No. 76 - A Journaling Workshop!

Taking Note: Creating Ourselves Through Journaling

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In the journal I do not just express myself more openly than I could do to any person; I create myself.

Susan Sontag

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HI!

I’m hitting your inbox early this month to let you know that the journaling workshop I’ve been alluding to forever is finally ready to drop.

TAKING NOTE - Creating Ourselves Through Journaling

Thursday, May 16th at 6:30 pm (Pacific Time)

(…and if for some crazy reason there’s demand for a daytime slot as well, that can be arranged).

The cost is pay-what-you-wish… $0 - $50 suggested.

I’D LOVE FOR YOU TO BE THERE.

❤️‍🔥If you know someone you think might be interested, please share this. I would really appreciate it❤️‍🔥

By way of explaining the title I came up with for the workshop—Creating Ourselves Through Journaling—here are two things that happened recently:

The first is that Anne Kadet of Café Anne asked me the following question on my last Taking Note newsletter post, and I had to think before answering.

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The second is that I’d considered so many different titles I’d lost all perspective, so I asked Jill Margo of The Creative Goods for help (she helps me a lot). Intriguingly, one of her suggestions used the idea of creating oneself, because she also had noticed how I’d mentioned that idea in my post.

Ah-ha… a theme. And one I hadn’t realized until these two wonderful women pointed it out.

And one I’m going to run with because it speaks to me, at high volume. I’ve always felt that I wouldn’t be the same person if I hadn’t written in a journal all those years. I gave myself what I needed, and I know that others can, too.

I’ve been writing in a journal for almost 50 years. A few years back it dawned on me that this activity was not only important to me, but also… important. IN GENERAL. It’s such an inexpensive, accessible, edifying, fortifying activity. What’s not to love?

THE WORKSHOP:

What it is - A 2-hour journaling workshop (see description below)

When - Thursday, May 16th at 6:30 pm (Pacific Time)

Price - Pay what you wish - $0 - $50 suggested

Where - Hosted live on Zoom

Who it’s for - This workshop is for those who want to:

• Journal for the first time

• Return to journaling, or

• Deepen their journaling practice for further clarity and self-knowledge

What to expect - I’ll cover ways to journal, the benefits of journaling, materials, and bypassing fears and blocks, among other things. We’ll do seven different journaling exercises together, which we can discuss at the end.

What you’ll need -

• Pen or pencil or whatever you like to write with

• Something to write in/on - if you don’t have a journal, loose paper is fine

• Coloured pens, felt pens or pencil crayons if you want (but not necessary)

What it’s about -

Our minds are all we have. They are all we have ever had. And they are all we can offer others.

Sam Harris

Since my teen years, journaling has been instrumental in helping me gain perspective and clarity, understand and accept myself, and come to terms with difficult issues or changes in my life. It’s helped me to show up, both for myself and for those in my life.

Building a relationship with your journal is building a relationship with yourself.

Research shows that putting your unruly thoughts into language helps to tame and organize them, makes them easier to understand, and frees up mental resources that can be used elsewhere. It helps you learn to notice and observe your thoughts and feelings with curiousity, and not be ruled by them.

My hope is that this workshop will provide you with some tools for engaging with your journal in a way that’s meaningful and generative, and if you’re new to journaling I hope to dispel any fears you might have.

NOTE: This workshop is the beta version of what I hope to develop as a longer, more involved offering. I would very much appreciate any feedback you can give me afterwards!

WHO’S IN?

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