[stylist] The value of journaling

[Erica Turner]

This is a wonderful way to get all of the day's thoughts and events out and
to reflect on them. Thanks for sharing.

On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 12:14 PM, Lynda Lambert via stylist <
stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Bill, what a great message this is! Exactly!  Journaling is essential to
> me in my art and my writing. This would be a great blog topic if you do
> blogging. Lynda
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Bill Outman via stylist
> Sent: Monday, November 17, 2014 11:34 AM
> To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
> Subject: [stylist] The value of journaling
>
>
> The Value of Journaling
>
>
>
> I had an experience aboutjournaling that increased my appreciation of its
> value.
>
>
>
> About a month and a half ago I had a home accident in which I had a severe
> cut on my left leg.  It was the result of a mishap with my couch.  I got up
> from it and accidentally kicked out the footrest.  I hadn't anticipated
> this
> would happen, and the sharp metal underside of the footrest cut my leg.
>
>
>
> Since October of last year I have been keeping a journal of events an
> thoughts that come to me during the day.  A lot of the time I have made
> note
> of mundane tasks just to keep myself on track and to motivate myself.
> Every
> few days I try to review what I have written so I can get some perspective
> on what is occurring and to do some proofreading and editing of the text.
> I
> usually go over the entire month's record near the beginning of the new
> month.  Occasionally I have used the journals to look back several months
> and refresh my perspective on something.
>
>
>
> I usually have a very good memory of things that are happening but this
> last
> month or so was rather stressful, so although the memory was pretty good
> the
> perspective wasn't as sharp.  That is where having kept the journal was
> helpful.
>
>
>
> Last week I had my regular consultation with my primary care physician and
> needed to have notes ready for the discussion, so I could give a narrative
> of how the leg injury treatment had proceeded.  Having the journal made it
> possible for me to very accurately describe the course of the treatment
> such
> as how the initial observation went and when and how home health visits
> occurred.  The series of events even included a premature discharge before
> the wound was sufficiently healed.  At one point I had a visit from my
> mother who is a nurse.  I needed some home health care as I needed to have
> the wound examined and cleaned, as well as having the bandage wrap changed
> periodically.  This might have proven difficult for me to do myself as
> someone who is totally blind, and the care was important in order to
> prevent
> an infection from developing, particularly in view of my type 2 diabetes.
> Transportation was a factor both in the need for home health and the fact I
> didn't get treatment as quickly as would have been ideal.  While I live in
> an apartment complex I do not know very many of the neighbors well, so I
> couldn't really count on assistance from them.
>
>
>
> Having the journal to work from allowed me to write short notes on my
> laptop
> which I took with me.  This made the conversation run more smoothly.  I was
> glad I had done this.
>
>
>
> What I believe journaling can do is not only help us remember what is
> happening, but can aid in seeing the perspective that is larger than the
> immediate moment, which stress can sometimes cloud.
>
>
>
>
>
> Bill Outman
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
"Keep your face to the sun so you will never see the shadows." -Helen Keller

Erica Turner
(904)881-1168 (cell)
ericaturner203012 at gmail.com (e-mail)
ericajturner203012.wordpress.com (blog address)
ericajturner.blogspot.com (blog address)