...it doesn't matter what shares that space. I am happy and at peace." (June, 2025)
Wow! Those were my words in a journal entry about a year ago. I like to go back and visit with my younger self...we sit, we talk, (though it is a one-sided conversation), her counseling me, telling me all about how she was feeling and what she was enjoying or enduring at that time.
Some might consider my journaling to be ridiculously abundant, oddly compulsive or overly emotive. I find it to be cathartic and comforting.
At any time, I can have up to 5 journals in progress:
my "Five Year Journal" that chronicles the lives of my children and me,
my "Wisdom and Reflection Journal" that contemplates life and offers insight
my "Daily Journal" that I will never share with you because that is my safe place to get it all out
my "Reading Journal" where I agree and argue with authors, and
my "Peace and Prayer Journal" where I exude gratitude for all I am blessed to enjoy in this life.
I find it to be interesting to read my journals at a later date, knowing that the feelings and events they remember for me were fully lived, survived and successfully managed. I've decided it might be interesting to share some of my older journal entries with you so that you too might sit with younger me and gain insight and comfort reading the words of her history. In many ways, Current Me believes that I've lost some of my wisdom in the tedium of life, so I look for it in the pages of Younger Me's journal. I suppose in my future, today's Current Me might have something to offer, but that is difficult to believe at this time.
With that in mind, welcome to this unedited "Wisdom and Reflection Journal" entry:
"It's a lines kind of day. Sometimes I don't know what I want to write. I marvel at the fact that in about ten minutes, something will have appeared on the page that 15 minutes prior I had no idea was even needing to be expressed.
"In so many ways, these are some really happy and peaceful times. And in many ways, they are not. I'd like to focus on how they are, but I keep getting interrupted with comments and questions-haha! But isn't that the key? Accepting all those distractions, interruptions, annoyances, setbacks, intrusions, as part of life and being in a place of peace anyway. I mean, anyone can feel peace laying alone on a clean blanket on an empty beach with no one and nothing to take your attention. But where's the glory in that? Where's the sense of accomplishment or victory? There is none. That peaceful moment was handed to you on a platter. Being at peace in the midst of real life? Now there's a challenge I can wrap my competitive edge around! That's the victory of preparing a full dinner for my family and their various boyfriends and guests while decompressing from school, driving kids here and there, feeding dogs and planning for tomorrow's school day. If I can pause in the middle of that and think, "My heart is happy and at peace." That is a true accomplishment.
"Peace comes to a heart that makes space for it. Doesn't matter what shares that space. I am happy and at Peace."
I hope you enjoyed that glimpse into my journal and maybe gained inspiration that you can take with you as you move into the days ahead. I will be digging up some more entries if this seems to help people who come here to read, relax and find connection. Peace!
I'd love for you to share your thoughts, feelings or comments! You can write here, online, or email me at: School2HomeConnections@outlook.com
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