Inconsequential Journals

      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...