Identify Your Entry

Remember to add the date, time and location, if possible to your journal entries. It will help you remember the context for writing your entry, if and when you decide to reread it. It's also nice to see where your journal has 'traveled' over time, whenever there is a significant gap between entries.



 

Self-expression in my personal journal?

First, get out crayons, markers, colored pencils, paints, regular pens (blue, black and red), and pencils. Then start to write or draw anywhere on the page of your personal journal. As you write with each different material, you will begin to get a feel for what feels most comfortable in your hand and what allows you to truly express yourself. The journal space is yours, there is nothing limiting you. So make it your own! To begin, don´t even think about what to start. Write in large capital letters or write small. Write sideways on the page, upside down or the normal way from left to right. Write in script or in print. Do whatever makes you feel good and what allows you to see yourself represented on the journal page.

And you would be? Non-fiction exercise

When asked who we are, we often answer with little more than our name and occupation as though these are the only two factors that define us. Yet, we are so much more; we are all such incredible beings! Open your personal writing journal and begin to write about yourself but try describing your characteristics in relation to the Earth. For example, you are strong and tall like a Redwood Tree in the middle of a forest. When you dance, your body fills with a heat as intense as that of the desert at midday. When someone shares something truly funny with you, laughter rolls through your body and out into the world like ocean waves. When your child thanks you for your help with a project, you shine like a star in the night sky. Use any aspect of nature, including color and sound, to describe, not what you do but, who you are inside.

A comfortable place to journal?

Only you will know where you are comfortable journal writing. Will it be sitting at a desk or on the boardwalk by the ocean? Curled up in a big easy chair or sprawled out across a floor? Propped up by comfy pillow in your bed? On a train? In a park? Listen to your inner voice; it will guide you to that safe, comfortable space. Once you find it, you will be able to produce. Don´t be afraid to experiment. Try everything to see what works best for you.

Find the right journal for you!

Journaling should feel like coming home and curling up in your favorite space. So what can help you to achieve that feeling? First and foremost, find a journal that represents you. Will you be carrying it around? If so, you will want a compact one. Do you like to fold the book back on itself? Try a wire bound journal. Do you want lined pages or blank? Now for the fun part! Do you like colorful, floral or textile designs, silly characters, black and white photos, or maybe even reprints of famous paintings on the covers? Think about all of these things and then experiment to see which type suits you best. Copyright

Best way to begin journal writing?

The best journaling method is called a free-write. For 10 minutes, write. Don´t lift the pen off the paper. Don´t correct mistakes. Don´t worry about punctuation or spelling. If you feel you have nothing to say, write ´I have nothing to say´. You will be amazed at how much you actually can find to write about! If you don´t want to look at a clock, determine a minimum number of pages to fill instead. If you use prompts to get you started writing, just write whatever comes to you once you read the prompt. First thoughts are important.

Joyful Things Non-fiction Exercise

Think about all the things that bring you true joy – people, places, things, times of day, etc. Then make a list of them in your personal journal. Make a copy of the list and hang it up somewhere you can see it during the day. Any time life is not going your way, read through the list and remind yourself of the important things.

Playing with time fiction exercise

For this fiction exercise, take two or four characters and place them in a situation in which they must live a complete story in ten minutes. Since the entire duration of time within the story is ten minutes, first think about how much time that is realistically. What types of situations might allow for an entire story in that timeframe – an elevator ride, a radio phone scam? Take your time. There is no limit to the number of pages you can write. Do not try to control your characters. Listen to them to see where they want to go. First time round do not edit yourself; later as you revise, try to make your writing clear and concise.

Journal Magic

Sue Meyn has a wonderful journaling site called Journal Magic. Sue combines psychology with journaling for the ultimate in self-discovery! There is a weekly newsletter. Sue does journal coaching and sells Journal Cards, which are a series of prompts. One of my favorites!

Journaling about success

Many people in this world equate success with money. The more you have the more successful you are. Spend some time reflecting upon this idea in your journal. Do you agree with this statement? If so, write down the reasons why. If not, how would you define success?

