Of all the journaling techniques I have found helpful in recent years, keeping a "Favorites" section has been one of the most helpful - though a full list of good journaling techniques is a good idea for a future post.
The idea is simple: keep a generously-sized section in your journal for lists of "favorites." Whenever you come up with a new topic, add it. Whenever you come up with a new favorite, add it. Once in a while, when you are feeling like life isn't worth the effort and you could use a reminder of things worth doing or seeing or just thinking about, browse the list.
Favorite Lessons That Are Constantly Being Learned, Unlearned, and Fought For:
Life is worth living. If you have any string of thoughts going through your head that lead to the idea that things would be better without you, recognize it as a faulty equation. Problem X + Problem Y never equals "you shouldn't exist." You may not know what it equals, but it always equals something else.
Beauty: The reason for living (not "beauty" as in skincare and makeup...beauty as a general principle and gift).
Shame: Sometimes your really just have to move on.
Procrastination: Doing something is better than nothing. If you are overwhelmed, do the minimum you have to do to feel less anxious, and communicate with people you have obligations to if you need extra time or to narrow the scope of what you are doing.
Friendship:
If people need space from you, let them have it.
At the same time, don't assume people do not want to spend time with you if it's been a while. Reach out and invite them to do something.
Be open to connections with many people, but trust fewer with your most vulnerable stuff (still learning).
Listen (still learning how to do well. Working as a reporter for the Iowa State Daily in college helped me immensely with gaining some ground as a listener).
Friends do not exist merely to help you solve your problems (learning).
That said, a friend will care about your suffering and offer compassion in whatever way they can.
Favorite Flowers:
marigolds
sunflowers
lilacs
zinnias
dahlias
bachelor's buttons
craspedia
witch hazel
Favorite Things to Do:
make beautiful things (to give, to sell, to keep)
arrange flowers
nature walks
journal
draw butterflies
go to the library
read a good book
play Bananagrams
mend
make chocolate chip cookies
Favorite Songs:
"The Rainbow Connection" by Kermit the Frog
"How Can I Keep From Singing" by Enya
"All My Days" by Alexi Murdoch
"Be Still" by Audrey Assad
"The Flower Duet" by Leo Delibes
"My Peace I Give You: My Peace I Give You" by Poor Clare Sisters
"Love Song for a Savior" by Jars of Clay
"Hold On" by Tom Waits
"Love and Mercy" by Brian Wilson
"One Little Song" by Gillian Welch
Favorite Food:
breakfast, in general
grapefruit
peaches
honeydew
green tea mochi
ice cream
chicken thighs with homemade seasoning + potatoes
French vinaigrette
carrot ginger soup
yogurt
Favorite Films:
Roman Holiday
Funny Face
Yesterday
Don't Think Twice
Fiddler on the Roof
It's A Wonderful Life
Homeward Bound
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein
The Lord of the Rings series
Alien (an outlier...but weirdly cathartic)
Favorite TV Series:
The Muppet Show
Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea
Fleabag
Doctor Who
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Mad Men (up to a point)
The Good Fight
LulaRich (docuseries)
Favorite Things That Are Hard to Categorize:
baking soda
tinted lip balm
bare branches
poetry slams
vintage fashion magazines
ribbon
scissors and florists' clippers
beaded earrings
gray socks
little vases
bead shops
lavender essential oil
making eye contact with squirrels
realizing I like something about someone I didn't like
good pens
sharpened pencils
blank pages
my husband reading Lord of the Rings out loud
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