For years I’ve been advised to make journaling a habit. Folks would say, “you can reflect on your thoughts,” “writing down your goals will make them happen” or “find three things to be grateful for each day” (Three Good Things). A friend of mine once attributed his ability to cope with depression to his journaling practice. Successful people keep journals. I don’t have any numbers to back that up, but based on my own experience, it is the case. I’ve tried several times to ingrain journaling into my weekly routine, but it hasn’t happened, until now.
Lame (but somewhat valuable) video here:
Something about writing straight from the heart makes it worthwhile, and it wasn’t until recently that I figured out what it was. The following is an excerpt written earlier today from the gusty alpine of Mt. Rainier.
“Sitting in a small rock shelter at 2nd Burrough above Sunrise. [As I look up at the grand mountain] One thing that comes to mind is the idea of details. From Seattle, on a clear day, most folks have the chance to appreciate Mt. Rainier’s beauty. From afar, all you see is the snow, some large exposed rocks and the general appearance. Up close, there is so much to see! Thousands of crevasses, many glaciers, waterfalls, lakes and meadows. If you never came to see for yourself, you would never be able to understand why I sat and took 5 minutes to write this. *(Yes, at 8k feet elevation with chilling wind gusts in my face, it took a whole 5 minutes to write just a few sentences)*”
Following up on that thought… DETAILS: the grandeur of the mountain can be seen from afar, but so much more beauty is revealed up close. Not to be too philosophic/poetic here but this lesson applies across many aspects of the human experience. The first thing I think of is people; there is unseen beauty in people, and if we looked a bit closer maybe we could appreciate each other more(and maybe get along a little better). The same goes for a science, a book, or a movie; on the surface, biology can be cool, a book cover can spark your interest, or a movie trailer can catch your attention, but it isn’t until we understand the full picture that we can truly appreciate something’s value. The point is, there is more to see if you just look.
My takeaway from my quick trip to Rainier is to inspect the details before making a judgement. Without my little notebook and pen in my pack I wouldn’t have solidified this realization as thoroughly. Not to say I came to some hysterical realization, but the thought was a reminder to go below the surface level.
The tipping point for journaling becoming a habit in my life was not the result of a conscious decision, but rather the natural outcome of carrying a small notebook and pen with me on hikes. Try it for yourself: bring a small notebook with you on a walk to the park and spend just 5 minutes writing down your thoughts. Use your journal as a tool for improvement and happiness. No pressure, no obligations, no requirements… just one tip: pick a notebook with small pages so you can fill them up faster 🙂
Kyle Huber 