Journaling to set personal goals

The world is filled with possibilities for each of us. We can choose where to live, what job to take, what hobby to partake in and much more. However, sometimes we start a project and lose interest quickly because we find another project that excites us. In the end, we find we have no time to set goals and even if we do, they are not accomplished. Pick up the pen and begin to write down everything that interests you. Then take a look at all of the things you want to do. Pick two items and make them your goals. In your personal journal, write down the steps you will take to accomplish those goals and then sign the bottom. Imagine that this is your own written contract and commit to work on those two things until they are complete.

What is journaling?

Welcome! Let's talk about journal writing. Whether you're new to journaling or a veteran, everyday that you write is another day you discover something interesting about life. Journaling allows us to take a time out from the often hectic pace of daily life and spend time thinking about relationships with family and friends, our jobs, and where we are at this particular point in our lives. Through writing, whether its journaling, writing fiction or non-fiction, poetry or songs, we learn new things about ourselves and the world around us. Journaling is a gift that you give to yourself.

Journaling for answers

It has been said that when we are confused about a situation we shouldn't be, because all of the answers lie within ourselves. Do you believe this to be true? Have you ever been truly puzzled about something in your life? Once it was resolved did you feel that you knew the answers all along? Or did the answers lie elsewhere? Write in your personal journal. If you are in the middle of a difficult time right now, try to work through it in your journal. If not, spend some time reflecting to see how you discovered the answers.

Journaling about the journey

Too often, as we work toward a goal we have set for ourselves, we wind up either fixating upon the obstacles along the road or we focus too hard on the goal itself. When we do this, we miss magic and beauty of the journey. Do you agree or disagree? Do you have a goal in your life? Are you missing all of the wonderful things you have the ability to gain along way including meeting new people and learning new things about yourself and others? Or do you feel that it will be good to accomplish the goal but it is the journey that has brought the most rewards?

Self-exploration journaling for teens

Teenagers have so much to deal with – changing hormones, issues at school, social issues – that a journal or diary may be a good place to sort through it all. Give the teenager in your life a journal or diary and encourage them to write or sketch. If you use a journal, let them see you take the time to write. Explain why you do and how it makes you feel. Suggest some ways to get started. Begin by asking them to write or sketch one of their favorite memories or share something they remember about a family member. Try to encourage them to remember the details as well as feelings of happiness. Or share something you wrote about a difficult time in your life, so that they can see how to work through a problem. When you share the ways in which you deal with things in your life, you help them to learn how to sort through the exciting, sad, confusing, wonderful things that are happening to them. By sharing how to take time to write or sketch, you are teaching them how to take time to take care of themselves.

Descriptive writing

Describe one place that you remember from childhood. It might be a room, a house, a field, a tree fort, any place. What does it make you think of? Use your five senses to make the place come to life. What do you see? What does it smell like - freshly washed clothes, rotten eggs? When you are in this place, do you hear any sounds - birds chirping, cars honking? Let yourself go as you write in your journal and see what this becomes – is it just a snippet of memory, a scene from a story, the birth of a story itself? Have fun!

Self-reflective journaling

Have you ever been in an argument with someone and heard them say, “Stop thinking for me!” If you think someone is angry or upset with you, do you ask them or do you just presume that they are? Do you find that you often let things build inside your head instead of talking to the person? Do you base your reactions to people on assumptions or fact? Spend some time writing in your personal journal about how you relate to people. Think about how you approach situations and whether or not you are upfront and honest about your feelings and concerns.

Journaling about procrastination

The project that you found out about weeks ago is due tomorrow and you have done little to no work on it. Does this sound like a familiar situation? Do you continually leave things till the last possible moment? Does this frustrate you? Is this a behavior that you would like to change? Or do you find that this is the best way for you to work? Try writing in your personal journal about procrastination. If this is pattern you would like to break, write about the steps you might take to change it. If, on the other hand, this is a good way for you to work, spend time writing about why it works for you.

