It's January, the start of a new year. January gives me a perfect time to relax, regroup, and reflect on the previous year. Reviewing my journals can assist me.
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| Image 1: Years of memories in Journals! |
I have recorded in journals for decades. In 2007, after years of trying to organize my life via other means, (business day planners, electronic spreadsheets, and more), I settled on using the smallish journals shown.
Journaling helps me keep track of my life. There are times I have been super busy, and yet I could barely remember the events of the previous week/month/year. Sometimes I can't remember what I did (or even ate) a day or two ago, and yet I know I had little free time. What did I do the last two summers? I can barely recall.
Can anyone relate?
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| Image 2: Decades of Journals! |
So I use journals as an aid. I can read one of my journals, and details flood back to me, reminding me of a (busy? hectic? sometimes crazy(?)) life.
I need to write in a journal to use this aid. I write a page or two a day, mostly jotted-down notes of events, things I did, read, watched, ate; to-do lists, and more.
Often a day in the journal consists of more phrases than full sentences. (Is that bullet journaling?) Occasionally an entire sentence or paragraph will be written. And there are checklists, many of them with check marks made (and dated) months later.
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| Image 3: Journals 2007 to 2025 |
In recent years, (on some days), I try to remember to write three things (or more) I am grateful for. (Is this "gratitude journaling"?)
[They say gratitude journaling is supposed to be good for you. - Who are the "they"?]
Sometimes my grateful items are "adulted - called the plumber"; "paid the Property tax bill". On better days, my grateful items include fun events like "Garden Tour", "Mosaic class", "Dinner with Friends", club meeting, Blog post out, finished project xxx, etc.
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| Image 4: Journals 2007 to 2025 |
I love having these journals to reference, sometimes years later. Where did we spend Thanksgiving, or the 4th of July in 2014-2024... What was the annual Christmas party theme? Who attended? It's in my journals! (Also, maybe in photos.)
For example, in 2025: Christmas Party theme Harry Potter... 28 people at my brother's house. I brought xxx food items...
(We do a themed Christmas, doesn't everyone?)
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| Image 5: A Merry Harry Potter Christmas! |
I kept a journal on vacation trips long before I attempted to record my daily life. My first journal of this sort was a trip to Spain when I was in High School. Reviewing and remembering details from trips makes me content (I get to realize I have come so far!!!). In more recent journals I record the names of hotels, museums, restaurants, financial details, and notable memories.
For example, in 2025 I traveled (overnight, out of my house):
Japan in April 2025Boston in April 2025
Camping Canoe trip in Wisconsin August 2025
Seattle in September 2025
New York in December 2025.
(Try keeping those details straight 5 years later...)
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| Image 6: Public Transit Cards from Boston, New York, Seattle, Japan |
Journaling gives me a satisfaction and improves my memory, and assists me in various goals. (all those lists!)
I recommend journaling, although perhaps not as obsessively.
"The unexamined life is not worth living"
- Socrates
"The unexamined life may not be worth living, but the life too closely examined may not be lived at all."
- Mark Twain
The first quote above may seem harsh, but I do see the benefits journaling and reviewing makes in my life...
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For the other part of this post, reviewing 2025, things went well, all things considered. I posted once a month (an on-going goal). I traveled to places near and far. I created projects and read books.
A wet basement in August exhausted me and threw me for a loop. (Rare flooding in Wisconsin due to extreme rainfall.) Perhaps someday I will write a post on it. (Only 1-2 feet of water, many things were spared.) My insurance paid for the new water heater, the new furnace, the new washing machine, etc. I had replaced my furnace in 2024 with a new one, and now I have a new furnace in 2025. I don't know what to think about that, so I try not to, and I channel gratitude.
My main goals in 2026 include blogging once a month, creating more, traveling some (including at least one National Park), and completing a reorganization of the basement. My stretch goal includes exhibiting at least one artwork somewhere.
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Finally, in 2025, my Number 1 top post from 2025 was...
My Seashell Mirror!
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| My Seashell Mirror |
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Here is a list of my top posts from 2025. Do you remember seeing any of these?
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| 1. My Seashell Mirror |
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| 2. Autumn Hutch |
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| 3. Mosaic Tree |
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| 4. Summer Sunsets |
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| 5. Summer Vacation |
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| 6. Travel Memories |
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| 7. Cherry Blossoms |
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| 8. Flower Mirror |
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| 9. Country Roads |
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| 10. Christmas Hutch |
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May 2026 be a blessed year for you, and the world if possible.
Happy New Year!
Peace and Love for all in 2026!
Click on the images to see them enlarged...
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_____________________________________I am linking up to these parties:
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A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 708 (l Entry 1)
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Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su 458 (Entry 4x)
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Grace Filled Moments: Sweet Tea Friends monthly (Entry 10 monthly)
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On resolutions, wrap-up, WOY, Tops
I have three large categories of posts:
China hutches, Mosaics, and Travel.
