I think of nature, and flowers, trees that bloom, there are also steep hills to climb, narrow trails to navigate, and we are not born with a map

Our Christian walk is not a straight path.  It is more of a hike in the woods and, it can be like a walk in the park with many things to enjoy along the way.

I think of nature, and flowers, trees that bloom, there are also steep hills to climb, narrow trails to navigate, and we are not born with a map that lets us know what lies ahead.  We have unsuspected storms and other weather conditions that can make us cold, frightened, and hungry.

The Bible gives us many lessons to help us find our way, and a journal can also help us keep track of this journey and find comfort.  As we write each day, we consider our circumstances, actions, and emotions.   Every one of us has a different path, and we make different connections from one Bible verse to another bible verse.  Our inspirations also come from our spiritual leaders, friends, and other surprising places in literature, T.V. movies, and YouTube videos. As we write, our trail becomes more tranquil.

There is no "right way" to write in a journal, some of us write prose, some poetry, and sometimes we doodle or write a stream of thought allowing ourselves to imagine and vent our emotions.  Keep these journals private.  It is between you and God -  Do not worry about grammar, spelling, political correctness.  A journal belongs to you and you alone.

Rose Elaine Journals is a play on words.  For me, journaling is a "rosy lane"  filled with flowers and pleasant photos and paintings.   Find your journaling path and enjoy the exploration!

"What did you do today? " The question is asked and answered, "Not much, same old sixes and sevens.

"What did you do today? " The question is asked and answered, "Not much, same old sixes and sevens." my Grandmother would say.  On her scale, one would be rotten and ten extraordinary so,
a six or seven would be nothing worth mentioning.  There can be comfort in the mid-range. There is less stress as we move through our day with or our routines.  The radio alarm clock goes off without exception. Coffee made to your specification and the morning news offers the normal state of affairs.

You probably have a routine, perhaps you are aware, and maybe you are on autopilot and do not consider these daily activities as life fulfilling.  Good habits can ease stress by removing a lot of decisions.  You don't have to think about brushing your teeth and general hygiene.  Perhaps you go to the grocery store the same day every week and make a menu.  Do you exercise, do you meditate or write in a journal every day?  I suspect you take the same route to work and see the same faces as you start your day; perhaps you can rely on a smile and "good morning."

So what if today was just another day.  Nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing particularly good or bad. 

Can we be grateful for these days too?  I think so!  We allowed ourselves to have room for creative thinking.  We brought order and predictability to our life, and as a result, we promoted a healthy lifestyle.

I will consider "getting out of my comfort zone" at another time, but today, I am grateful for the same old sixes and sevens.

I had a man stop me the other day while I was at a show sharing

I had a man stop me the other day while I was at a show sharing the value of my journals. He was probably in his mid 50's, and as we talked, he told me that he had been keeping a little notebook for years. "I go on these fishing trips with family and friends every year," he continued, "And, I write down where I went, and who came with me, what kind of fish we caught, what the weather was like and little stories of our adventures together. Some of these men are long gone and have passed away, but the memories are fresh in my mind. As I flip through this notebook, I remember." The man smiled and said, "I understand what you are doing."

What a beautiful example of how the act of writing things down in a notebook or a unique journal can bring us joy, bring back memories, or help us remember when things occurred.

Do you have a notebook or journal that you use to help keep track of family gatherings?

Today the birds are singing; I hear cars driving past my house and children playing in the neighbor's yard. A dog barks, again, I listen

Today the birds are singing; I hear cars driving past my house and children playing in the neighbor's yard.  A dog barks, again, I listen to the birds while the breeze flows through the trees, causing the leaves to rustle in the wind.   It is pleasant, indeed.  It is quiet, and yet there is much activity.   One neighbor begins to rev up his car motor, and then it stops.  I can hear a saw begin to turn, and men start to speak, some home maintenance; perhaps,  another car drives by, children playing tag, my husband is on the phone with a client, and then as if on cue the leaves rustle in the wind again.
The sounds in synchrony.  Footsteps, a door opens and shuts, a shower begins, and a toilet flushed.  More birds sing, and our wind chimes play music as a gust of wind reminds it of its purpose.

When I turn off the T.V. and radio, I sit and listen to the world around me; I can be mindful.  When I jot down the things I hear, and I can focus on the moment.  For 5 minutes, connected with life, and I am content.

