A Bit on Journals and Sunday Thoughts

So lately, I've had this feeling to start journaling.

You know, so your posterity can read it and be amazed at the life you lived.

HA.

The reason I haven't started a journal is because this is all it would say:

"October 19, 2012...

Today I got up and went to work at 8.  Then I went to school after work.

Then I went home to do homework and eat dinner.

Then I went to bed.  The end."

[REPEAT]

I've told Brennen that there is no one on the face of the planet that would ever want to read a years worth of that stuff.

Then I went to a 'Super Saturday' with my mom.  Together we took a class on journaling.

And you know what? It actually got me excited to write.

It gave me a few ideas of what to do, 

but first here 10 tips of how to keep a record of yourself:

1. Find what type of journal medium is right for you.

Do pen and paper work best for me? or do I type faster than I write?

Do I enjoy writer's cramp?

2. Decide what kind of journal you'd like to keep.

There are lots of different kinds of journals.  I know when I was 8, my grandma gave me a thankful journal.

3. Find the perfect place (or places) for writing

Where am I going to write that's comfortable and conducive to the thought process?  Where will I keep my journal so that I REMEMBER to write?

4. Find a time that's right for you

For me, this is the easiest.  At night.  Because i'm most coherent then.

5. Relax 

Because journaling isn't supposed to be stressful.

6.Find sources of inspiration

For me, this is music.  I find that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir station on Pandora is great and I listen to it when I'm doing homework or anything that requires my full attention.

7.Use your journal to work through the hard stuff

This I love because I always put my thoughts together better on paper (or computer) than i do in speaking.  It allows me to completely express my feelings

8. Fill your journal with whatever you like (don't forget the spiritual)

I heard today that there is an apostle, i forget which, that keeps a seperate journal for all his spiritual experiences and it's just for him to reflect on.

9. Reflect over what you've written now and then

Speaking of which, what a great way to track progress and growth.

10. Keep your journal safe.

Keep it in a safe place, out of places where it might be ruined.

More later on my Journal Jar.  

And now for my Sunday Thoughts

1. Obey the Word of Wisdom, and great blessings will come.

2. "If this law [the Word of Wisdom], that is adapted to the capacity of the weakest of us, is obeyed, it will be a foundation upon which may be added many great blessings that our Father will be pleased to bestow, that otherwise we would not be entitled to and could not receive   How can any of us feel justified in ignoring a simple law of God that He, by His own voice, has said any of us can obey?  Can we expect to be able to keep a higher law, and be able to attain great exaltation, if we fail to keep this simple requirement?" (Teaching of the Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, pg 208)

3. What things in my life do I need to give up to become as a little child and grow closer to Christ?

4. Something that I remembered our Elder's Quorum President said in a talk before he and his family moved out of our ward that really struck me: When the Savior was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was praying to the Father.  His disciples were outside the garden--the Savior had asked them to tarry there.  He returned to his disciples who had fallen asleep--twice.  He asked them if they could not stay with him but one hour.  The Savior was doing the single most important act known to mankind, and the could not even stay awake for him?  The sacrament is a similitude of the atonement.  Can WE not tarry one hour?