In a recent blog, I talked
about Bill’s and my journey to Lake
Chapala. I also talked a
little about journaling. Throughout my life, I have always seen journaling as
one of the easiest and most powerful ways for me to make sense of what was
going on in my life. By getting my thoughts out of my head and putting them
down in writing, I find I gain more clarity and feel I’m able to make better
decisions because of my journaling.
After my divorce I started
writing updates to friends and family about what was going on at that moment in
my life. I think it was such a confusing time that I needed perspective to make
sense of it, and email made it so convenient to share those thoughts with
people I loved. I went through several years, one right after another, of my
brother dying, my mother dying, a hysterectomy, my dog of 12 years dying and
then the loss of my job. Through all of this I wrote in my journal or sent emails
to try to make sense of all the jumble and confusion I had going on in my
brain.
After moving to Mexico, I saw
journaling as a way to explain my new way of life to myself and others. It was
so exciting, confusing and wonderful and a little bit intimidating all at the
same time that I had to put it down on paper. In fact, it’s been said that
journaling is one of the best ways to get over even mild culture shock when
moving to a foreign country.
