"Note to Self" by Samara O'Shea ~ FEATURED in Today on Gather by Connie

I saw "Note to Self" on Connie's article (thanks Connie) and then went to the actual book article in hopes of possibly getting a copy. I think it will be a great tool for use in my own journal writing.

Currently, I only have a book I'm keeping my thoughts in. I write down what's happened during the day, how I feel about it (or felt), and how I responded to those feelings. This helps me evaluate my life and my responses to certain situations. It has come in very handy to do self reflection and work on areas that need to be improved.

I put in for a copy too as I thought it would be a good one...thanks for this post

When my Best Friend Gail was diagnosed with breast Cancer two years ago I bought her a journal. I also wrote her a poem which she pasted to the inside cover. The poem was about strength and God's Love, it was about the journey. I encouraged her to write in it daily even when and probably more importantly when she was having a bad day, I thought this would help her as she progressed to better days that felt bad. All she need do was look back and see how far she had indeed come on this journey to healing. Later she told me the journal had been so much inspiration and at the end she could indeed see how far she had come.
She made a full recovery.

Rene, I saw this and put a request in for it as well. If I don't get it I'll be buying it, so I'll have it one way or another.

I saw this, think I may buy it :)

Hi Renda ~ Thanks for responding to this Article.

I think that Connie has a GOOD EYE for spotting very insightful materials and content to share with us Gatherites!

JOURNALS are good to keep for people of any age, any gender, any background. Journals are surprisingly useful tools for our GROWTH.

Samara O'Shea ~ bless her heart ~ is right in step with inner reflection and betterment of self.

Your thoughts, Renda, that a JOURNAL is a great tool for personal use, and by informing us of the ways in which you utilize a JOURNAL . . . you have provided us with good food for thought, and very helpful insight . . .

"Currently, I only have a book I'm keeping my thoughts in. I write down what's happened during the day, how I feel about it (or felt), and how I responded to those feelings. This helps me evaluate my life and my responses to certain situations. It has come in very handy to do self reflection and work on areas that need to be improved." ~ Renda

Thank you for your input. WE all need to take time to evaluate our life at intervals, and take time for self-reflection and new intrinsic discoveries of who we are.

Blessings ~
Your Friend,
Rene

You're welcome Karen!

I hope you share with us some of your JOURNALING tips soon!

Blessings ~
Rene

Apryl ~ What an inspiring story you have shared with us about Journaling! What a wonderful idea . . . and what GOOD NEWS on the FULL RECOVERY of your friend.

I'll bring your words here for other to view . . .

" When my Best Friend Gail was diagnosed with breast Cancer two years ago I bought her a journal. I also wrote her a poem which she pasted to the inside cover. The poem was about strength and God's Love, it was about the journey. I encouraged her to write in it daily even when and probably more importantly when she was having a bad day, I thought this would help her as she progressed to better days that felt bad. All she need do was look back and see how far she had indeed come on this journey to healing. Later she told me the journal had been so much inspiration and at the end she could indeed see how far she had come. She made a full recovery." ~ Apryl just Apryl

Thank you so much for adding your thoughts and journaling experience here. You had a wonderful idea, and a great inspirational and encouraging tool for your friend.

Blessings ~
Your Friend,
Rene

Hi Cassandra!

I'm bringing your thoughts and input down here to respond to . . .

"Funny, I just pulled my journals off the bookshelf. I didn't realize I had so many that was given as gifts. I've been thinking of writing in mine. I use to use a diary when I was younger, and made my own journals when I got older. I would be interested to know the difference in them. They're both used to reflect on where you once were at to where you are today." ~ Cassandra

I love what you have said about DIARIES and JOURNALS . . .

"They're both used to reflect on where you once were at to where you are today." ~ Cassandra

You've asked the difference between the two --

DIARIES ~ are daily reflections. Each day, you add your thoughts and experiences for that particular day, and what you believe you have gained for your spiritual journey, and for your soul's growth.

JOURNALS ~ are a collection of your writings, life notes, artistic creations, dream insight research, literary creations, and/or studies of whatever nature that you believe will benefit your life.

Let's take an example of your DREAMS and the utilization of both of these very helpful tools . . .

DREAM DIARY ~ A daily log of your DREAMS in detail just as you dreamed it and the symbolism, messages, objects, scenery, people, and the feelings you had upon waking.

