Why do you (want to) journal?

"Today it's a question for you to ponder over - and of course write about in your journal. Why do you journal? If you have been doing it for years, what keeps you going? And if you are wishing you were regular journaler, why do you want to be one? What do you think you will get out of it?"

This is a 1:1-copy of Dolly's blogpost:
"Why do you (want to) journal?"
Well, her question made me think over my own intents and purposes according journaling ... finally, I came to the conclusion, my comment on Dolly's post fits in my own blog as well. So here it is:

I've never been a diarist in the classical way. As teenager and young adult I gave journaling a couple of times a try, but it never worked for me. I've always felt, that my thoughts, the parts of my inner self weren't secure within the pages. This made me burn the written pages.

I changed my mind, when I started with journaling during my time abroad. It was a mixture of travel diary, new experiences and daily irrelevances. These books are still very precious for me and I'm more than happy to have them.

These days, in my daily life, I keep a dream diary, which is also my journal for creativity and art. These pages are still very personal and I won't show them to anyone ... but I'm glad to show others the little stories and art projects developed from those lines. Besides, after discovering my inner artist, I'm thinking of an art journal ... Well, we'll see! :-)

For myself I can say, once caught fire, it's hard to stop, even if I don't keep a regular journal. It's more that I see myself developing over the years, in writing, drawing, catching the mood ... everything!

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One-Minute-Writer: Week 34

(Note: These are writing prompts of "One-Minute-Writer-Blog")

Monday, August-23: Travel. Write about the most important item you like to carry with you for a long day of traveling.
Depends on the activity of that "day of traveling":
- In bus, train or plane: MP3-Player, a good book, my travel journal.
- On the road: A map, a credit card and a good song on radio. *thinking-of-easy-rider*
- Backpacking/ Sightseeing: Good shoes, water and a camera.
- Got lost: Bear Grylls' survival package! *g*

Tuesday, August-24: Pet. Describe an everyday scene from the point of view of a pet.
Saturday, anytime late morning, bedroom:
Finally! It's about time she's waking up! Okay, test: *purr-purr-purr* Check! Ready for the show!
Meow-mooorning. *nudge-with-the-head* Ah, here comes the hand. *purr-purr-purr* I love our daily morning smooch and cuddle. Ah, here is fine and ... yes ... a little on the belly ... Oh, she lifts the blanket ... I love caves ... no, no focus, focus! Hunger! Come on, * yowl* I'm starving!
Hey Amira, what about supporting me here? Naw, everyday the same, she's just like her, a late sleeper and I'm alone with all the work.
All right, it's time to haul out the big guns! *jump-on-the-chest* *patter-with-a-little-use-of-claws* *deeper-more-intense-purr* Let's try the paw-on-the-mouth-move! Mouth - food - here in, these broad hint usually works! Yeah, it does!
She's getting up! *jump-off-the bed* Hey, no! Not in the bathroom first ... come on, please! Don't you hear I'm starving down here?
*run-in-the-kitchen* *MEOW* Here's the place for some action! At last ... she's coming! Come on, hurry up, starving creature down here!
All right, NOW Mrs. Sleeping Beauty comes to support me, after all the major work is done. *sniff* Oh, seems to be fish! *yummie* Come one, give, give, give ... *MEOW* I knooow, we should eat slowly, you don't have to tell this every morning ... Ahhh *sigh* it's luscious!

(P.S. This scene did not just happen a few hours ago, but in various versions every single morning over the last few years! *sigh* The can opener!)

Wednesday, August-25: Glass houses. Make up a new ending for this saying: "People who live in glass houses shouldn't..."
People who live in glass houses shouldn't be surprised to find themselves on the "Funniest Video Show".

Thursday, August-26: Wind. You are the wind's interpreter. What is it saying?
I'm the one, who's rarely be seen, but can see everything.
I'm the one, who's loved, when I bring the first whiff of spring or the promising smell of a summer evening barbecue.
I'm the one, who's also feared, when fire, water or dust follow my way.
I'm the one with no voice, but when you listen carefully, I can speak to you in the whisper of the trees.
I'm the one, who comes from everywhere and nowhere, but who's always there.
Come and listen to my voice!

Friday, August-27: Texture. Write a brief bit of fiction that involves a description of at least one texture.
With silent reverence she looked at the old master's painting. It was so breathtaking wonderful. Slowly she moved one step forward, stopped right in front of the picture and took a closer look. She raised her hand carefully, but didn't dare to touch the surface. She could see the structure on the surface, the little hills and valleys the oil paint had left. When she took a deep breath she could still catch a tiny whiff of the paint within the stronger smell of old paper and wood. Standing so close, the fine and vivid strokes of the brush seemed to make a whole different painting ... and still, she was impressed. It was better to step back again, before some security guy would call on her, and admire the beauty of the painting from the distance.

EDIT: Another win as Daily Winner! *yippie*

Saturday, August-28: Food. Write about a food that gives you a specific emotional response.
I like eating and there are different foods I connect wonderful memories and positive emotions with … strange, but while reading this prompt I instantly had to think of pineapple. I used to like them, but nowadays I react very heavily on them. Out of courtesy I don't want to mention all the symptoms, let's just call it a very heavy colic. Maybe this reaction is so dominant in my brain, because it was the very first time my body had reacted so heavy (in a negative way) to any kind of food.

