Past Design Teams

Thursday, January 03, 2008

New Year...Fresh Start

So...the new year brings about so many thoughts of fresh start...starting over... kind of like a rebirth in the general belief that anything is possible. So...today we start again as new infants taking a fresh perspective on the year that lies ahead of us and the things that we hope to accomplish.

This year, there is a clear wave within the scrapbooking community to capture those things that we are grateful for. It is interesting because if you have been a journaler of any kind (more than just writing on your scrapbook pages I mean) you probably have seen or heard of Oprah's gratitude journal and the books by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I even bought my dh the one specifically for men a few years ago.

I love this quote that is at the top of Sarah's website:

Whatever you are waiting for
--peace of mind, contentment, grace,
the inner awareness of Simple Abundance
--it will surely come,
but only when you are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

This is another quote that is from an online site on gratitude:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie

This final quote is one that a friend shared with me:

"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey.
Especially the goodness of the people we meet along the way.
Appreciation is a wonderfulf eeling, don't overlook it."
-- Author Unknown

I began my journey through my gratitude journal almost 5 years ago....how do I know this, because I started journaling after doing research on the type of journal I wanted to use. This is when I discovered the 5 year journal created by Doreen Clement. I had the opportunity to talk to her personally a few years ago...she was waiting in the airport on her way to Mexico for her Cancer treatment and I had written her an email about how the journal had helped me to get through some difficult times. It was a wonderful conversation and I am still amazed that she took the time to call me to just talk. Her journal captures a thought about your day...each day of the year for five years on the same page...so for each day such as today, January 3rd there are five sets of lines under the date...each year you place a thought on the lines...

It is a great concept and idea because it allows you to review where you were at this same date in your life years ago with just a glance.

I have since purchased many of these journals...give as gifts to friends...many of whom still have them sitting blank in a drawer...telling me they don't want to write in a diary something that someone else might read...even though I explain to them that it is not a diary and who cares about who might read it at some point, the point is to reflect on things and write it down so that you don't forget or lose perspective...those thoughts help to make up who you are...don't you want your loved ones to know who you are - truly?

This year, I start a new 5 year journal; this is my second one and I am a bit sad...all the blank pages stare at me each night as I write down a though about my day; the crispness of each page that has not been doodled on; never turned; never cried on; no water stains from splash battles in the tub; there are no words to look back on..only thoughts of what may be written down on these pages during the next five year...thoughts of my dh...this cranky cat that is never comfortable...
I am also a bit refreshed...those past 5 years were hard years, full of pain, loss, sorry, and yes, many joyful moments, but I must move on...fill these pages with my new journey; with each new page turn there is the hope of something new, exciting, different just waiting for me to experience.

I am glad to see the return to the roots per se with this latest wave in the scrapbook world. For me...it is nice to have so many more along this journey of capturing the tiny things that truly matter in a way that is meaningful to you.

Information about Dorren, her battle with Cancer (which she sadly lost last year), and her 5 year journals can be found here: http://www.the5yearjournal.com/

4 comments:

marcibun said...

That's such a great idea! I've never heard of that before but I love the concept of it. The last 5 years went by so fast, I would love to have kept a journal like this. Thanks for sharing this awesome info.

becca said...

what a cool journal idea! well written post lynda!

michelle said...

this sounds like an amazing type of journal. thanks for sharing this info will have to do this.

Sheila said...

You write so beautifully Lynda! It brought tears to my eyes...Wonderful thoughts and you have a beautiful way of putting it into words!