Collage/List Journal

Pick a list topic. Some sample topics for lists are: all the books you want to read, all the things you want to do in your lifetime, all the places you want to visit, etc. Choose one type of list to start with and then pick a number, for example 50. Always choose a number that feels comfortable as this will be a goal you will want to reach. So, on your journal page write, “50 Things I Want To Do In My Lifetime.” Then start going through magazines, books, the Internet, old photos, everything and anything. Find pictures of all the things you want to do, paste them on the page and if you cannot find a picture, then draw it. The point is to literally tip your head over and sprinkle the contents out onto the page. Wait at least two days before looking at your list collage journal page. When you go back and review, see if you notice any patterns emerge and then journal about them.

Best time of day to write in your journal?

Explore your journal writing at various times of the day to see what works best for you. Some people write when they first wake up in the morning. This way their thoughts have not been disrupted by anything yet. Some people will journal in the afternoon after lunch. Others are night writers who like to do reflective journaling to touch on things that happened throughout the day. Personal journaling is a gift you give to yourself. Whatever time you choose, make sure that you carve out enough time for yourself to focus on your writing. I like to write at night; the night time is my time to unwind. However, if the mood strikes I will journal at any time, anywhere.

Family Memories Journal

A Family Memories Journal is a wonderful journal to keep. All too often, people lose touch or stories fade with the passage of a family member. A Family Memories Journal allows you to create your family tree and then write in all the information about members. You can also keep family traditions – is there a great recipe that grandma used to make but never shared the secret too? Try to get it from her and include it in here. Is there a tale about old Uncle Joe that has grown taller with the passage of time? Write it down for future generations so that it is not lost. Old photos, although often worn with time and age, can be placed inside your journal for safekeeping. Along side the old photos, place new ones of you and of your own family. This can become a journal that can be added to as you grow older and then passed along to your children and grandchildren.

Journaling about love

"He who loves the more is the inferior and so must suffer..." -Thomas Mann from his book, Death in Venice. Spend time thinking about this statement. Do you believe this is true? How do you feel about it? Does it apply to any portion of your life?

Rediscovering Nature Journaling

Journaling about fear

Every person suffers from one type of fear or another in their lifetime. In order to feel truly alive, we need to face down our fears. Once we do this, we step out of our inner prisons, sprout wings and fly. Do you think this statement is true? Spend some time journaling on the idea of fear. What is your biggest fear? Do you think its holding you back from accomplishing all you could in your life? Do you feel you are ready to begin to overcome it? How will you begin?

Dream List Journal

At different ages and times in our lives, we want to be all sorts of various things. Perhaps when you were a teenager you wanted to be a zoologist traveling the world to save tigers. In your twenties, you got a job as a teacher but secretly you wanted to be a tap dancer. In your thirties, you found yourself wishing to be a paleontologist. Whatever age you are, think about what you have wanted to be or what you still want to be. Then make a list of 15 to 25 things that you have wanted to do and still want to do with your life and record your answers in your dream journal. Do not edit yourself - dream big!

Positive Journaling

Those who keep a positive attitude will be able to achieve anything. If they reach for the stars, they will touch them. If they want the moon, it belongs to them. Do you believe that maintaining a positive attitude is the key to success? Or do you think that hard work and determination are the only keys? Think about times when you were feeling positive about something as opposed to negative – what happened? Spend some time writing about this in your personal journal. If you find areas in your life where your thoughts take a negative turn, stay with that and try to explore the reasons why. If you want to challenge yourself, think of ways in which you can change your negative thinking into something more positive.

Travel Journaling in the Morning

The Best Christmas Journal Ever!

Want to make someone in your life smile and laugh out loud? Start by buying them a journal as a Christmas gift. Pick one that is either similar to a date book in that each page contains the date of the month and day of the week or buy a blank one and number each page with the day of the year. Then begin to write little sayings, ideas, and thoughts at the top of the page randomly, throughout the book. For example on January 12th you might write, “Remember to smile today,” and then skip to February 22nd where you might say, “Stand up no matter where you are or who you are in front of, throw your head back, close your eyes and sing at the top of your lungs. Do it NOW!” As they go through their days, they will run across these sayings, think of you, and more often than not, they'll call or email to say thanks for making them laugh! It's a great reminder to keep in touch!

