I do this with photos on my iPhone. When I see something beautiful or unusual I capture that image. Later I create albums— roses, waterfalls, family. Sometimes when I am distressed I go back and immerse myself in these beautiful photos and the days they recall. It helps.
This is pretty much my approach to photos. If I would turn to a walking partner and say "wow, look at that!" I take a picture. A couple of times I have been in a hurry or stressed and skipped a picture.. I always end up regretting it. So now my mantra is Take the Picture.
I love journaling myself and am doing 3 things on a daily basis: I make a picture of the day, I write down my ‘story of the day’ (the highlights that happened and I want to remember) and the things I’m grateful for that day.
Why I loved this post so much, is because it directly inspired me to add one more to my daily writings: the observations of the day. I’ve started with this yesterday and immediately noticed that I’m writing down very different things than with the other topics. I’m noticing in a different way.
perfect timing! yesterday i spotted a young woman waiting for the same bus as me insouciantly smoking a cigarette while sporting a tshirt that said CIGARETTES ARE BAD. the delight i delighted in is with me still. i need to be writing this stuff down (in places other than your comments!)
I super like this and it is so affirming. I will use it to add other interesting observances to my Journals that often get lost. My journals are a combination of writings, quotes, "jots", feathers found, a touching email, message, or card received or sent, photos, Autumn leaves (Oak are my favourite) - all pasted or taped to a page. The way you describe this practice is such a good reminder to be present and aware. Once again, I thank you.
Gosh, every newsletter is chock full of amazing stuff! I'm now simultaneously listening to the Tom Johnson video, ordering Observations and imagining a hooked rug version of my dog. :)
I’ve adopted Austin Kleon’s logbook this year, which serves a similar purpose as this does (though there’s a bit more to it) and I’ve enjoyed the heck out of it. I, too have never been able to stick to a journaling practice, so we’ll see how it goes, but I think these sort of short form entries work well because the pressure is off. You’re just jotting down things that happen, things around you, etc. without getting stuck in the creativity of it all. It’s been a good way to ground me in the present day and moment.
And, I appreciate the link to Geoff Manaugh’s post on the LA fires. Our daughter and her family, my niece, and so many friends live there. Geoff’s accounting is very real and personal. It didn’t just leave me in tears; I was sobbing. Thank you, Rob, for sending positive thoughts their way.
I like the jotting approach. Quick and easy. How might one follow by up on the jots? Or journal entries for that matter? I’ve kept dream journals for years. As I start to clear out closets and attics, what do I do with them all?
I may not be the best person to ask that question! I'm not big on revisiting. BUT maybe I'll float this question in the chat in the days ahead and see what others think/do? Short answer I think it's okay to jot for the moment!
Thank you for sharing this. I've read this article with great joy and I'm intrigued to give it go. I've been doing a 100-day challenge on Photography a few years ago, where at a certain point I reached the same level of 'viewing the world through different eyes'. It's a lovely feeling, and it's a great little 'escape' from our fast-paced lives.
Thanks Rob. I'm a new journal writer too - less than a year but I'm finally hooked, after years of failure to complete. And what got me hooked were my dreams. Before any screens, I write what I can recall of the night's dreams. Very informative and useful. Helps me understand my life a little better. It's also an interesting exercise in attention: remembering dreams is hard! Takes attention and will. And like you, I can't (and don't) read my own writing. Just the act of writing down the dreams and a few words about the previous day, those acts are centering and informative. Now I've started to quickly draw my dreams after noting them, as a peripheral part of my art practice. Also very helpful.
These moments of awareness are how I begin writing haiku (not just syllable counting but a deeper literary approach that pays attention to objective description, seasonal reference, and a juxtapositional two-part structure, in the Japanese manner). These noticings are seeds for haiku. And, as Mary Oliver wrote in her "Instructions for Living a Life," we should pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it. The process starts with paying attention, and we are either astonished by life or we're not, but let's hope we're astonished. And then we tell about it by sharing the moment with others (if we want) or by creating something -- or maybe by writing a haiku.
I do this with photos on my iPhone. When I see something beautiful or unusual I capture that image. Later I create albums— roses, waterfalls, family. Sometimes when I am distressed I go back and immerse myself in these beautiful photos and the days they recall. It helps.
This is pretty much my approach to photos. If I would turn to a walking partner and say "wow, look at that!" I take a picture. A couple of times I have been in a hurry or stressed and skipped a picture.. I always end up regretting it. So now my mantra is Take the Picture.
Loved this post!
