Two Little Phrases
Posted by Anne
Next to my bed sits a jumble of written words. Some of them were written by me. Most of them were not. This ever-growing stack of volumes on my bedside table is where I keep notebooks, journals, and the 4 or so books I’m reading at any given time. I love this untidy pile; I love going to sleep with books and words by my side. But there’s a downside to this pile…I tend to forget what’s at the bottom. But last weekend, I was reminded of my pile’s contents when I dusted said bedside table. And this time, I decided to actually take the extra 30 seconds and remove all the items from the surface of the table, instead of lazily snaking my way around picture frames and tubes of chapstick with a cloth.
In my burst of cleanliness, I made a discovery. Sitting at the bottom of my signature pile was a journal. There are actually a few journals in my pile, but I’d forgotten I had this one. I was eager to dive in, curious as to what I’d find in its messy pages. You see, my journals aren’t really journals. For as much as I like to write, I’ve never quite latched onto the concept of a diary. So my journals tend to be highly random, and highly disorganized. They’re more like receptacles for ideas, thoughts, and beginnings. In my journals, you’ll find the typical descriptions of events and heartbreak, as well as random quotes I’ve picked up, song lyrics I’ve printed and stuck in-between pages, cards given to me by dear friends, rough character sketches for novels I haven’t written, and journal entries written on the pages of church bulletins and airline magazine pages that I’ve hastily torn out and thrown in between the blank pages.
But this journal I found…it was different. It was orderly. It had dates. Sure, when I opened it, there was the usual cascade of loose paper and cards. But there was a structure to the entries of this journal. They began in January of 2000—winter of my sophomore year of college. Looking now, I see two headings on each page…two little phrases. The first is “In my prayers…” For each entry, there is the name of someone I’d been thinking about, or worrying about. The second heading reads “Grateful for…” And there I recorded someone I felt particularly grateful for on the day I actually wrote in the journal. Nice, huh? Here’s a little sampling…
In My Prayers…
“My sister, as she waits to find out what she’ll be doing post-graduation. I hope everything turns out as it should.”
Grateful For…
“My parents, and how they never get tired of hearing from me while I’m at school. I value their friendship so much.”
Reading the entries now, I’m struck by how simple this action was, yet totally heartfelt. It couldn’t have taken much time—10 minutes tops. That’s why it saddens me to see how long this routine lasted. 16 entries. That’s it. The other pages remain blank. I’m not shocked—but I’m curious as to why I couldn’t have held on longer. Needless to say, life got in the way of my daily reflection.
These days, I’m no better. Often, I talk to the people I’m thinking about, or I might say a private prayer when I think of it. And those thoughts and prayers don’t mean any less than they did when they were carefully recorded in my blue, linen-covered journal. But sometimes I lose track. I become preoccupied with myself, my blog, my life. So looking back on that journal—I believe there was something really beautiful about giving my time (brief though it was) to do nothing but think of someone else, and write it down. That time was dedicated—special—even if it lasted for a mere 16 days.
I wonder if I could move my little journal to the top of the pile for awhile, and see how long I can take time—just two little phrases and a little bit of time each day—to write something nobody else will read. To dedicate my time to thoughts of someone else.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:06 am
I love this idea. As you say, it is both simple and profound. I used to be an avid journaler, but haven’t done it in years – mostly because the way I did it was very time consuming. But this is a wonderful way to briefly capture some very important thoughts. I may just try it!
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:42 am
I’m with Gale: what a wonderful meditation on what matters. My journal these days is like yours: a random smattering of ideas and quotes. But why not add these two important lists?…in fact, I’m going to do it now…okay, done.
Thanks, Anne, for the inspiration this morning.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:10 am
I just finished “The Happiness Project,” and she notes that people who express gratitude tend to be happier people. She starts a “gratitude journal” — very similar in content and tone to yours. While, much like you, she fails to keep it for very long, it serves to put her in a gracious state of mind.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:32 am
Also, I forgot to mention, this is a perfect excuse to go buy a beautiful little journal for my night stand.
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Great reminder, Anne. I started a gratitude journal in January of 2008 and then stopped some months later. Then re-started some time last spring only to peter out in July. I have re-started it this January and have kept it going so far. It has helped me reflect each day and focus more on the positive!
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:55 pm
If you have the discipline to blog, you have the discipline to write in your journal. At least do it on the days that Elizabeth is writing LIP, right?
February 4th, 2010 at 6:19 am
Going a little off topic, the other day I found a journal from junior high school! What a treat! It was not a gratitude journal because I was 11 and it was all about me!!! But my point is that it is great to write these journals so that you can go back and see who you once were, where you came from, and how you have changed. (I am much more grateful now than I was in 7th grade.)
February 4th, 2010 at 10:26 am
I keep meaning to start a gratitude journal – or something like that. Thanks for the reminder!
February 4th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Emily, the discovery of your junior high journal NEEDS to be a blog post. Please.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
I had a gratitude journal but I was being too selective about what I was putting in it. I only wrote big things to be grateful for. Now what I would like to do is write about the little gratitudes in the every day. Thanks for the motivation!
February 6th, 2010 at 6:12 am
I have kept a gratitude journal for years. I write, somewhere near the end of the day, five things I am grateful for that day. I am going to start a new journal and add those I am praying for to it!!! Thank you!!!
February 17th, 2010 at 4:10 am
[...] Taking a page from my sister’s play book, I am going to adopt the practice of recording my gratitude and my prayers in a daily journal. Through this practice I hope to become more aware of the many blessings in my life, and more mindful of those in need of my prayers. I think on these topics frequently, but not regularly. And I hope that ritualizing the acknowledgement of them will make me more aware of both. (And if I’m being truly honest, I was very excited to shop for the perfect journal.) [...]
April 15th, 2010 at 3:03 am
[...] Maintain a gratitude journal. (Anne at Life in Pencil first introduced me to this idea.) [...]