Personalized Christmas Cards

We spend a fair amount of time writing in our journal throughout the year. Some write inside a book thus keeping their writing to themselves while others write online, opening their thoughts to the world. Whatever you prefer, why not take the time this Christmas to personalize a piece of your writing and send it out to the people in your life. Create personalized Christmas cards. Open your heart to the people in your life and share your wishes for a happy holiday in a unique Christmas card. You can choose the words, the font type, even the color of the font. People will be touched that you took the time and will treasure your card long after Christmas is over.

Teen Memory Journal

Left Reminders fiction exercise

You have just stepped into a lounge in a bar where you and the bartender are the only people. The bartender has not had a chance to clean up yet so everything is as it was when people left. You were supposed to meet someone here but clearly they have gone. Who were you supposed to meet? What have they left behind that lets you know that they were there? What is something that person always does, a telltale sign that they have been there – lipstick on a glass, a napkin folded a certain way, remnants from a pipe – that aggravates and endears you to them as the same time? As you write in your writing journal, describe the details of the room as well as the details of the person. Make everything on the page come to life.

A Voice of Her Own

A Voice of Her Own by Marlene Schiwy is very comprehensive book. There are exercises and a very well written narrative to help you learn more about how to journal.

Inspired by Museum Art

Take your journal with you to a local museum. Do not visit the sections you know, instead check out work by artists you may not normally enjoy or artists whose works you have never seen. When your eye lands on something new and interesting, stop! Spend some time focusing on the details; let your mind relax. If you are inspired to write or sketch right then and there, open your journal, put the pen to the page and start. Do not stop until you have completed at least two pages. Do not just write about or sketch the painting though, write about what it was that stirred you and what thoughts flew through your head while you were looking at it. If you prefer to write at home, see if the museum has a small postcard that you can take with you. Then when you get home, find a quiet space to partake in artwork journaling.

Write and Sketch Your Dreams

Keep your dream journal next to your bed when you sleep. Along with it, you should keep a pen – there are pens that light up as you write – and a flashlight. If you wake from a dream in the middle of the night, write it down. Do not worry about keeping your words on the line, just write. You can also try sketching the dream. In the morning, read over your dream. Are their portions missing? Do you remember them? What do you think your subconscious is trying to tell you? Journal about it for awhile and later, you may want to share it with someone you trust as others are often the ones who can see the things we cannot.

Personal Teen Journal

With the demands of school, after school activities, chores, family and social functions, teenagers can easily lose sight of themselves. An interactive personal journal allows teens to write about where they are in life right now. They can paste their picture in it and write about family and friends. They can decorate the pages with stickers and draw whatever they imagine. While this journal invites teens to have fun, it also asks them to think about their future. What are their goals? How will they work to accomplish them? Where do they see themselves in five years, ten years? Try giving them a journal that is strictly for and about them.

Wedding Planner/Journal

Congratulations on your engagement. Now, its time to start planning! You may want to get a wedding planner that is also a journal. This will allow you to keep all your information --the reception hall, the wedding party, the music, flowers everything -- stored in one place while giving you an opportunity to write down your thoughts, feeling and impressions on the Notes pages on all that is happening in your life. For an idea, you might want to visit Galison.com

Personal Pregnancy Journal

Keeping a pregnancy journal allows you to record a time in your life you won't want to forget. Write in your personal pregnancy journal about every moment that means something to you – telling your loved ones, how you feel, what you think, what you imagine. Keep a calendar in it and have your own countdown. Have your picture taken at different times throughout your pregnancy that you can paste into your journal. Once the baby comes, this is a journal that you will be able to look back on and treasure forever.

