Fitness Over 40

The Joy of Journaling

Around 10 years ago I discovered what might be my all time favorite book.  It’s called The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron.  The subtext is A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity.  Prior to this book, I would never have considered myself an artist.  Artist’s were people who could paint, or sculpt, or play a musical instrument.  I was an accountant, and I couldn’t do any of those things.  But just like I believe everybody is an athlete, I also believe everyone is an artist.  I also believe everyone would benefit from getting in touch with their artistic side.

The Artist’s Way is a 12 week journey - hopefully one that carries through to the rest of your life, but the book is meant to be read over 12 weeks.  It has two fundamental operative practices.  One is an artist date, which maybe I’ll talk about later.  I actually consider my morning cup of coffee to be a mini-artist date.

The second operative practice is morning pages.  Three pages, free form, of whatever there is to say.  EVERY day!!!  Whether you think you have something to say, or not.  Whether you think you can write, or not.  Spelling, not a problem.  Grammar, not an issue.  Just write.  In fact, one of the ground rules is that there is no way to do it wrong.

I followed this practice for about four years.  Not perfectly; and I certainly had a love/hate relationship with it - but I followed it.  And I was transformed by it!  As advertised, it gets us in touch with our spiritual side, it unleashes our creativity, and it heals.  Not coincidentally, I didn’t have hypertension (ie high blood pressure) when I was journaling.  I don’t remember it every being mentioned as something for which I was at risk.  But life got in the way, and I stopped the practice.

I don’t believe journaling has to be morning pages - although it is one very powerful way to journal.  People have been keeping diaries for years.  There is a reason for it.  Journaling, in whatever form it takes, is powerful.  It provides clarity, it helps us let go of anger, and unforgiveness. It helps us get unstuck.  And it heals.  There is proven therapeutic value in act of writing down what’s going on in our lives.

When Brad and I started Sweat365, it wasn’t a coincidence that we included a powerful journaling platform along with the exercise tools and access to community.  We believed in the power of all three (and we still do).  But as with morning pages, life got in the way, and I stopped blogging regularly.

So I am committing the next year to journaling.  Every day.  Right here, in public.

I have 363 days until my 50th birthday.

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