I’ve written before how journalling can be healing, can be a form of therapy. It’s a safe place to dump thoughts and feelings, and explore your emotions and hopefully learn from your experiences, and grow as a soul. This past week I found myself under doctor’s orders to stay home and focus on my health, on returning it to “normal” (whatever that is) as fast as possible. I started writing in both of my current journals (the Paperblanks Blue Filigree and the Winnable Leather Journal) but I wanted a dedicated space for research and observations. I found myself reaching for a journal I’ve had for a long time, so long in fact I no longer remember how it came to me. But it was perfect and I started writing down all the information I could about my condition and pain levels and how I was managing (or not, depending on the day). The activity focused my mind on something other than the pain, which was exactly what I needed.

It’s made by Peter Pauper Press and contains 160 lined pages. There is a beautiful quote on the back cover:

You don’t need a loud voice to be heard. All you need is something worthwhile to say.

The cream paper is lovely and takes fountain pen ink with no feathering or show through. I also used gel pens for different sections. The journal closes with a magnetic flap. I’ve numbered the pages and started a Table of Contents at the back. I should have left a few pages at the beginning for this but I didn’t think of it. It works just as well starting from the last page.

Yesterday I started including diary entries in this journal, as it was just easier than going back and forth between my everyday journals and this one.

I want this journal to contain articles I want to copy out, lists of the fears I have for dealing with this condition, plans of attack for how I will change aspects of my life to meet the treatment goals, and strategies for how I can stay committed and motivated to carrying out those plans.

Just as a book finds its reader at the right time, this journal found me when I needed it most. And I am very, very grateful.