Inconsequential Journals

 I'll be honest, my memory isn't what it use to be. I feel like there must have been other years with too many disasters both natural and man-made. But 2025 has so far proven to be a year filled with woe. Many people are in desperate need of aid, and thus our money, while our personal budgets are becoming more tightly stretched. Still, our journal of the inconsequential can help. As you are all well aware, I love a list. Let's take a few moments to make one of the small bits and pieces around our home that might garner some funds to donate to those in need. Every little bit counts. Your couch cushion change will combine with others to form a significant monetary value. Don't give up because you only found a few cents. Put it in a jar at the register or a fireman's boot. Not only will it help someone going through a terrible time but it may make you feel a bit better too.  Here are a few ideas to get you started 1 - Return your bottles and cans 2- Check for change in...

  You may have looked at this title and instantly thought of family, friendships or important traditions in your life. This is not what this post is about. I am taking a much more light hearted look at my world today. I need it and you probably do too. This post is a salute to things you rarely replace. I'm not talking about refrigerators or dishwashers. I'm pointing toward the little things cluttering up drawers and closets that are necessary to life but you only use occassionly; the buy it once and you're done ever present bits and pieces. By now, some of you may be scoffing. You wish that the shopping list was shorter. But, I guarantee you have items in your house too that have sat around a while. I was reminded of something I read recently just this morning as I reached for a cotton ball. It was a random social media post about using Worcestershire sauce only once in a blue moon. Admittedly the chefs in our home go through it at a noticable rate but it made me think abo...

 Today is Friday the 13th. As a kid, my friends and I would talk about this "cursed" day cautioning everyone to take extra care. The slightest amount of spilled milk was held up as valid proof that the day brings nothing but misery. As an adult, I no longer worry about those problematic points on the calendar. It's days like yesterday which ignite a worried inner monologue. You literally could not put down your phone without another major news event breaking. So this morning, I am chosing to put it away for a few minutes to focus on my journal. When things get overwhleming, it can be helpful to take some time to regroup. Put your thoughts and feelings to paper. Write, draw, scribble, list whatever you are feeling in the moment. Use colors to reflect your mood. Perhaps you are feeling gratitude that you awoke safe and comfortable in your bed. Perhaps you'd like to unload some bad energy or simply think about something else for a change. Draw a dumpster fire, a field of...

      I've been putting this one off for a while because I don't like the term. But those glowing twenty-year-olds knitting beside their camper in a gorgeous national park and the young "trad" wives have really helped make these activites seem more universal. Still, it's a little unfair since the ability to acquire and the need to have them can be so diverse. Take canning for instance. It's a good idea to know how to grow and preserve food. But, what if you live in a city? Some people learned many of these skills from family members instead of a kit they bought at a craft store so they can advance far more easily. Still, I think it's time to pat ourselves on the back again. You have knowledge and skills that you don't even consider because you do it for fun or just as part of your daily living. Do you know how to crochet? Make pie crust from scratch? Press Flowers? Celebrate your know-how and create a page with flourish. If you are of an older generat...

  Summer is so close you can almost feel a sea breeze. It's that time of year when you start daydreaming of new places and new experiences. Unfortunately, many of us will not be able to act on those lovely flights of fancy for reasons too numerous to mention. Hopefully, a short staycation is a possibility. In the past, I have suggested treating your hometown like a fun destination. Now, I am encouraging you to branch out just a little and do the same for a place next door. Go to some of the more popular spots one or two towns over. Pretend you are a tourist. Set up a travel journal page where it appears you just discovered that burger place you've been to ten times or accidentally happened upon the prettiest lakeside trail you ran in a 5K last fall. What would you be interested in doing if you were seeing this place for the first time? Have a lovely day and, maybe, you'll find something new like a mural or an ice cream flavor to celebrate for the first time.

  This blog is devoted to the inconsequential. Usually, this coincides with the small moments of life. Many times our focus is drawn to larger events and topics leading us to forget to give them much attention. I know I have been  guilty of falling into that trap, especially lately. But we can still pull back. In fact, it might be even more important when things start to feel too large. We can control much of the inconsequential in our lives. We can be more present through the little details that surround us. We can breathe knowing that in this minute, we are surrounded by birds, sunshine, and blooming flowers. Take a sensory journey today. Stop for a minute somewhere safe and comfortable. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel (tactilely not emotionally)? Sketch a picture of all the things you obseve then give them positive adjectives such as fuzzy and spicy.  Border your page with a color that you associate with happiness. Maybe even add an animal like a...