Poetry/Photo Journal

A Poetry/Photo journal is a good way to explore your vision of the world. Start with one word; try writing about “water”. Let your thoughts explore all of the associations you have with water. Do you think about drinking a cool glass of water on a warm day? Or do you think about how raindrops sound when they hit the surface of a pond? Write down whatever comes to mind and then close your journal. Return to it the next day and begin to mold the sentences and words into a poem. Every poet has a distinct style and voice; work with your words, try to let your own voice come to the surface. Once you have finished your poem go out and take pictures, gather any old photos or cut ones out of magazines that that relate to the idea of your poem. Take those photos and create a border around your picture or use the next page of your journal to create a visual collage of your poem.

Scrapbook/Journal

Turn your journal into a scrapbook. On one page, paste in pictures, ticket stubs, notes, small scraps of paper or anything else that has some sentimental value. Then on the next page, write about the particular memory associated with those items. For example, maybe you and your child went to a baseball game. Paste in pictures of the two of you at the game along with your ticket stubs and/or scorecard. Then write about the day the two of you shared. Try to share as many specific details as you can so that when you go back and read it, the memory is as fresh as the day it happened.

Holiday Cards and Holiday Journals

When the holiday season rolls around we send and receive the smallest and most heartfelt gifts -- unique holiday cards. We remember the kindness of people during that time of the year and let it touch our lives but when the holidays are over – we can sometimes forget those good feelings. Try keeping a holiday journal. Think about each individual person on your card list this year and then start to explore your feelings about them in your journal. Is there someone you have lost touch with but miss terribly? What do you want to say to that person? When it comes to sending a card to the people we see all the time, do you want to share something that you don't everyday? Are there people who you feel obliged to write to? Work through the feeling of obligation through journaling and try to understand something deeper about your relationship to that person before you send a card – it may change what you say to them this year. Long after the season has drawn to a close, look back on your Holiday Journal and try to recapture that happiness.

Journaling to Improve Communication

Spend some time journaling about the five most important people in your life. Write down one example of a recent communication with each person. For example, journal about the last time you had dinner with a friend. Once you have written out the entire memory, look back on it and ask yourself if you feel positive about the conversation? Were you actively listening when the other person was speaking? If not, what prevented you from doing so? When you were speaking did you feel you could say anything that was on your mind or were holding things back? If so, why? Close your journal and return to it in a day. Imagine the same scenario but this time incorporate the ways you would change your communication to make it more effective.

Tropical Christmas Cards

As you string the lights on the Christmas tree inside, people are walking around in shorts and flip flops outside. Why? Well, its 75 degrees where you live! This year send a card that reflects your type of Christmas weather. Holiday Palm and Holiday Trailer are two types of tropical Christmas boxed notecards that celebrate the outdoor warmth around Christmas time. So, this year why not send a card to those loved ones who are bundled up in layers of clothes and share the fact that when Santa visits you – he'll be in shorts too!

New Baby Journal!

The baby has arrived and you are over the moon! Start a Baby Journal. Put pictures in it of you and your loved one and even the baby's grandparents so that when the child is older he/she can look back to see what this time was like for everyone. A baby journal is a great place to write all your memories, and even your hopes and dreams for your child. Record the growth your child's growth. You can include everything from photos and the birth certificate to stories about first laugh, first words, and first steps. Keep a journal for the first year or get one that spans several years.

Wine Journaling

When you attend a wine tasting or visit a vineyard, you experience the richness of flavor of various wines. When you find a couple that you love, how do you remember all the wine information? Keep a blank journal in which you write down the name of the wine and vineyard. In addition, discuss the flavors that delighted your taste buds. If you are new to wine tasting or just like to have information at your fingertips, try a journal that contains questions and wine terminology. An interactive wine journal asks questions about the producer, country, state, region, bouquet, body, balance, aroma, appearance, price, comments, and more. It even provides you with a place to store contact information. Regardless of which journal you choose to use, you will create a lasting book of information that you will be able to share with others who are interested in fine wine.

New York Holiday Cards

During the Christmas season, New York City is one of the most magical places in the world. An enormous snowflake hangs over 57th Street and by night it is lit up for all to see. Angels line the walkway as you walk toward the magnificent Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. People stop to stare at the department store windows decorated in honor of the season. If there is snowfall, Central Park becomes a wonderland for children and adults alike. It is at those times that you will see children dragging sleds behind them and adults making snow angels. If you have been to the city, then you know its enchantment. If you have never been, perhaps you might want to visit. Either way, send black and white NY Holiday cards this year and delight those in your life. Then, spend time journaling about the last time you visited NYC, your dream to visit or if you live in the city, journal about your favorite spots.

