Today’s quote:

In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Mina Murray comments on journaling and says, “It is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time.”

There is something profound about putting pen to paper and crafting a place of refuge for personal thoughts, deep emotions, and subjective retellings of daily occurrences. Words envelop our souls as they are the primary tools by which we can construct a home for creative (and destructive) expression.

Journaling empowers me to formulate a vessel to house much of who I am. The written word holds significantly more power than the spoken word. Both are fleeting, but written words bind and guide and direct and protect.

Journaling has provided some of the best therapy for me throughout the past four and a half years that I have done it regularly. By “regularly,” I mean at least once a month but more often once a week or every other week. If writing projects count as journaling, “regularly” might average out closer to three times a week for me. After all, what are blogs but public journaling?

Like today’s quote says, journaling is a way for us to communicate with ourselves. Producing simultaneous input and output has many benefits. One lasting benefit of the output aspect of journaling is the ability to revisit the journal entries later down the road. Old stories and memories that were once fresh become new again.

There’s a company called “le vent” that specializes in journaling products. They supply the leather journal cover and spiral refills I enjoy using. Explore their products here. Inspired by the fleeting nature of thoughts, the owner and founder of le vent – which means “the wind” in French – encourages writers to capture their ideas before they drift away like the wind. The company’s motto (which I just made up): Write like the wind!

There are many times I open my journal not knowing what I will write about, thinking I don’t have much to say. An hour later, with a hand sore from writing, I snap the book shut and stand feeling lighter of spirit and sharper of mind. I have filled up about 6 spiral notebooks since 2018. From my inconsistent journaling as a child and teenager, I have about 3 additional notebooks full of journal entries.

If you haven’t ever tried your hand at journaling, I would encourage you to do so. If you think there is nothing to write about, you will find that there is plenty. All you have to do is listen. Listen to the whisperings within you and write like the wind!

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Brain teaser:

There are three (3) light switches upstairs, all in the “off” position. One (1) switch controls an incandescent lightbulb in the basement. The other two (2) switches do not control anything. The bulb is currently off. You are upstairs, standing in front of the three (3) switches. You can manipulate them however you like. From your position upstairs, you aren’t able to see any light that may come from the basement. You are only allowed one trip downstairs. In other words, you cannot return upstairs to manipulate the switches after you step foot in the basement. How can you determine without a doubt which switch illuminates the bulb?

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