Want an idea for a topic for another book, Penny? Self care for carers. For some time, I’ve kept a record of all my husband’s ‘events’ during the day; inputs and outputs etc. in a notebook so I can discuss with district nurses if indicated. This week, I decided to make myself a ‘project’, too. One page is devoted to my husband, and the opposite page is devoted to me, where I write down things I do that look after me, no matter how small, whether it is journaling, going for a short walk, regularly using lovely hand-cream, reading a substack article 😊, or whatever else it might be. Things we pay attention to grow, but things we ignore wither, and ignoring our own well-being doesn’t help anyone. This is my one small ritual that is making a difference for me and the likelihood that I’ll achieve my writing goal 😀
Ahh that’s a really lovely idea :). As carers we do all we have to do for the person we support but using the same tools for ourselves can make all the difference! Would def recommend Suzy Readings book Self Care Revolution for carer friendly self care (it’s genuinely carer friendly!!)
I was only thinking the other day that I should do this again - I did it through 2020-2021 and found it so helpful. Since becoming a mother, I imagine it would be even more useful. (Also, what a great gift for other writer-mothers!)
“…writing is a really effective way for me to process the past and make decisions about my future.” I agree completely.
I find writing to myself, all the nonsense - the hard stuff, the boring, the mundane, the joyful and the petty - is sometimes the only way I get to what I truly feel and know, hidden behind duty, fear and patterning. The biggest changes I’ve made in my life have not come from thrashing out the minutiae with friends, but from hard won revelations poured out on the page, amongst the detritus and trivial.
It also means I can give myself a helpful pep talk at the end, moving from writing from me, to me (from “I” to “you”, in a rousing second person pov switch up) without seeming too crazy or cringe as the cheerleading is on the page.
Yep I’m the same. I think partly it’s that with friends, they bring their own opinions and judgment (not in a negative way) and that can sometimes muddy the waters a bit when we need to first decide how WE feel about something. The page is a very cheap therapist 😂
I've never had writing goals before this year so will let you know once I arrive at the end of it and actually build one, Penny! The Goodbye, Hello journal sounds like a great ritual to roll in at this point.
I only learnt about this journal this year through Substack. I’ve written journals on and off since I was 8. Mostly on. I’m kind of petrified of where the teenage ones have ended up. My stuff was moved around at my parents’ place and I don’t know if they’re amongst the things my dad threw out or the many many many things my mother has filled rooms with…
I did the artists way as a group this year on Substack. I found the no reading week so hard but it really broke my habit of constantly listening to books or podcasts whilst I did chores or was on the move. I think that’s been a huge improvement in my life. ☺️
Oh my goodness, Penny, my heart is full! It brings me so much joy to know that you, someone I admire so much, has got so much from these journals. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing how it has helped you shape your life. I LOVE the way you put it: "to create a life I am proud of". That feels almost more powerful and real than creating a life you love. And I can't wait to see who wins their own copy of 'Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025'!
Ahh well Thank You!!! So much advice out there is complex or expensive - this is something many people can gain so much from and it’s affordable and time efficient (and I enjoy it so much too ❤️). Thanks for making your work so accessible!
I started writing in a physical notebook after 4 years. It's a true delight to see how I write, how I carry the object... Your newsletter made me think of the trip I am planning. I have a big trip coming up end of year and I thought I would say goodbye 2024 ...... Do the trip and then in March .... Hello 2025. This break I will hwlev, inspired me to write a little inspiration piece to my community, asking them what they would do in the space between 2024 and 2025 where there's no productivity to fulfill and satisfy, impact to be driven, strategy to build... Thank you for the inspiration. (I think there are people here who would benefit more from the notebook so I would like to be out of the giveaway, I just wanted to share my thoughts, thank you)
I do an annual tarot card draw around Jan 1. I spend hours doing it. One card for each month and forecasting what each card may or may not mean. It’s easy the first few months. Then it gets into some general guesswork for the later months. Could I break it down into quarters? Sure. But the annual dump of thoughts and possibility feels somehow cleansing. I like thinking about a month like November from the perspective of January then looking back from November to what my January self saw was possible.
Oooh I love this! I don’t really know anything about Tarot but I’m really curious - let me know if there’s a good introductory book that you’d recommend
I’m definitely just a millennial girlie out here pretending to know what I’m doing with it. My favorite book for it has been WTF is Tarot? by Bakara Wintner. While I’m not superstitious I am a little stitious so the luck and good vibes of having a deck gifted to you as opposed to one you purchase yourself is part of it. So I have a gifted deck from an ex boyfriend that has served me well. But I’m sure there’s padding in the vibes for beginners with self-purchased decks 😅
I used to write a few new year resolutions but they were always the same- lose weight, get fit etc. Then I started writing a very brief summary of the previous year but that petered out too as life was rather dull. I’m not a Morning Pages person - mornings are for getting things ticked off the to-do list so I can sit and ponder in the afternoon. I think I need structure but not regimentation.