Try this journaling technique today.  What did you hear, how did these noises make you feel?  Did you find a way to relax?

Like magic, plant a seed, and it will grow

Like magic, plant a seed, and it will grow!  But, gardening gives me patients.

In most parts of my life, I get results immediately.  I am fortunate to be able to find food in my pantry, get water from a faucet, coffee when I need it or want to enjoy the beverage.  I can google most anything and get information right away.  Lights come on when I flip a switch - if I am cold, I can put on a sweater if I am hot I can turn on the air conditioner.  I am privileged, and I am grateful.

Today, however, I am thankful for finding things that make me wait.  I have discovered excitement in waiting for things to manifest themselves.  If I plant an avocado seed, within a few weeks, a plant begins to grow.  If I pant orange seeds, I can expect little trees to grow, and the same with lemons, and limes, but these plants do not appear right away.  It takes weeks for the roots to develop and for life to poke up out of the ground.  I patiently water my plants, put them out for the sun to shine upon them.  It is during these times that I am growing as a person too.  Learning to be patient and learning to continue to do what needs to be done without immediate gratification.  Waiting can be hard, but waiting is also worth the time. I am grateful for the things that make me wait.

Grateful for Painting Journal Entry 5

On a good day, I get to spend a few hours of painting.  It is as necessary for me as breathing and as satisfying as a good meal.  When I don't paint, I notice that my heart rate goes up, I do not sleep as well, and I feel more stressed.   It is fortuitous for me that I can find a way to use my talent, skillset, and passion in my work.  

I am also grateful for the quiet time, the smell of the gesso, the sound of the paint dabbing on the canvas, and the tinkle of the jar of water as the paintbrush swishes back and forth.  It is in these times that I am most relaxed.  When I am in that zone, and the spirit moves me, I paint.

Samir Becic mentions many reasons in his book ReSYNC Your Life why painting is a good habit to begin.  Here are a few that are most important to me:

·       Improves concentration - Focus, you really must sit still and look at something when you paint.  We know that apples can be red but, if you really look at an apple, you might find that a red apple is also brown, burgundy, highlights that are pink or peach or white. The apple has dots or leaves, and it may cast a shadow or perhaps not.  This attention to detail will allow other problems in your life to vanish.

·        Critical Thinking Skills - Really, you must think about it, and when you paint as much as I do, you begin to think about everything as a potential art piece.  Sitting on the back deck, I see trees, flowers, plants growing, and I begin to consider what brush would I use?  How would I replicate that texture, what colors would I chose, and how much paint would be necessary?  Is that painting going to be large or small what angles would I use where I would want the focal point to be? When we paint, we become more decisive, more innovative, and much more confident about using these skills.

·        An excellent way to relax - As I mentioned before the attention to detail allows you to focus on one task and let go of all of the other things that trouble us.  Painting is a lot like meditation in this respect.  It fosters relaxation, and it relieves stress. 

My handwritten journals would be a mystery to you. Simple words, scratches, phone numbers, page number

My handwritten journals would be a mystery to you.  Simple words, scratches, phone numbers, page numbers, and notes from books and segments on the radio and newspapers I read.  Sometimes I write in full sentences, and sometimes I draw a picture or paint.  I have shortcuts and personal "codes" for the lack of a better word.  I might write a title or a phrase that is important to be followed by this -->>>>>>>> which means I want to research this idea or a word or phrase may look like this <<<<<-- love-->>> encased in these little arrows which reminds me it is essential.  Now and then the arrows become beaks of a bird, and a doodle will commence.  A journal is a creative place where I can be less distracted without pings and notifications of a computer or ap.  I do not worry about spelling, grammar, word choice, sentence fragments, and commas!  Researchers have found that by using a pen and paper, you see the following benefits:

• Increased Creativity
• Improved problem-solving skills
• Better memory 
• Critical thinking 
• Improved learning 
• Writing soothes the nerves 

I use both a computer and a pen and paper.  Once I allow myself the time to consider my ideas creatively, with pen and paper, I turn to Grammarly to help me with this blog, for example.  Here, I can focus on the more left-brain activities that are necessary for communication.

Permit yourself to create, to explore ideas, and grab a pen and paper.  Allow yourself to relax, write, scribble, jot, dot, underline, scrawl, scratch doodle, and design.  Have fun!