspirational quote on Page 1 on the next blank line That is enough for today We will finish with Page 1 tomorrow ~ Stacy Duplease 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 20 6 23 January 2012, 15:03 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 6 and Page 1 of Your Journal (Part 2 of 2) PAGE 1 Yesterday, we started to take a look at what to put on page 1 of our journals It is critical... off your journal and the first blank page is what sets the mood 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 17 and tone of the rest of the journal Consequently, it is important to begin your journal well So, what are the components of a good page 1? I will list them below and then will go through each of them one by one and explain them to you ELEMENTS OF PAGE 1 OF YOUR JOURNAL 1 Name of journal (title) 2 Your. .. if you cannot do it every hour 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 32 Have your TO DO item on your calender listed first in the time slot Then, add whatever your heart desires Just make sure to include thoughts, emotions, description/summary, and conclusions At the end of the day, write a high and a low What was a high point of that day? What was a low point? Then, your voerall impression of the day . Might not have 3G. 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 14 ~ Stacy Duplease 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 15 21 January 2012, 13:55 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 4:. 365-Journal Your Story Project Stacy Duplease Smashwords Edition, Copyright 2011 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 2 REMEMBERING YOUR PRESENT, LLC POQUOSON, VIRGINIA Website. Page 1 tomorrow. ~ Stacy Duplease 365-JOURNAL YOUR STORY * DUPLEASE * 20 6 23 January 2012, 15:03 Blog Post Title: 365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 6 and Page 1 of Your Journal (Part