Today I am doing something I do every New Year's Eve -- reading my journal for the past year. A chance to revisit dreams, see the themes of the year and reflect on where I have been and where I want to go in my life this next year. That is my journal in the photo.
I am a big advocate of journal keeping. I started myself back in 1973. My original impetus was realizing I knew very little about my mother as a person, someone with a life and thoughts outside of mothering and children. So I had this idea that I could keep a journal and someday, preferably after I died, my children, then not yet born, would have the chance to see me as more three-dimensional. Along the way, my journal changed from looking outward at daily life to looking inward so that for the last 20 years or so it has been at least 90% centered on my inner life -- dreams, work with various issues in my life, reflections stemming from my analysis.
My journals always have unlined paper which to me feels like it gives me the freedom for my handwriting size to vary and for the page to be organized in any way I like. I always write in fountain pen. I have tried keeping my journal on my computer but I always return to handwriting and a fountain pen. That's just me.
I recommend keeping a journal to all my patients. It provides a container for thoughts and therapy work outside of the therapy sessions, a place to reflect, to express emotions, record and work on dreams, to continue to work of the therapy. My bias is for a journal that is attractive to the journal writer. So I recommend finding a blank book that you like, something nicer than a steno book or spiral notebook.
I'm glad my posts on termination were provocative to many of you. In the weeks ahead, I will be writing about how to choose a therapist, therapists and social networking sites and other topics. I hope you all will share your thoughts then too.
I hope you all have a Happy New Year!