Well over a year ago, maybe even two, my husband bought me this fantastic journal! I LOVE it! In fact, I love it SO much that it has remained in the plastic wrappings all this time. Nothing I can think of is good enough, worthy enough, to go in it. From time to time I pull it out and admire it, think about writing/drawing in it. . .nope, I put it away again.
So a month or so ago, Dennis took me to the store and had me pick out a journal I would write in. I browsed and felt so many nice ones. But, I ended up picking the exact same one again, thinking that if I had two of them, I would be able to bring myself to write in one.
I have taken one of them out of the wrappings. . .but I still cannot think of anything I can possibly do that will be worthy enough. . .sigh . . . the weirdness of being me.
I GET it Lisa! I really do!! In fact...am guilty of the same thing...
ReplyDeleteWeirdness of being ME too!!
It is a BEAUTIFUL Journal!!
Not weird at all.
ReplyDeleteI am the same :-)
You must!
ReplyDeleteStart writing and/or drawing.
(but of course, I would do exactly the same.)
Anyways, that looks like leather and needs to be felt and stroked and aged a little.
Just think how much you will enjoy reading back and looking at scribbles later.
Actually, just thinking:
When I was ten it was the custom to have a Poesie Album. You passed it on to your favourite people who would write a poem and stick in a little picture or draw something.
My uncle was a drummer in a band, and drew himself sitting at the drums; all my schoolfriends put in little pics, as did the brownies and their leaders.
Maybe reinstate this custom for grown ups?
Only a thought. I'll get out mine today, now an antique of course, or at least vintage :-)
I wrote in a journal eons ago, but then for some reason I decided to stop. Recently, I've tried to start up again, but I just sit there staring at the page. Sometimes I'll even write something, then end up tearing it out because it's not 'journal worthy'?! There's something about writing the words down on paper that give them so much more weight. Good luck with your journal, it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou are weird, Lisa....lol!!! That is a beautiful journal and I guess I can see why it is somewhat "sacred" to you, but get that pen out and start writing....you always write so beautifully with so much emotion....think what those pages would contain! Have fun with that second new journal!! :)
ReplyDeletei know what you mean when you say you can't bring yourself to write in it. it's beauty will be defiled or maybe just changed somehow. i have a few journals that i haven't written in but love to look at for their beauty. but, recently one of my blogger friends shared a link to a writing meme called reverb 10 click on the prompt tab when you arrive and you'll find a question a day to answer. i've thought about doing this myself. maybe this will help you get started on your writing in your favorite journal. good luck.
ReplyDeletehave a great day.
Not so weird. It's a common thing amongst people who journal or sketch how difficult it is to make the first mark in a new book, and especially if the book is a beautiful one like yours with happy associations. Maybe it would be a good idea to find a quotation you REALLY love and that speaks to you specially and then write that on the first page. Try using a fountain pen if you don't usually and buy some great ink for it in a different colour - sepia or grey or forest green. Make sure it's bleed-proof ink - try Noodlers, but make sure it's one of their properly bleed-proof ones. Lamy make a lovely fountain pen that I like a lot called Safari - it's not overly expensive and they do it in lots of lovely colours and with a choice of nib size. Gosh - I do go on!!
ReplyDeleteI have a notebook that I haven't written in, too. The Man keeps trying to write in it, because I keep it beside the bed, but I flip out everytime he picks it up!! You are not strange at all, because if you are, so am I!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful journal and I understand you not wanting to write in it. However, now that you have a second one - just go for it!
ReplyDeleteI totally have the same problem!! My grandma has had a journal since I can remember. Know what she writes in it?! Daily weather updates! lol
ReplyDeleteI used to have that problem. I got over it by writing statements of gratitude in it. :)
ReplyDeletemaybe start with a quote... or a poem that you love :)
ReplyDeleteI like Angie's suggestion. I have never kept a journal, but I do occasionally write journal entries in whatever notebook comes to hand. But don't think that what you might write isn't worthy; when the time comes, someone close to you, or someone descended from you, will read it eagerly and so come to know you better.... I suppose I need to start a journal!
ReplyDeleteOh I can sooooo relate! You know I am a fan of quotes - so I like the idea of putting your favorite quotes in one :)
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Not so unusual, I think. I bought a delicious, perfect little book, fully stitched and bound in the softest, most beautiful gold-stamped green leather in Italy. It is still pristine and unused, for the same reason. What could I possibly put in it which would be worthy of such gorgeousness? I wonder how long it will remain empty ...
ReplyDeleteI own a couple of these beautiful journals which also lie empty or worse still with only one page used... I personally feel freer journalling in a black backed spiral bound sketch book (blank pages) and also have many filled lined Pukka Pad Jotta's... I just seem to feel freer and able to write about my day, my feelings, things I want to do, scribble, make notes, add photos, write to do lists, do doodles and sketches etc in books that don't feel too precious to me to start with... I have no idea why this is... perhaps if you started doing your daily journal entries in something less impressive then you'd gradually start to fill in pages on holidays or special days in the beautiful journal and you could keep two pads working alongside each other. That is what I do with my two... sometimes I want a blank page other times I want lines... I am not sure but I think I felt intimidated by my beautiful and very expensive journal books as though every page would need to be perfect just like the journal whereas using something cheaper allowed me more freedom...
ReplyDeleteI've done the same thing!! It seems a shame to fill a beautiful book with my inane ramblings but USE IT!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this. I have blank books I can't touch. I convince myself I will use them for photo albums. And there they sit. I can bring myself to mark up a good ol' Moleskine, though....
ReplyDeleteJust start with your favorite quote or poem. Once you have written in the first page, you will find the rest will come easier. I love the old fashioned journals. It makes me feel like a pioneer or something to write in one. Decide what kind of book you want others to read about you. That is the type of things you put in it. What you love, what is important to you, what is in your heart, what you want to share, what are your dreams. The beauty of it is that the possibilities are endless.
ReplyDeleteOh, I always knew that you were in my club of weirdness :) I'm the same way, but then I just take the leap and be me...no matter how nice a book/journal is...or whatever it is that I'm leaping into. It's hard to do...why? I don't have the answer, but like you've done in your next post with the drawing and "LIVE"....yup...you know what you need to do, on the inside.
ReplyDeleteThat is a common problem! We have beautiful journals, unused, here, and my son loves the diary I bought him so much he can't bear to write in it!
ReplyDelete