Sunday, August-29: Wedding/funeral. Write about a memorable wedding, funeral, or memorial service you've attended.
You'll never forget the funeral of your beloved mother.
RIP Mom!

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Golden Gate

Referring to my previous post "7 Links Challenge", where I had to answer the question of "Art I enjoyed creating", here it is:

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7 Links Challenge

I've read the challenge at Daisy Yellow, while she had spotted it somewhere else. What a chain reaction! *g*

I'm not long into blogging (as you can see on point 1.), but I really like the idea of "7 Links". And maybe, who knows, somebody else reads this and continues the chain!

1. Your first post

What am I here for? went online March 2010.

2a. A post you enjoyed writing the most

A Ball Of Yarn and
Confessions Of A Writaholic
Note to myself: You have to write Part 2!

2b. Art you enjoyed creating

*smiles* It's a three color picture, called "Golden Gate", which I haven't posted yet.

EDIT: Well, it's online now - Have a look: "Golden Gate"

3. A post which generated a great discussion

There's a tie between:
WTJ: Sample Various Substances Found In Your Home.
WTJ: Place Sticky Things Here.
WTJ: Draw With Glue.

4. A post on someone else's blog that you wish you'd written

No, that's not the way I think, because in my opinion every writer and his/her writing style is unique. Sometimes I envy the creativity and the idea BEHIND that particular post, like this one:
Join me for some Fictional Fun
Dinner Party with Jane Austen's Heroines

5. A post piece of art with a title you're proud of

*hmm* I like these two SRK-Wallpapers a lot:
Deep Eyes and Hair
I'm also quite fond of my little poem called "Life".

6. A post that you wish more people had read

As my blog is quite young, I wished in general to have more followers, who read and hopefully comment on my posts!!!

7. Your most visited post ever

When it comes to my blog posts, I'm too fresh to have many visitors. BUT on my flickr account, the most viewed picture is:
Wreck This Journal: Glue, Staple Or Tape These Pages Together.

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Wreck This Journal: Draw Fat Lines And Thin.

(Note: Taken from my Edition of "Wreck This Journal")



Actually I was doing another page, but suddenly I felt the urge to do this one!
I simply LOVE tigers! *roar*

And before anyone asks, EVERYTHING is painted:
- The left page on a separate piece of paper, because of the Holes from the "Poke-Holes-Page" and then glued in.
- The right page is first completely colored in black and then the tiger drawn on the surface.

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One-Minute-Writer: Week 33

(Note: These are writing prompts of "One-Minute-Writer-Blog")

Monday, August-16: Sale. Write the text of an ad you'd love to see for something on sale.
Do you feel that there is too much crime and violence in this world? Here is the chance everyone can afford, for just one penny/cent: Humanity!

EDIT: Another win as Daily Winner! *yippie*

Tuesday, August-17: Shower. Baby showers and bridal showers are common in America. What other event do you think should be celebrated with a gift-filled "shower"?
The industry for gifts, chocolates and flowers is very good in inventing new holidays. But still, there are silent heroes, you don't find a greeting card for. I think of all those people with honorary posts, helping the poor, the old, the social outsiders. THEY should be honored and rewarded!

Wednesday, August-18: Overindulgence. In what way is 21st century society the most overindulgent?
Every medal has two sides. Without doubt, living in rich countries of the Northern hemisphere, we have too much food, too much technique equipment, too much of almost everything. Living in a country of the Third World means having too much hunger, too much violence, too much suffer from natural disasters. So, the question of the 21st century society is NOT overindulgence, BUT balance!

Thursday, August-19: Forward/backward. What is holding you back or pushing you forward?
Backward: My lack of confidence, my fear of the new and unexpected, my compulsion-to-be-Mrs.-100%-Perfect, my experiences in the past. In short what's holding me back: ME!
Forward: As long as I could think I've always felt this inner mainspring. The thirst for knowledge, the hunger for unexplored areas, the desperate need for something new. No matter what, my inner glowing power has always been with me. So, what's pushing me forward: ME!

Friday, August-20: Ocean. Write a brief bit of fiction using the prompt "Ocean".
There it was again, that sparkle in his eyes. Every time he gave her that look, it took her breath away and her body was humming with electricity. In his beautiful eyes, blue-green like an ocean, she could drown deep to the bottom and get lost in his beautiful soul.

Saturday, August-21: Uniform. Describe the uniform you wear for your job, or what a uniform for your profession should look like.
To cut the matter short: Business outfit!

Sunday, August-15: City. You are in charge of designing a new city. Describe your design.
I think of a symbiosis of natural materials and modern techniques. Every house would produce its own electricity, either with wind or sun. There would be rain tanks on the roofs, to collect the water used for toilets. The cars would run by electricity and/or magnets and underground, so above ground there is enough place for parks and gardens. I think of living WITH the nature, not destroying it for selfish purpose.

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Wreck This Journal: Tie A String To The Spine Of This Book. Swing Wildly. Let It Hit The Walls.

(Note: Taken from my Edition of "Wreck This Journal")




Just a lot of glitter string and a Mini-WTJ as bookmark! *smiles*

Additional note: I really have to pay attention, where I put my WTJ, because my two little Mini-tigers Sheela and Amira simply love to play with the MINI-WTJ!!! =^..^=

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