You will find lots of song lyrics in my journals, mainly because I can barely create without my music. It is my constant companion, inspiration and mood setter. Sometimes I write out lyrics that especially mean something to me and other times they are simply a reflection of that day's soundtrack and nothing more. For me, it is as important that my journals are a snapshot of my days as it is that they communicate any deeper message. My journals are literally the story of my life. For better or worse. The good and the bad. You might think that I would censor myself in these pages knowing that I will be sharing them online for the whole world to see (potentially, anyway), but actually it's just the opposite. I create and record, reflect and spill out because I must but I share my story because putting myself out there--the lovely and the unlovable--might help someone else share their story, and it is in the sharing that we know we are not alone.
And in case you've ever wondered, what you see here is everything. The pages I love, the ones I hate. It may make me cringe to do it, but what you see is what you get.
When I first started journaling I often ended up with pages that I hated because I had this idea in my head that they had to be artful instead of real. But, let's face it, real is ugly sometimes. I had to learn the hard way that you can't keep that mindset and create authentic journals. You have to let go of the need for a pretty picture and embrace the True because the True is Good. Besides that, you'll never make good art anyway, that isn't also True. Ironically, once I gave myself permission to go ahead and make crappy art, I began to really love the things I made. Not all of it is good, of course, but that's ok. It comes from a place that is true and messy and struggling and getting better all the time. Kind of like me.
That is exactly what journaling should be. And while I'm not an artist, at all, apparently just wanting to create is being an artist. Your pages are GREAT and you are making people like me create as well...
Posted by: Tikva | October 12, 2011 at 08:47 PM
You are so right, but it is also so hard to let go of the thought of creating a nice, pretty or perfect page. I like the things you do and share with us!
Sunny greetings from Germany - Irma
Posted by: Irma | October 13, 2011 at 02:04 AM
Super inspiring! I've started countless journals only to stop a few days in because they aren't what I want them to be or because I fear someone reading them. I was able to overcome this ONCE and it was the longest journal I ever managed to keep once I gave myself permission to let it be potentially ugly... My journals always have lyrics in them!!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Sara | October 13, 2011 at 02:29 PM
Love this whole post. What an awesome page! Thanks for the inspiration.
Sharing online definitely pushes me to be more authentic. I don't want to just pump out pretty pages, I want to SAY something.
Sharing is so important and so necessary!
Posted by: dani | October 23, 2011 at 11:53 AM