Your Daily Journal/Morning Pages

[kygirl]

One of the habits we're going to get into next month is daily journaling. In the past, I've covered up plain old composition notebooks with pretty papers and ribbons. But I just got an e-mail from WeRMemory Keepers that's going to take my journaling to another level. They have their Journal Dock systems, which are normally $38, on sale for $3.80. Isn't that crazy? In fact, their entire Memory Dock system is on sale for 90 percent off. Here's the link if you're interested: https://www.shopwer.com/Itemdesc.asp?ic=70821-6&eq=&Tp= (https://www.shopwer.com/mmSHOPWER/Images/70821_100.jpg)

Here's the Journal Dock.

https://www.shopwer.com/mmSHOPWER/Images/70821_100.jpg

If you decide to design your own journal, I'd love to see what you come up with. Just post a pix in the gallery and link back here.

[Lumilyon]

Donna, I am a complete file/folder/storage box addict they look great but there are no dimensions! Will have to mail them...

[kygirl]

The dimensions and a complete description are on this site: http://www.memorydock.com/journaldock.html

[cfalbro]

Is this still on sale? Where do I get it?

[kygirl]

It looks like it's still on sale, but I don't think it will last much longer. Sorry for posting the wrong link earlier. It's https://www.shopwer.com/Itemdesc.asp?ic=70821-6&eq=&Tp=

[FLCindy]

I attended one of Julia's workshops in 1998. One attendee who was blind, asked about typing the morning pages. Julia said "Use whatever means necessary to write your Morning Pages." Today, I typed my
Morning Pages (http://floridacindy.blogspot.com/).
Although my entry is not very long, my entry gets to the heart of a matter. I usually do not share my MP's but I figured "Why not?" You are not required to share your MP's.

If you can write your Morning Pages, I encourage you to do so. If not, you may use other means necessary to drain the brain.

[kygirl]

Congrats on doing your Morning Pages, and for being brave enough to put it out there for all to see. The more people are educated about the terrible effects of fibromyalgia, the quicker we'll see a cure.

[FLCindy]

I wrote more in my initial post. It was rambling, so I cut paragraphs.

The Morning Pages:

I feel like a catepillar, growing to understand the fibro disease and what's best for me. (It's actually a syndrome, but my RA doctor calls it a disease. I agree!) When I feel confident about accepting my new limitations, I will emerge from the cocoon.

What I wrote in this post wasn't clear until I wrote my Morning Pages this am. You may get clarity that day or it may take a while for you. The Morning Pages do work!

[cfalbro]

Today was the day for me. I started my Morning Pages. I've been sort of dreading it telling myself the past few mornings that I should do it but then didn't. This morning I woke up and actually felt rested and refreshed and decided it was a good day to just start! SO I did : ) And let me tell you, my hand was cramped after the first page LOL. This is going to be a really fun experience. I'm truly excited.

[inky_yvonne]

Hi, looking forward to getting started! I bought a blank journal from Paperchase that's small enough to fit in my bag. My plan is to do my morning pages on the underground on the way to work. The journal has pocket pages and clear pockets that I plan to put some quotes from the book in.

Link to my journal pictures below.
Artist Way Journal (http://www.digitalartquirks.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5706)

[Tangie Baxter]

I'm using a 25 cent wide ruled notebook from the back to school section ;) why you might say? lol

She talks about how no one is supposed to read them (we're not even allowed for the first 8 weeks-but to each his own if they want to share of course!!). If I decide at the end of the 12 weeks that I really don't want anyone to read what comes out on those pages (insert my dd name here, when I'm gone) it's easily disposed of (I doubt I'd really have the heart to do that!!) but somehow it seems less intimidating for me by knowing it's "just for me"..... a few pages of scribbles in a notebook by the bed...... That is what is so great about this, we can all tailor it to our needs!

I started last week and I've only had to *force* myself to do it once. I really find them quite enjoyable to let all that out and then start the day fresh and ready to go!

[kygirl]

I've been through about five of those cheap notebooks in the past few years.

Occasionally, when I'm writing, I'll think "Should I really put this on paper? What if someone sees it?" I finally figured out that when this happens, it's a signal that whatever I'm writing about is something I really need to deal with.

