Journaling for minimalists, the next best thing, and commitments

Ellipses, Feb 8… Issue #41

Ellipses… a small, special character. Used by writers to slow down, create a pause, and indicate thinking.

⚫️ 1 tip: The next best thing 🪶

We react to life as it hurls things at us. We usually don’t have a choice. I can say this because I’ve been there, and I operate from there most of the time. But since being laid off, I’m in a whole new world.

Funemployment teaches me to slow down and think about what to do next. Not like, my next big career move or a big goal to tackle. Not even the next book to pick up. When my day isn’t scheduled with back-to-back meetings or optimized to fit in my “healthy” morning routine of coffee-meditation-run-stretch-shower-coffee-work, I’m free to make it up as I go.

The very act of not knowing what to do with myself was terrifying at first. But then, I slipped into a rhythm with myself.

Earlier this week, I had a faraway lunch with friends. I looked up directions, then turned off GPS and simply drove. I listened to Big Magic on audiobook, fueling my artist within. While driving, I remembered my promise to myself to walk every morning in order to protect my health, get my dose of sunlight, and check the box to exercise every day. When I saw signs for Valley Forge park, I took it as my next best thing and followed the brown road signs to the entrance. I quieted down the anxious, over-scheduled version of me who worried I’d get lost and lose precious minutes. “It’ll be okay. We’re not in a rush,” I said to her.

And miraculously, I got to the park—and my final lunch destination—without a GPS. Imagine: A world where you didn’t need to use turn-by-turn instructions. It turns out that if you sort of know, intuitively, which way to go, and then you use your eyes to see and use road signs, it works. Magic, indeed!

Are things in my life uncertain? Yes. Are things scary? Heck yes. But in the passing minutes of every day, I work to choose the next best thing instead of listening to panic and unrest.

⚫️ 1 link: Journaling for minimalists (or beginners) 🔗

Hear ye, hear ye, journaling minimalists, beginner journal-writers, or lazy journalers. My 54321 method will get you journaling every day. In mere minutes, you’ll be able to touch upon everything going on in your life and start to recognize patterns day to day.

Here it is in a YouTube video I made last week. I’ll take my gold star now, please and thank you ⭐

An EASY Minimalist Journaling HACK - Start & KEEP Your JOURNAL HABIT

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⚫️ 1 journal prompt: What’s the biggest commitment you ever made? 📔

When Elizabeth Gilbert was young, vowed to God/the Universe/Whatever to be a writer. It was the biggest commitment she ever made. She promised to write always and forever, whether or not she became successful. She’s now a bestselling author of Eat Pray Love, Big Magic, and more, but she went into this contract knowing she’d write every day even if she was a bartender for the rest of her life.

Have you ever made a commitment like that, whether to yourself or outwardly? What was it?

Thanks for reading!

Hit reply to chat further on any of the above. I’m an open book and I love to hear from you. See you next week.

Be safe and well,

🖤 Jenny

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