I love journaling myself and am doing 3 things on a daily basis: I make a picture of the day, I write down my ‘story of the day’ (the highlights that happened and I want to remember) and the things I’m grateful for that day.
Why I loved this post so much, is because it directly inspired me to add one more to my daily writings: the observations of the day. I’ve started with this yesterday and immediately noticed that I’m writing down very different things than with the other topics. I’m noticing in a different way.
Thank you for inspiring me! It means a lot!
Oh that is awesome, thank you!
perfect timing! yesterday i spotted a young woman waiting for the same bus as me insouciantly smoking a cigarette while sporting a tshirt that said CIGARETTES ARE BAD. the delight i delighted in is with me still. i need to be writing this stuff down (in places other than your comments!)
Ha ha I love it!
I super like this and it is so affirming. I will use it to add other interesting observances to my Journals that often get lost. My journals are a combination of writings, quotes, "jots", feathers found, a touching email, message, or card received or sent, photos, Autumn leaves (Oak are my favourite) - all pasted or taped to a page. The way you describe this practice is such a good reminder to be present and aware. Once again, I thank you.
Thanks Barbara!
Ah, thank you.
It's less daunting to just write a phrase.
Gosh, every newsletter is chock full of amazing stuff! I'm now simultaneously listening to the Tom Johnson video, ordering Observations and imagining a hooked rug version of my dog. :)
That's too much multitasking lol!
I’ve adopted Austin Kleon’s logbook this year, which serves a similar purpose as this does (though there’s a bit more to it) and I’ve enjoyed the heck out of it. I, too have never been able to stick to a journaling practice, so we’ll see how it goes, but I think these sort of short form entries work well because the pressure is off. You’re just jotting down things that happen, things around you, etc. without getting stuck in the creativity of it all. It’s been a good way to ground me in the present day and moment.
Austin has amazing journal game! Nobody better. But yes, find your way to what works for you
And, I appreciate the link to Geoff Manaugh’s post on the LA fires. Our daughter and her family, my niece, and so many friends live there. Geoff’s accounting is very real and personal. It didn’t just leave me in tears; I was sobbing. Thank you, Rob, for sending positive thoughts their way.
Geoff is an amazing observer/thinker/writer, and I agree this account is something else. Glad you appreciated it, me too.
A great idea....and a beautiful one. One could make a "Jot" poem.
Yes that's true!
I like the jotting approach. Quick and easy. How might one follow by up on the jots? Or journal entries for that matter? I’ve kept dream journals for years. As I start to clear out closets and attics, what do I do with them all?
I may not be the best person to ask that question! I'm not big on revisiting. BUT maybe I'll float this question in the chat in the days ahead and see what others think/do? Short answer I think it's okay to jot for the moment!
I dig this. There’s something about a notebook that becomes a way of not being off, or there is for me.
Today, I would like to be the Rock’s brother. Ask me tomorrow, man …and who knows…
Thank you for sharing this. I've read this article with great joy and I'm intrigued to give it go. I've been doing a 100-day challenge on Photography a few years ago, where at a certain point I reached the same level of 'viewing the world through different eyes'. It's a lovely feeling, and it's a great little 'escape' from our fast-paced lives.
Thanks Rob. I'm a new journal writer too - less than a year but I'm finally hooked, after years of failure to complete. And what got me hooked were my dreams. Before any screens, I write what I can recall of the night's dreams. Very informative and useful. Helps me understand my life a little better. It's also an interesting exercise in attention: remembering dreams is hard! Takes attention and will. And like you, I can't (and don't) read my own writing. Just the act of writing down the dreams and a few words about the previous day, those acts are centering and informative. Now I've started to quickly draw my dreams after noting them, as a peripheral part of my art practice. Also very helpful.
Good stuff, thank you -- and I like the idea of drawing dreams, very interesting!
I bet you’ll be surprised that your jotting will have way more of an extravagant pay off than you think.
Maybe I'll start a newsletter ;)
Ha! You’d be great at it 😉
These moments of awareness are how I begin writing haiku (not just syllable counting but a deeper literary approach that pays attention to objective description, seasonal reference, and a juxtapositional two-part structure, in the Japanese manner). These noticings are seeds for haiku. And, as Mary Oliver wrote in her "Instructions for Living a Life," we should pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it. The process starts with paying attention, and we are either astonished by life or we're not, but let's hope we're astonished. And then we tell about it by sharing the moment with others (if we want) or by creating something -- or maybe by writing a haiku.
This is such a great idea.