Ah yeah I don’t do New Year’s resolutions in the traditional sense either - just think and write about how I want my life to look and think about the specific action steps to get there. I definitely enjoy the more concrete element. I also love a list. So satisfying.
Hi Penny , just thing I might like to do as I think about processing 2024 and moving on after this dreadful election news in the US. Thank you! Put me on your list!
I never really got on to the Artist's Way bandwagon. Something so depressing about writing down my thoughts and then reading them. So free in subject matter that I ended up confining myself in a room of negativity, clawing my way out. Nothing to do with those it works for, it just wasn't for me.
Haha!! It’s SO hard. Also, I get that free journaling probably isn’t as effective for people who have a tendency towards rumination. A guided journal would probably work better. I love using this guided journal now simply because it’s more focused and really time efficient for me!
Thank you, Penny! I am always looking for different journals and recommendations. I love to experiment with different formats, seeing what each one brings to the surface. I also struggle with the "one line a day" journals. They sound lovely, but I just never keep up. Not wired that way I guess. I'm very drawn to this more deep dive type, with quarterly check-ins. Thank you for the reminder of how revealing the page can be, and for the recommendation!
I love these annual rituals! I have a similar annual “reflection and manifestation” project. Love that you have a dedicated notebook for each year. Mine usually takes place in between my paper journal and Notion.
I art journal. As a visual person, I love collaging (images and words) to process life and make sense of it. Often the subconscious spills out on the journal and it’s always eye opening!
I also make a visionboard every year and choose a word of the year to accompany me.
Want an idea for a topic for another book, Penny? Self care for carers. For some time, I’ve kept a record of all my husband’s ‘events’ during the day; inputs and outputs etc. in a notebook so I can discuss with district nurses if indicated. This week, I decided to make myself a ‘project’, too. One page is devoted to my husband, and the opposite page is devoted to me, where I write down things I do that look after me, no matter how small, whether it is journaling, going for a short walk, regularly using lovely hand-cream, reading a substack article 😊, or whatever else it might be. Things we pay attention to grow, but things we ignore wither, and ignoring our own well-being doesn’t help anyone. This is my one small ritual that is making a difference for me and the likelihood that I’ll achieve my writing goal 😀
Ahh that’s a really lovely idea :). As carers we do all we have to do for the person we support but using the same tools for ourselves can make all the difference! Would def recommend Suzy Readings book Self Care Revolution for carer friendly self care (it’s genuinely carer friendly!!)
Thanks, Penny. I'll look it out.
I was only thinking the other day that I should do this again - I did it through 2020-2021 and found it so helpful. Since becoming a mother, I imagine it would be even more useful. (Also, what a great gift for other writer-mothers!)
Ahh I hope you enjoy doing it again!
Yay, come and do it again! 🥰
“…writing is a really effective way for me to process the past and make decisions about my future.” I agree completely.
I find writing to myself, all the nonsense - the hard stuff, the boring, the mundane, the joyful and the petty - is sometimes the only way I get to what I truly feel and know, hidden behind duty, fear and patterning. The biggest changes I’ve made in my life have not come from thrashing out the minutiae with friends, but from hard won revelations poured out on the page, amongst the detritus and trivial.
It also means I can give myself a helpful pep talk at the end, moving from writing from me, to me (from “I” to “you”, in a rousing second person pov switch up) without seeming too crazy or cringe as the cheerleading is on the page.
Yep I’m the same. I think partly it’s that with friends, they bring their own opinions and judgment (not in a negative way) and that can sometimes muddy the waters a bit when we need to first decide how WE feel about something. The page is a very cheap therapist 😂
I've never had writing goals before this year so will let you know once I arrive at the end of it and actually build one, Penny! The Goodbye, Hello journal sounds like a great ritual to roll in at this point.
It can be so helpful to get the heart of what we want and why we want it ❤️
Imperative👌🏼
And illuminating
And haaaaaard
I only learnt about this journal this year through Substack. I’ve written journals on and off since I was 8. Mostly on. I’m kind of petrified of where the teenage ones have ended up. My stuff was moved around at my parents’ place and I don’t know if they’re amongst the things my dad threw out or the many many many things my mother has filled rooms with…
I did the artists way as a group this year on Substack. I found the no reading week so hard but it really broke my habit of constantly listening to books or podcasts whilst I did chores or was on the move. I think that’s been a huge improvement in my life. ☺️
Ooh the no reading/media week is hard!! I would find it much harder in my 40s than in my 20s. But it can really help with clarity can’t it?
