This afternoon I had some time to kill as my wife decided to go to the gym once we arrived in town. Yes, you read that right, my wife went to the gym; I don't do gyms.
Anyway, I walked the half mile or so to the Office Depot to mill around. I love to play with all the toys, electronic toys, to keep myself current on the latest models and technology on the market.
Today, I just wasn't feeling it so much. After playing around with a touchscreen PC for about twenty minutes, I realized there wasn't anything all that new. And no iPad.
I decided to look over their journals to see if they had anything sized either 4x6 or 5x7, and refillable. My wife and I had found a really cool 4x6 leather refillable journal at Barnes & Noble's, but they had no actual refills. Boo.
As I walked down the isle of day planners and calendars towards the journals, I was not optimistic as we had been keeping an eye out for the aforementioned ideal journal several months.
Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised today. I found a 5x7 tan Faux Leather journal sitting next to... actual refills for that exact journal! I almost danced a little jig as I snagged a journal and a refill. The fills are 256 55 lbs. ruled ivory pages with a ribbon marker! Absolutely wonderful find!
So, why am I so excited about a paper journal as I am typing on my fancy iPod Touch? (We all know I live this thing and not only for the ease of getting writing done and posted with the stroke of my mighty left thumb.) Anyone reading this who writes knows there is something ethereal about putting your pen to paper. It is a much more personal connection to your work; more intimate.
I know I write with more emotion on paper, at least. There are many journal entries I have tucked away that I will probably never share with anyone; they're just too personal. Regardless if I ever decide to completely bare my soul, those writings have allowed for opening myself to writing other things, exploring negative emotions, feelings, understanding different perspectives, and little by little help me continue to cultivate compassion.
Ultimately, though, it makes me feel more like a writer; an artist. I feel empowered, full of endless possibilities; each blank page holding the potential to capture in words the images, feelings in my head. The journal gives me the same feeling that my sketchbook generates, and that is a feeling that touches something very deep inside of me and produces only what I can describe as bliss.
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