Holiday thank you notes

When the holiday season has drawn to a close, remember to send thank you notes for the gifts you received from family and friends. Handwritten notes are meaningful because they can be saved. They say to the person you are writing to that you appreciated the gift and wanted to take the time to say thank you. When you write the note, be sure to mention the gift. For example, if someone gave you a journal you might try saying, “The journal is so beautiful that I cannot wait to spend time writing in it.” If it is a monetary gift, you can simply say, “Thank you for your generous gift.” At the end of the note, be sure to express how much it meant that they thought of you.

How do I keep a Specialty Journal?

You can purchase a blank journal and keep meticulous notes on your favorite topic or specialty. For example, if you want to keep a log of your dog's life you can write down his daily activities. However, you may worry that you are missing some pertinent information. If that's the case, check out Specialty Journals. These journals are specifically designed to focus on one topic. There are Dog Journals, Cat Journals, Restaurant Journals, Wine Journals, Reading Journals and many more with writing prompts that illicit so much information that you need not worry that you are forgetting anything important. Whichever option you choose, keeping a journal on a specific topic allows you to acquire valuable knowledge.

Dream Analysis

´Dreams generally point to our blind spot. They never tell us that we already know... The trouble with interpreting your own dreams is that you can´t see your own back. If you show it to another person, he can see it, but you can´t. And dreams point to your back, to what you don´t see, and you have to stand on you head, so to speak, to understand your own dreams.´ Marie-Louise van Franz worked closely with Carl G. Jung for almost 30 years. Jung was a ´pioneer in dream research´.

Christmas Notecards & Journaling

Children always seem to wear the season of Christmas right upon their faces. It is in their smiles, their rosy cheeks and the look of delight and wonder as they stare at the Christmas tree. Galison.com has boxed Notecards - black and white photos of children enjoying the holidays - that capture the true spirit of Christmas. Take a look at these cards, then pick up your pen and let the floodgates of memory open upon your Christmas memories journal page. Think back to what Christmas was like in your home. What family traditions did you partake in? What was your favorite thing to do on Christmas night and then Christmas morning? What is the best gift you have ever given to a loved one? Write three pages without lifting the pen from the page. Read it later and see if there is anything you want to add to your Christmas celebration this year.

Holiday Landscape Notecards

Ice skating, sledding, big, floppy hats, silly snowmen, perfect snowflakes, snowball fights, hot cocoa and roaring fires are just some of the images that come to mind as winter rolls around and Christmas descends upon us. Whether you are live in an area with a large amount of snowfall, have visited such places or simply dream about them, try sending Christmas cards with snow covered landscapes this year. Inside the note cards send warm sentiments to those you love. Also, try keeping Christmas journal and write down all your thoughts about this holiday season. Tell tales about taking the children ice skating, going skiing with friends, decorating the Christmas tree while snow falls outside or simply sitting around a fire drinking a mug of something delightful.

Online Family Journal

Create a Family Journal website. Use the opening page to present your family tree - go as far back as you can with it. Then on the following pages, write down old family stories, recipes, and traditions. Try to gather as many old photos, ticket stubs and mementos as you can, scan them in and put them on your site. Then email the website address to family members near and far. Everyone in the family is going to have memories, stories and photos of their own to share. Ask them to get in touch with you so that you can add their contributions to the site. Often times, family will be separated by distance and that means that some of the family history might be lost. The Internet provides a convenient way for people to stay in touch and it allows for the sharing of information, so that history does not slip through the cracks.

Custom Imprinted Holiday Cards

That time of year is upon us again. It's time to let your employees and your customers know how much you appreciate them. You can do that with personalized, custom imprinted holiday cards. Go back and review all those notes you have taken in your business journal. Remember the things that went well with your customers and the progress your employees made within the business. Then take some time to think about what you want to say to them this holiday season. You can have your holiday cards custom imprinted with your words. Take a peek at Galison.com to see how you can create unique, personalized holiday cards. Everyone you send cards to will appreciate the time and thought you put into wishing them well this year!

