Keeping a Journal

Those who know me well know I am an avid journaler.  I got serious about keeping one when I traveled to Europe in high school, and since then my journals have evolved and grown into an integral part of my life.

My history with journaling began before I could write.  On family trips my mom would sit down with me and my brother every night and write as we dictated our entries to her.  Obviously the practice stuck with me, as I even made mini journals for my stuffed animals.  

On my trip to Fiji, I kept a journal--for exactly one day.  Granted I was only 8, but when I found the little red and while book years later I knew if I ever traveled again I would write religiously.  While I remember quite a bit from that trip, many of my memories are pieced together from photos and stories my parents have told me.  I know there is so much that has been lost by not writing down my thoughts. 

The only entry I wrote in Fiji

Europe Journal 2008

Months before I left for my Europe trip I was wandering through my local art store and stumbled upon a book about bookbinding.  I flipped through the book, completely absorbed, until my mom pulled me out of there.  For weeks after I had dreams of sipping tea in some hidden restaurant in Paris, the Amelié soundtrack played softly in the background, while I wrote in my well-worn, leather-bound journal.  Not long after, I went back to purchase the book along with all the necessary supplies I would need to make a journal of my very own.

I had no idea what I was doing, but somehow I managed to make a book that stayed together.  It was massive, but I carried it everywhere during my 3 week long trip.  I collected stamps, stickers, tickets, and brochures, and filled my pages with doodles and maps of the places we stayed.

Journal Spread Paris 2008

My journal from Europe 2008 was Journal #3, and I just finished assembling Journal #12- Europe and Africa 2014.  I'll post pictures of my latest journal in a separate post, as I'm really pleased with how it turned out.   I can't wait until it's completely full and brimming with memories from my next adventure!

Journaling must be in my blood, because my mom kept a journal when she went to France in high school.  Can you believe she only took $130 with her for a full week in Paris?