DREAM JOURNAL ~ List your DREAM, the SYMBOLISM in the dream, and the meaning of each symbol - [you can refer to DREAM BOOKS for the specific meanings, but also rely heavily on what the symbol means to you -- symbols are sometimes universal, most always personal -- what a certain place means to me, may not mean the same to someone else. The names of the DREAM BOOKS should also be included in the JOURNAL. That way, when you accumulate more DREAM BOOKS, you will have a record of which DREAM BOOKS were more on target in relation to every element of your DREAMS.

Also included in the DREAM JOURNAL would be every other element described above, i.e., messages, objects, scenery, people, and the feelings you had upon waking. That will then give you good information to return back to as your DREAMS become progressively more clear to you. You'll also have a record of what you believe each element means and be able to see if your thoughts change or become more finite in any particular area.

DREAM JOURNALS offer us more space and room to expand upon the content of our DREAMS, and open up a place for us to share our insight with ourselves. Light-bulb moments occur when we go back to our DREAM JOURNALS. It is a very inspirational and enriching practice!

JOURNALS offer more than daily reflections, they offer spaces and places for us to explore, research, and speak not only through our eyes, but through the eyes of others. For instance, if you are told a dream by someone else, and you find that it is similar to a dream that you had, you can journal that person's dream -- the date -- the elements of the dream that were similar to your dream -- or why you felt that their dream has some special meaning to you. Even if you do not understand the full meaning at the time you journal the content, having a record of it will insure that you never lose the thought, inspiration, or feeling that encouraged you to make note of it in the first place.

In both of these areas, the things that I have highlighted are not all-inclusive, and of course, everyone is always free to use their diaries and journals for whatever they please ~ lol.

What I have described is a good tool for the utilization of both Diaries and Journals, and it is a practice that I use for myself as well.

Both Diaries and Journals can be topic specific. . . .

A person may keep two Diaries, for example -- one for daily experiences, and one for daily inspiration that comes to them for a specific project, artwork, Novel ideas, teaching aid notes, studies, therapy sessions, class notes, internet research, etc. I stress the word "daily", when referring to a DIARY.

A JOURNAL on the other hand is more open-ended.

I hope this explains the differences a little for you Cassandra. Do let us know your thoughts, and if you found this information helpful.

Blessings ~
Your Friend,
Rene

L O L ~ Jen and Jo ~ It is very appealing to the Journal Maker, Writer, and anyone who loves to learn.

It's on my list as well!

Thank you both for commenting.

Blessings ~
Your Friend,
Rene

Journals are certainly a medium of infinite expressive and creative potential. Interestingly, to me, I have been creating a character who is becoming a friend through her journal entries, which of course I create, but from another part of me. By letting her express freely by journaling, I am giving myself opportunities to look at my views and such recreated from another life perspective. I don't have to own her attitudes, because they are hers not mine. Thus, I am exploring these perspectives in some sense objectively, in some sense subjectively.

Thanks for the information

Rene, this is an absolute must buy. I could have finished it by now, but I'm reading it slow so as to savor each word.

Like a fine wine, Samara's book deserves to be enjoyed slowly.

Libramoon ~ what an interesting way to do self-exploration from an objective place. This sounds very interesting. An excellent idea, and I hope that you share with us how you are progressing. Thanks for giving us a new way to utilize our Journals.

Blessings ~
Rene

I'm glad that information that I added in response to your question helped out Cassandra ~ Good to see you, and glad you came back in to check back.

Blessings ~
Rene

Shelbia ~ You're welcome. When you get a chance, let us know if you are utilizing a Journal of any kind -- either literary, artistic, or personal.

We've had discussions relating to ART JOURNALS, Dream Journals and Dream Diaries in relation to our ART JOURNAL COLLABORATION PROJECT which we will be bringing back to the forefront, as well as member examples of what has been created.

Those Articles, discussions, and examples are over in Artistic Minds® and in our Dream Depths Gather Groups, and in our collaborating Gather Group owned by NINA, ~ Mini Moments Therapy . . .

You may like some of what you find in any of those Groups with regard to advice and samples. Member and Co-Owner of Dream Depths ~ Jennifer N. has many videos in Artistic Minds® and in her private space, as well as elsewhere in Groups in the Gather Community created by her son Gideon (who is Artistic Minds® little art instructor and associate Java Bean News Reporter) on art instruction ~ you'll love those videos, they are good for adults and children!

Of course, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND "Note to Self" by Samara O'Shea!

Thanks for commenting ~ L O L.

Hi Jen! ~ I so agree with you. Maybe you'll give us some insight on the parts that you enjoyed the best. I think everyone would love to hear more on Samara's book.

Thanks for putting you input on this thread.

Your Friend,
Rene