Why I Journal

To put form to the myriad of thoughts that loop over and over in my mind. That, once on paper, actually turn out to be far less dramatic or important than they first appeared. It keeps me honest. It keeps me sane. Writing, not typing, but actually writing. Putting pen to paper and writing down each thought, slowing down the stream of consciousness, unravelling individual strands of thought and focusing the mind singularly on one at a time. Allowing my pen to capture each in its totality. And once on paper, freeing my mind. It’s hard to hold onto something that barely fills a page of my small notebook. Really, I’m angry, frustrated, upset or worried because of that? No. Instead I see it for what it is. And either let it go or choose to do something about it. Either way it no longer keeps me up at night or distracted during the day. A powerful thing indeed ‘tis taking pen to paper.