Road Trip Journal for Kids

A Children's Road Trip Journal filled with activities is the perfect way to keep kids busy when you hit the road! Children can start to use it even before they get into the car. They can keep a list of what they bring, maintain a calendar of fun things that they will do, and take along addresses to send postcards to friends. In the car, they can write about and draw all of the things they see along the way. An additional bonus is that they can play games like car bingo, test their knowledge of the US states or keep track of where they are going if a map is included. The right Children's Road Trip Journal brings the perfect balance of education and fun!

Specialty Cat Journal

Specialty Dog Journal

What are weblogs?

You can either keep your journal writing in a private book or share your reflective journaling with everyone in a weblog. Weblogs are websites where you can do online personal journal writing and then people can read it. Are you passionate about an idea and want to get people thinking about it? Do you believe in a cause that you think others should know about? Or do you simply want to share who you are with the world? Whatever the reason for sharing, check out weblogs. Try searching any search engine with the keyword ´weblogs´ for more information.

Unique Cat Journal

Children´s Interactive Travel Journal

An interactive children´s travel journal filled with activities will keep kids busy for hours. Try a journal that asks children to gather information and write about their destination. This allows them to learn interesting facts about the place they are going to visit. An educational interactive travel journal which includes a map provides geographical lessons, thus children are having fun without even realizing that they are learning. Kids can keep a log of the things they did while they were away – what they ate, what they saw, what new friends they met. Blank pages mixed in throughout the journal are a great place for children to draw pictures of what they experience. A journal of this type will teach children how to capture memories they may want to look back on years later.

Journaling with your children

Begin keeping a journal when your children are very young, perhaps in kindergarten. Choose a journal that allows the both of you to record several years of their life. In helping your child to write about their life, you will promote a love of both reading and writing. Ask them to record how old they are, who their teacher is, who their friends are and what they are learning. Let them share all of their favorite things: food, animals, colors, etc. Make sure they write down what they want to be when they grow up as they will surely get a kick out of that when they are older. Let them trace their hand. Paste a class photo in the journal. Try to find a journal that includes pocket dividers so you can save special projects that they bring home. Keeping a journal with your child not only brings the two of you closer but it allows you to explore the world together.

Paris Journal

The Paris Write On! Journal, with its striking picture of the Eiffel Tower on the front cover, opens the door to the imagination and invites it to play. With a red elastic closure and a page protective flap, you never have to worry about losing pages. Maybe you have always dreamed of sitting at the bar on the third platform of the Eiffel Tower as the sun slips from the sky or stepping inside the Musée du Louvre to view art such as Eugène Delacroix's 1830 painting, Liberty Leading the People. Whatever your dream, use this journal if you are planning to travel to France, to record old memories of a trip, to dream about traveling or simply because when you look at it, it makes you happy. For Paris writing exercises, please visit our Writing Exercises section.

Children's Pet Journal

Children love animals and often end up asking to bring home a fish, dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, horse, etc. Whatever pet they own, try getting them a pet journal in which they can keep all the information about their pet or pets. You may want to seek out an interactive pet journal that includes specific questions they will have to answer. A journal of this type encourages your child to take responsibility for their animal. The more responsible they are, the better equipped they will be to answer the journal questions. They can write a description of the animal along with a history of how that pet came to be a member of the family. Take a picture of the animal and paste it inside with information about its favorite treats and toys. Encouraging your child to write both descriptive information and factual information allows them to enhance their writing skills. This type of journal persuades children to look closely at details which are extremely beneficial for developing their writing and for noticing important things in life as well.

