Let's Talk Lists, 7.1.21

 So...  let's talk lists! A few weeks ago I spent time working through @within.thyself  Ten Day gratitude challenge, listing 10 things I am grateful for each day. It has really made me think about the importance of list making throughout my life. I have probably written about this before, but I'm sure it has taken on new meaning since then, so here I am! 

Handmade journals are the best! This one was handmade and gifted to me by Danielle Snider of Washington, MO.

I am a journaler. I would never really have considered myself a journaler, ( I don't journal on a regular basis and in no organized way, whatsoever) but the box full of notebooks filled with magazine clipping, thoughts, quotes and, yes, lists, proves otherwise.  I think my journals resemble my brain- unorganized, with so many ideas, presented in random order. Have you heard of "brain dumps'? They are basically just taking every random idea and letting them spill out of you and onto a page, in categories.  Well, my journals present themselves as a series of  brain dumps. A way to process and unload an overload of ideas and inspiration. 

My husband, who is super supportive and patient with me as I ramble through so many of my ideas and plans, recently made a statement that made me stop and think- "You have too many ideas and hobbies, you should probably find a way to narrow them down.". This man knows me well and he knows how important my "down" time is, so I took his comment seriously. With too many things on my plate, my anxiety sometimes gets the best of me. Even though I am very aware of this, sometimes it takes hearing it from someone else for me to do something about it.

We had that conversation in early spring and since then I have made some decisions in order to scale back and simplify my life. I spent two months away from social media and have been taking time to just reflect and begin to sort through and purge my large assortment of art and sewing supplies, yoga and meditation books and, really, anything that doesn't serve a purpose in my life right now. What has been the most telling, though, is looking back at my journals from almost twenty years ago and noticing common threads. When things are written down- in my case, in list form (or brain dump form!), it is easy to see what has stayed and what has gone and what needs to stay and what needs to go.

Do you have old journals? I challenge you to break them out and start making your connections. At the very least, you will be entertained! But, most likely, you will end up with some insightful and very useful information 😃.  ( Then you could start a new list!) If you are at any kind of crossroad in your life and unsure which direction to take, this information could become your roadmap. What a gift, right?!

Now, I'm off to make my new list! Have a great weekend!

Be Still. Be Strong. Be Happy.        Juli