Good for all of you that have already started journaling. One of the things that surprises me is how quickly those three pages fill up.

[cfalbro]

Today was the second day of my Morning Pages. It was actually enjoyable today, I even found myself looking forward to it : ) I do mine first thing in the morning before I even get out of bed, it really starts my day off right. I was worried I might not have anything to write about, but it's amazing what you find to write when you consider writing the words BLAH BLAH BLAH 5 thousand times to fill up 3 sheets LOL. I'm using a plain composition book. They're tough enough to handle my page turning but cheap enough that I feel like I can scribble whatever I want into it. If it's something pretty I feel obligated to write neatly and put something in it of value LOL. Not that the MP's aren't valuable...

[inky_yvonne]

Started my morning pages today - was surprised at how easily I managed to write 3 pages when I didn't think I'd have anything to write. The writings not very neat but I don't mind, I really felt a lot better after writing.

[kygirl]

Yvonne, sometimes when I look back over my morning pages, I can't even read my own handwriting. But what can Cameron expect when she asks us to do this before we've even had our first cup of coffee? LOL

[Lumilyon]

LOL! Donna, I'm over two weeks into my pages now and they are almost illegible. I do write blah blah blah when my mind goes blank!

[clickhappy]

Started today. It was nice but I was not in any hurry today either. Hope I can keep it going when I feel pressured.:)

[craftyamanda]

I started my morning pages (actually afternoon pages for me, I'm a nightowl) yesterday... I'm not normally a journal keeper (just art journaling, not writing) but found I had an awful lot to say! I easily could have kept writing several more pages, but for my hand cramping up! Also read all of the intro, and part of chapter one... I've never been one for self-help type books, and honestly I was at first really resistant to doing this book. That's why I decided I'd better do it with the group here- or I'd procrastinate further (I've owned this book for about 10 years!) and never start at all. But so far, so good...

[Lumilyon]

Oh dear...in bits because Kim told everyone about Gallery standouts and my big thing in my pages this weeks is about how when I was a kid, people used to say "don't praise her, she'll get big headed" and how this has reverberated down to my adult life with some very, very unpleasant consequences. So I am repeating "It's ok to acknowledge that I am talented" over and over again...but it feels VERY uncomfortable. AND IT"S ONLY BLOODY WEEK ONE!!!!

[Lumilyon]

Ok...for those of you who don't know about the weird sport off Extreme Ironing, it's that I'm referencing here. Extreme Journaling: had to get up really early to go to the Farmers Market, so took my folder with me and wrote my pages on the top deck of the bus...very bumpy, winding roads...writing UTTERLY illegible but actually had some interesting thoughts. Myabe all that bobbing up and down was a bit like Brain Gym????

[Lumilyon]

Ok...for those of you who don't know about the weird sport off Extreme Ironing, it's that I'm referencing here. Extreme Journaling: had to get up really early to go to the Farmers Market, so took my folder with me and wrote my pages on the top deck of the bus...very bumpy, winding roads...writing UTTERLY illegible but actually had some interesting thoughts. Myabe all that bobbing up and down was a bit like Brain Gym????

[Artist in Residence]

Lumi, the image in my mind of you riding along in that bumpy bus-- and keep in mind I have no idea what you look like...but anyway, I get a very funny picture in my head! And I can just imagine how beautiful that curvy, bumpy road to the market must be.

What a great way to start you day. Good job!

Juli

[kygirl]

I was picturing Lumi bouncing up and down on the bus, too. I'm a big fan of English mysteries, so in my mind, all British double-decker buses are the bright red ones of the 40s. And all the women onboard are wearing tweed skirts and little hats. :-)

I ended up doing my morning pages late this afternoon. Weekends are so crazy that it completely slipped my mind. But the writing just flows, and three pages are filled up quickly.

[kygirl]

We're midway through our first week of the Artist's Way workshop. How are you doing on your morning pages?

Yesterday, my morning pages were nothing but a to do list of things I'd like to accomplish this week. I wanted to write something more soulful, but all I could think of was how much I need to do. So that's what I wrote, and you know what? I felt better when I was done.

