Your Life is Your Story Newsletter July 31, 2005 Issue-022 – The Journal Continues

From Tom Gilbert – Editor and Writer, www.your-life-your-story.com

In this Issue:

Opening remarks: What You Are Doing on Your Summer Vacation
Featured Article: The Journal Continues
Resources You Can Use: The Elemental Press, The Journal Software, The Five Year Journal

Opening Remarks: What You Are Doing on Your Summer Vacation

We haven’t had a summer vacation getaway, although my wife, Annette, and I did have a great weekend celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary! I rented a limousine and we went to dinner where I’d proposed over twenty years ago and then to a surprise hotel stay over at a very nice place near Albuquerque.

Have you had a chance to take a trip or do something special this summer? If so, I hope you are keeping those memories fresh with some sort of journal or diary. In this issue I look again at the importance of journal writing.

You are receiving this e-zine it because you signed up for it or someone who is subscribed passed it along to you. It is a special thing to share with you life story writing and personal history tips, resources and thoughts. If you like what you read here, you can pass it along to a friend. If a friend DID forward this to you and if you like what you read, please subscribe by visiting our signup page . Also, let me know what you’d like to see more of in this newsletter – simply reply to this email e-zine.

While the main focus of this newsletter is to share thoughts, ideas, and insights on life story writing you should know that I offer various services and also mention some products and services that can be helpful. You are under no obligation to purchase anything, but if any of these products or services are helpful and you decide to utilize them then I am most grateful.

Thanks for reading. – Tom

Featured Article: The Journal Continues

I’ve often discussed the benefits of journal writing. I’ve devoted a portion of the Your Life is Your Story site to this (here). And I wrote an article a couple of years ago, The Journey of Journaling

I know not everyone is a fan of keeping a journal, but I find immeasurable good from it. It’s great to keep track of my journey and what is happening with my family, friends and my life.

There is also the benefit of examining where I’ve been and where I’m going on this life journey. As a wise philosopher stated centuries ago, "The unexamined life is not worth living for man." – Socrates.

One of the more interesting developments the last couple of years is the trend of online journaling. Blogs (taken from the term weblog) has taken the Internet by storm and you can find people expounding on just about every subject under the sun. Yes, even I do a bit of blogging - here.

Blogging and online journaling aside, I think the value of more discreet writing, whether handwritten in a notebook, journal or on your computer, is about preserving memories and growing by putting your thoughts down. I don’t know about you, but I can’t keep it all up in my head and get any real clarity.

There are lots of ways to journal and I don’t believe there is any true right or wrong way to do it. Do what works best for you.

You can read other articles on life-story writing here.

Resources You Can Use

Lissa Ann Forbes is a personal historian and writer. I met her two years ago at a conference of the Association of Personal Historians in Denver. Since then I’ve enjoyed reading her email newsletter and recently I had her create a custom journal for my brother. It came out beautifully, with a picture of my brother and his wife on the cover, and it was nicely bound.

Find out more about Lissa’s offerings (she also hosts workshops and does public speaking) at her site, The Elemental Press

The Journal Software

I continue to discover ways that The Journal Software can help my life. I use it to organize my writing and web site projects. It’s very affordable and you can even test drive this award winning software free for 45 days. It is a powerful tool for students as well as writers and personal historians. Get an up close look.

The Five Year Journal

Another great journal I recommend is Doreene Clement’s 5 Year Journal Many have used it to great effect. Harness the power of journaling using her unique journaling tool – a beautiful hardcover book with place marker ribbon, 272 acid-free pages and over 100 motivational quotes. It includes an easy to follow how-to journal section. See more here

That’s it for this month’s issue. Thanks for reading and here’s to telling your story. Do give it some serious consideration because I just know you’ve got a great story to tell! Be sure to see the Get Started section.

Any comments, ideas or feedback is greatly appreciated. Just reply to this ‘zine and tell me what you think!

Until next time, – keep your story alive!

Tom Gilbert