I didn’t manage to do it fully but it reduced dramatically.
Oh my goodness, Penny, my heart is full! It brings me so much joy to know that you, someone I admire so much, has got so much from these journals. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing how it has helped you shape your life. I LOVE the way you put it: "to create a life I am proud of". That feels almost more powerful and real than creating a life you love. And I can't wait to see who wins their own copy of 'Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025'!
Ahh well Thank You!!! So much advice out there is complex or expensive - this is something many people can gain so much from and it’s affordable and time efficient (and I enjoy it so much too ❤️). Thanks for making your work so accessible!
I started writing in a physical notebook after 4 years. It's a true delight to see how I write, how I carry the object... Your newsletter made me think of the trip I am planning. I have a big trip coming up end of year and I thought I would say goodbye 2024 ...... Do the trip and then in March .... Hello 2025. This break I will hwlev, inspired me to write a little inspiration piece to my community, asking them what they would do in the space between 2024 and 2025 where there's no productivity to fulfill and satisfy, impact to be driven, strategy to build... Thank you for the inspiration. (I think there are people here who would benefit more from the notebook so I would like to be out of the giveaway, I just wanted to share my thoughts, thank you)
The big trip sounds amazing! And I love the idea of a pause between years ❤️❤️❤️
I do an annual tarot card draw around Jan 1. I spend hours doing it. One card for each month and forecasting what each card may or may not mean. It’s easy the first few months. Then it gets into some general guesswork for the later months. Could I break it down into quarters? Sure. But the annual dump of thoughts and possibility feels somehow cleansing. I like thinking about a month like November from the perspective of January then looking back from November to what my January self saw was possible.
Oooh I love this! I don’t really know anything about Tarot but I’m really curious - let me know if there’s a good introductory book that you’d recommend
I’m definitely just a millennial girlie out here pretending to know what I’m doing with it. My favorite book for it has been WTF is Tarot? by Bakara Wintner. While I’m not superstitious I am a little stitious so the luck and good vibes of having a deck gifted to you as opposed to one you purchase yourself is part of it. So I have a gifted deck from an ex boyfriend that has served me well. But I’m sure there’s padding in the vibes for beginners with self-purchased decks 😅
I used to write a few new year resolutions but they were always the same- lose weight, get fit etc. Then I started writing a very brief summary of the previous year but that petered out too as life was rather dull. I’m not a Morning Pages person - mornings are for getting things ticked off the to-do list so I can sit and ponder in the afternoon. I think I need structure but not regimentation.
Ah yeah I don’t do New Year’s resolutions in the traditional sense either - just think and write about how I want my life to look and think about the specific action steps to get there. I definitely enjoy the more concrete element. I also love a list. So satisfying.
Hi Penny , just thing I might like to do as I think about processing 2024 and moving on after this dreadful election news in the US. Thank you! Put me on your list!
So much processing to do! 🤯
I never really got on to the Artist's Way bandwagon. Something so depressing about writing down my thoughts and then reading them. So free in subject matter that I ended up confining myself in a room of negativity, clawing my way out. Nothing to do with those it works for, it just wasn't for me.
Ahh get that but actually you don’t read them back - ever! I have occasionally but only years later. She recommends throwing them out.
That’s where I failed! I cannot stop myself from going back hahaha
Haha!! It’s SO hard. Also, I get that free journaling probably isn’t as effective for people who have a tendency towards rumination. A guided journal would probably work better. I love using this guided journal now simply because it’s more focused and really time efficient for me!
Sounds perfect!
Thank you, Penny! I am always looking for different journals and recommendations. I love to experiment with different formats, seeing what each one brings to the surface. I also struggle with the "one line a day" journals. They sound lovely, but I just never keep up. Not wired that way I guess. I'm very drawn to this more deep dive type, with quarterly check-ins. Thank you for the reminder of how revealing the page can be, and for the recommendation!
I'm with you and Penny which is why I created this journal in the first place - it's the kind of journaling that works for me! 😍
Thanks for the tip, I can never find a good journal. This sounds fabulous 🤩
What a great idea!
I love these annual rituals! I have a similar annual “reflection and manifestation” project. Love that you have a dedicated notebook for each year. Mine usually takes place in between my paper journal and Notion.
I art journal. As a visual person, I love collaging (images and words) to process life and make sense of it. Often the subconscious spills out on the journal and it’s always eye opening!
I also make a visionboard every year and choose a word of the year to accompany me.