Your Own Engagement Journal

You are both so excited to be getting ready to plan your wedding. However, you soon realize that there will be lots of people coming together for the first time and you wonder how they will all get along. People are suddenly sharing a million stories with you that you've never heard before and everyone has an idea about what you should want. Stop! Take the time for yourself to sit and curl up with your journal. It is a place where you can relive the memory of your engagement, talk about how you two first met, share stories and let off some steam! It is for you – decorate the pages with pictures from magazines, draw anything, write a poem, make lists of things to do, place keepsakes inside. Try to find a blank page journal for this and make sure it reflects you.

Journal for Dog Lovers

Free Christmas E-cards

You're sitting in your office or at home and suddenly have an urge to send a Christmas card to a special friend. Send it now with a free Christmas e-card! Stop by Galison.com and visit the Holiday Time Collection. There you will find a Christmas e-card that´s sure to be the perfect fit for anyone in your life.

Wedding thank you notes

After your wedding and honeymoon, sit down and begin to work on your thank you notes. Do not send preprinted notes to your guests. They took the time to get you a gift and attend your wedding so give your thank you notes the personal touch. Handwriting your notes and addressing them to each person individually says that you not only appreciated their gift but you valued the thoughtfulness behind their attendance as well. Even if you did not like the gift, you should still send a note to say thank you for the thought. Remember to include a special thank you to those friends and family members who helped in setting up the wedding as well.

Wildlife Christmas Cards

Animals enjoy the holiday season just as much as we do – or at least they seem happy when we dress them up. However, its not just domesticated animals that have all the fun. Deer who stumble across snowmen seem to be intrigued by the sight. Wild horses appear to enjoy bounding through mounds of snow! Polar bears like to slide down hills and when they tire, they curl up together. The holiday season brings out the best in each and every one of us. Try sending people wildlife Christmas cards. Also, you might spend time journaling about animals during the holidays. Write about your first pet, create your own holiday story about an animal or write about your favorite holiday cartoon character, such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Restaurant Journaling

We all have favorite restaurants. Some might be close to home while others are gems found while on vacation. Yet, it always seems that when a friend calls and wants to meet for lunch or dinner, we suddenly draw a blank on where to go. With a Restaurant Journal, you don´t need to worry about forgetting about that special place. You can either use a blank journal to keep a log of the names of specific restaurants or you can get an interactive restaurant journal. This type of journal is filled with prompts that ask for information about the place so you that even the smallest details are remembered. Write down the name, address and contact information along with the cuisine type, chef's name, wine selection, credit card type accepted, reservations requirements and any other thoughts. An interactive restaurant journal may also include a glossary of ethnic food terms, and dining etiquette tips. Copyright

Face-to-face Journaling

Meetup.com is an online website that brings people, who share a common interest, together. There are Journaling Groups that meet in person in various US cities. Take a peek at their site and see if there's one in your area. http://journaling.meetup.com/

Horse Diary for Children

Does your little one love horses? Try giving your child a diary with images of horses on the front cover. Use the pictures as inspiration for writing. Talk about how horses sometimes graze in fields and other times they gallop across the land. Then relate horse behavior to the release of thoughts on the page. For example, your child can either spend time writing about one main thought or write with the hope of capturing all different thoughts as they race through their head. This is a good precursor to more serious free-writing as it teaches children how to unleash their imaginations. Additionally, you can encourage your child to read both fiction and non-fiction books about horses. Then, they can write about them.

Teen Party Planning Journal

Teenagers love parties. Try getting your teen an interactive party planning journal. A journal of this type offers suggestions on party themes – Hawaiian Luau, Pretty in Pink 80's party – and advice on how to decorate, what food to serve and party favors to offer. Try to find an interactive party planning journal that also incorporates pages filled with space to create invitation lists, a calendar, party prep lists, and most importantly, a place to share fabulous party memories. This journal will teach teens how to plan an event, offer space for them to record party memories and allow them to brainstorm on what they might do differently next time.

Online Journaling Clubs

Are there online journaling groups that I can join? Yes, there are! Check out Yahoo Groups or AOL Journals. You may also look up the word 'journal or diary groups' in the search engines to find what you need. Also, don't forget to ask your friends, online and offline, for recommendations. You'd be surprised how much information you can find just by asking for word-of-mouth recommendations.