pen to paper

i love the idea of keeping a journal, despite my own ineptness at doing so. it's a romantic, luddite practice of passing along our stories, thoughts and memories. one day, when my days are gone, i don't imagine my children scrolling through computer screens to gain their memories, though it's likely to happen that way, but instead picture boxes of notebooks, photos in hand, and papers strewn about. perhaps it's the artist in me, but there is something so tangible about feeling the days and dreams of the past in ones hands. peter occhiogrosso, who teaches a class on sacred journaling, offers his advice on getting started...

• choose an issue that's been bothering you and write about three things you can do do change your approach.
• write an unsent letter and express your true feelings of anger or joy toward another.
• makes lists. they can be favorite recipes, art exhibitions you'd like to see, or acquaintances from the past you've been meaning to contact. get the real issues primed to flow.

as occhiogross describes "True, you may not feel like journaling every day, but as with meditation or yoga, you'll usually feel better afterward. With any luck, you'll feel better during the process, too." and who knows, you might end up leaving behind a memory or two for the next generation.