My point is that the morning pages do not have to be great literature. They just need to be done.

[joannknnrd]

I'm five days into my pages and I resent them, lol!

I think I need to rethink when I do them, first thing in the morning is just so hectic and I'm not willing to get up any earlier than I already am... mine have ALL been about how rushed I always feel, and I don't have time, blah, blah, blah!

But at least I have done them :o

[clickhappy]

I got them done almost every day. Then I didn't get much else done artistically. I am working on installing a new program, but there is nothing less fun than watching it shut down again.

I also find lists are good too or re-listing my affirmations. I don't always feel comfortable focusing on the blah blah blah's because I want to overcome it. I often turn to problem solving and if I can find some creative answers to my issues that is awesome.
Since I am not going to try to write (artistically) I also like to make it about my art -- like things I should photograph this week, or a digital lay out idea. It is good to know there is no wrong way to do them and I do not mean to say there is, just that as a non-writer it is different to take on the blank page than as one.
Sometimes I do them before starting the part of my day where I have some freedom instead of first thing. This is usually when the kids are in school but has been in the evening on one day too.

[kaylaugh]

I started today off seriously needing to get some mental garbage out of my system...I dreamed all night about it and just knew I couldn't focus on anything else till it was done. So instead of 3 pages of blah blah blah I filled out 2 pages of DMCA legal notices to send to my pirate. Grrrr! This is my first time dealing with this garbage and it is seriously a mojo killer.

I did take my camera out today and enjoyed taking pictures just for the sake of taking pictures...no layouts, no designing textures, no goals. I found some interesting bits of scenery around me I hadn't noticed before. It was very refreshing and recharging!

Kristi

[kygirl]

Tomorrow marks the end of our first week of daily journaling. How was the experience for you?

Are you like me, doing them as an afterthought in the afternoon (yes, it's happened more than once this week)? Or are you diligently doing them every morning?

Joannknnrd was honest enough to admit to us that she resents them. :-) That's okay, too. Remember, Cameron says "Often, the students most resistant to the morning pages come to love them best."

[craftyamanda]

Honestly, I resented the idea of having to do the morning pages before I started, but I immediately realized how helpful they are to me. My brain often is taken over with analyzing, worrying, thinking about the same thing over and over again- and the morning pages really help with all that. I've done yoga in the past, and the quiet meditative part never worked well for me because I couldn't make myself stop thinking. With the morning pages, I don't have to- I think it, write it down and feel better about things, calmer, able to focus more, right away. I feel like I should have felt after meditation. I do them religiously first thing every day, but I do make coffee first and drink it while I write. Sometimes lately when I'm having trouble falling asleep because I can't stop thinking, I have considered starting a journal of evening pages- maybe it would help!

[trkdesigns]

I have not been able to get mine for last two days. Being sick as the proverbial dog, I have not had my hour of quiet time in the am. I have been sleeping until its time get kids ready andthen going right back to bed. I finished yesterdays about 6pm...and today...well tomorrow is another dya.

[kygirl]

I hope you're feeling better soon. I need to get back on track with mine, too.

[clickhappy]

trkdesigns,
Hope you feel better soon & glad you are taking care of yourself.
I am still plugging along with them. Many of them are short, but I get started at least. And there are some areas where I write blah blah blah. I am feeling resistant to change and the morning papers point that out.

[kygirl]

The morning pages are becoming a habit, now, and I'm starting to look forward to them. I do think that at some point I will have to burn them. I do a lot of whining in my morning pages, and that's not really how I want my descendents to remember me. :)

[kygirl]

After being so good about my morning pages for two weeks, I'm suddenly finding myself resisting them. Didn't Cameron say that would happen? I wonder what issue I'm trying to avoid? :)

[kygirl]

I've really been resisting my morning pages. I haven't been forgetting; I've just refused to do them. What's that about? Cameron would say that it means I'm getting close to a revelation.

In the meantime, I've been having vivid dreams, so vivid that it takes me awhile after I awake to realize that I'm back in the real world. This morning, I started recording the dreams in my morning pages. Maybe, they'll help me make sense of this.