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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on May 29, 2008, at 16:52:53
I have a journaling program, but I always worry about using formats that rely on one small supplier. It's nice in some ways. But I picture my journals getting stuck somewhere in an unreadable file.
Paper and pencil is out of the question. I can't read my writing anymore. And writing was always a chore for me.
I found a word template for journaling and put in something so I can record what I eat and what my blood sugar is, and I suppose whatever else I want to record. But it seems a bit disorganized to me.
Has anyone found a way to journal that they're happy with, apart from relying on actual writing?
Posted by DAisym on May 29, 2008, at 19:47:33
In reply to How do you journal?, posted by Dinah on May 29, 2008, at 16:52:53
I can't believe you posted this question today! I signed up over the weekend to go to a writing convention especially about journaling and how you can use it, do it and train with it. I have a stack of resources to read so I'll let you know if I find any one method better than another.
For me, I like two voice writing. But perhaps for what you need, something like an excel grid with a place for notes would work better. Then you could get your blood sugar/food stuff at a glance and read more as you desire.
Posted by obsidian on May 29, 2008, at 21:07:46
In reply to Re: How do you journal? » Dinah, posted by DAisym on May 29, 2008, at 19:47:33
a convention about journal writing??
I am intrigued!
can you say more about it???
pretty please,
sid
Posted by Dinah on May 30, 2008, at 7:33:28
In reply to Re: How do you journal? » Dinah, posted by DAisym on May 29, 2008, at 19:47:33
I too look forward to hearing about it. :)
Right now I've got a Word document with embedded lotus schedules set up. I could use them for anything from diabetes monitoring to calorie counting if I want.
But I'm not terribly excited with the format.
I use my Babble postings a lot, print them out and save them. And that works fine for therapy related things and often encompasses other things going on in my life. But some stuff (believe it or not) I don't talk about on Babble.
:)
Posted by raisinb on May 30, 2008, at 10:15:05
In reply to How do you journal?, posted by Dinah on May 29, 2008, at 16:52:53
I have thought *way* too much about this in recent years :) Until about six months ago, I would write with a pen in a small notebook, usually a composition book. I would spend hours picking out exactly the right book, and I had to have a certain kind of pen. It is a chore, though. And I'd miss things because thoughts move faster than hands.
Now I have a word file on my laptop. I like the speed of it. My thoughts can just tumble out at their regular rate, and I get to insights more quickly.
Posted by Gee on May 30, 2008, at 13:36:07
In reply to Re: How do you journal? » DAisym, posted by Dinah on May 30, 2008, at 7:33:28
I was going through my "t"'s library, and she has TONS of books on journaling. I didn't take any of them because I wasn't sure how I could justify taking them when they're no where near related to the topic I'm researching.
Personally, I like blank notebooks that I can write in with pencil, or colour in, or paint in, or paste pictures in... But then again, it sounds like I'm using my journal for totally diff stuff than you.
Posted by Poet on May 30, 2008, at 16:52:40
In reply to How do you journal?, posted by Dinah on May 29, 2008, at 16:52:53
Hi Dinah,
My handwriting is hard to read, too. Though when I was journaling my T wanted it handwritten with nothing crossed out, so I wasn't editing myself which I will do if I use a computer.
I did cut and pasted some of my posts into Word and saved them. If I were to journal again I would do it in word and try not to edit.
I think I just heard my T say you shouldn't have stopped journaling, do it which ever way is right for you." Maybe I should do it again. Nice thread.
Poet
Posted by seldomseen on May 30, 2008, at 20:21:30
In reply to How do you journal?, posted by Dinah on May 29, 2008, at 16:52:53
I put pen to paper and I write. I find that composing at the computer is bad for me for at least two reasons:
1. It reminds me too much of work, where most of my time is spent writing in word.
2. I like the time that writing things out longhand gives me. When it comes to all things emotional, I find I need a lot of time and safety to figure it out and write it out. Paper and pen seems to give that to me.
I just started journaling in the past months. Somedays I have a lot to write about, somedays I don't write at all.
Seldom
Posted by Daisym on May 30, 2008, at 22:13:40
In reply to Re: How do you journal? » Dinah, posted by seldomseen on May 30, 2008, at 20:21:30
The conference is called: The power of writing and it is in Denver next month. http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?i=1bc1958c-aa3b-4ee0-9f44-963b5fcc158f
I've read a lot about the various techniques of journaling and all the prompts that are used. Some of the authors I've read will be there. I'm very interested in how we can use journaling to manage our work stress and feelings about the clients we serve. And more than that - it is a real stretch for me to go and expose my writing to strangers.
I've actually written a lot about writing itself, what it means to me and why it is so important. My therapist likes to say that I come home to myself when I have a keyboard in front of me - I type really fast so I can keep up with my thoughts - and he has never advocated hand-written stuff. I think journaling is such a quiet activity that it allows you to be totally honest and access many thoughts and feelings you might keep hidden, even from yourself. For me, my fingers will say what my mouth can not.
Posted by Dinah on May 31, 2008, at 9:41:24
In reply to Re: How do you journal?, posted by Daisym on May 30, 2008, at 22:13:40
Thanks everyone. I'll try to get back to this in a bit. It's funny how one bad session has my mood dropping like a stone.
This is the end of the thread.
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