Yesterday, I wrote not one 10-minute write, but two free writes of I don’t know how much time, one in the morning, and one at the end of the day. For the first time in ages, I was excited to scatter thoughts on a page: not for a purpose, not for a blog post. Just to write for the sake of writing. I prioritized it over work, over reading, over to-do lists, cleaning, and chores.
And it’s all because of this journal.
I understand that aesthetics are important. In the the past, I have given my site a makeover when I felt uninspired about blogging. To actually want to open my laptop and write a post, I have to enjoy spending time on my site. I have to be pleased by the way the words and images look on my little online home. My space has to be pretty. It has to be a place I want to hang out.
Otherwise, I’ll stop going.
It didn’t occur to me the same would be true for pen and paper. A couple of years ago, I switched to 59¢ composition books. It was getting too expensive to fill fancy journals at the rate I was writing. I still wrote on paper afer the switch. No biggie. Except then I didn’t.
I’ve lost track of how long it’s been since I wrote in one of my supermarket composition books. I don’t even know where my active one is. On vacation I wrote in a Moleskine, but only because it was in my purse, and I didn’t feel like opening my laptop. It wasn’t because the Moleskine was calling me.
This journal, though. Yesterday morning, I couldn’t wait to get out of bed and make coffee so I could write on the pretty pages. At the end of the day, rather than taking work to our daughter’s guitar lessons, I took my new journal. I wrote again instead of picking work back up.
I wanted to spend time in the lovely leaves Bridget Collins created, spilling ink, and wondering with each turn of the page what botanical delight I’ll come across next.
Butterfly Mind 
I love that your banner is a picture of this blog entry written longhand in your beautiful journal! I see exactly what you mean about the aesthetics. And I love your handwriting!
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Andrea, I am so proud of you and happy that you are back writing just for the sake of writing and not because it’s a job that must be filled. It is an amazing feeling to do what we do and still love the newest of the adventure. Keep up the writing in the journal on the pretty page it gives us all new hope of new adventures along the way. Have a wonderful hump day and the rest of your week. Your friend and loyal reader Kat
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There are always paragraphs and pauses in writing. Both on paper and with ourselves. We need to take a break sometimes, otherwise writing gets stale or tedious and the flow dries up. A pause gives us time to renew ourselves and start afresh. Best of luck. Eve
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What pretty pages, no wonder you’ve been inspired. Nice to see you back.
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I just recently bought 2 journals, both very pretty. One is blank for free writing. The other is a prompt-a-day writing journal for self exploration. I start this weekend. I think the blank one makes me a bit nervous though. I’ve been so caught up in writing articles that free writing seems a bit intimidating. I feel like I have to pick a topic.
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There is a different untold pleasure in scribbling through those real pages. Its fun!
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Completely understand what you mean. I’ve been stuck in a journal that frankly I’m SICK OF but I can’t bring myself to not finish it. I love that feeling of filling an entire journal cover to cover. I always feel so accomplished afterwards. I’m afraid to toss it aside for a new pretty one.
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I’ve been following your blog for a while, and it’s truly amazing to see the similarities we have in our thoughts. With that, I totally agree about the aesthetic part of journaling! It surprisingly helps my creative and healing processes, and encourages my mind to want to write more.
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I also keep a journal, but don’t get to it as much as I would like to. I enjoy reading…thanks
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The space in which you create is always special
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Oh, please don’t stop writing, Butterfly Mind. You are real, not posturing and so many people appreciate you. I’m just now reading this blog from Aug 17 (I think) and I am struck by the also-real people who replied to you. I’d like to get to know some of them as well. As far as my own blog innertreeoflife.com, I’m still working to get it up. The first one is visible but I’ve got a lot to do yet on the site. Keep going, Butterfly!
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I honestly love writing and your post is so spot on! Writing is so soothing and especially when it’s just for you 🙂 not just for blogging purposes 🙂
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