So no, I’m not an artist. In fact, I have limited drawing skills. But sometimes I can sketch a small drawing pretty well. When I saw this little book on a trip to Barnes & Noble a few months ago I was intrigued. I bought it on a whim and it sat on my coffee table for weeks. One day I walked past it and just had a moment of clarity – use this book to begin a daily moment of reflection. I had been hung up on the word SKETCH instead of the word JOURNAL.
What I quickly realized it that I could expand its use to include all types of reflections:
- A great quote or comment from a co-worker or one of my kids
- A fleeting idea about a product I should create
- A design idea
- A mini outline of a career goal
- Brief notes on an idea that will help me edit my life
The book has two days to a page and the spaces provided are just enough to keep each entry brief which is the idea. I don’t know about you – but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve purchased one of those lovely lined journals with the intention of writing long somethings about something and more something only to find it still sitting empty 10 months later. Why is it still empty? Because for some of us, the very idea that we HAVE to fill up endless space on all those pages suddenly makes it seem like too much. “Who has time for that?” you reason day after day.
Even though the format is designed for a quick, small sketch so you can hone your drawing skills…or whatever it is you brilliantly, talented artists do that I cannot do…I love the idea that each little square is just big enough for a little note. And guess what? I have sketched a little here and there as well. So – fine. You got me. But I love picking it up every night to write or sketch a little blurb about something positive that happened that day. Sometimes it’s a great thought I had, an inventive idea, or just to have a messy project brainstorm session with myself.
Here’s the key: Once the little space is filled up, stop writing.Yes. Just stop.
The funny thing is that when you do that, you might find yourself excited about the opportunity to write more tomorrow. I’ll admit that once I was so into brainstorming ideas that I picked the book back up right at midnight, put the new date in a new space and wrote some more. (disclaimer: results probably not typical if you are more sane than I am) The point is that I think you will actually write in the darn thing instead of it sitting blank for so long that you eventually re-gift it.
Ultimately, what I’ve learned is that it’s a great way to have a moment of positive affirmation each day. And reading back over your entries or adding to them as your ideas flow is powerful. It’s a great little project people. Try it!
edit. your. life. 