© 2024 Rachel L. Shumate | All rights reserved.
Show me a journal with beautiful blank pages, and I can recommend at least a dozen uses for it. And today’s suggestion is one that can actually become a very treasured item. What is it, you ask? A Happiness Journal. The gist is simple… Become a curator of beautiful moments and happy memories. All of them – from silly little stuff, to big milestones, and everything in between.
Ever heard the saying, “Collect moments, not things.”? This journaling style does just that. To begin, find a really nice hardbound journal that you love the aesthetics of, and grab your favorite pen. You might consider making a simple note in the beginning, with your full name, and a statement explaining that the journal is for recording your happy memories. I say this because it’s altogether possible that this journal could become an heirloom in the – hopefully very distant – future.
Next, simply fill the pages with your happy memories. Just the good ones. No negativity or venting! (If you need to get something off your chest, try this, or use a different journal.) Now hopefully, this process takes quite a while because you have loads of joyful content to imbue upon the pages of your new journal. The order doesn’t really matter, so write them as they come to you. Though you may want to note your approximate age at the time of the memory.
Once you’ve mostly completed filling in your happy memories (trust me, you’ll remember more later), you can start logging new current moments with dates. Again, don’t stress about the order you write them in. If you happen to remember the amazing time you had at that concert ten years ago, but already started with current moments, it’s no big deal. Just write about the concert next, and continue with your entries.
Why is this kind of journal important…? For starters, collecting your fond memories, and happy new moments you don’t want to forget, is a great way to keep a positive mindset. Honestly, it should do wonders for your mood and perspective. It’s also pretty fun to flip back and relive those happy times as you reminisce and get all nostalgic. (By the way, recalling happy moments is actually great for your overall health.) And… while none of us really like to dwell on our own mortality, a happiness journal can become a cherished family keepsake. In creating one, you leave behind a legacy of a beautiful, well-lived life, full of joy.
If you’re reading this, then it’s not too late to start. I think you’ll be glad that you did. You’ll have fun writing the entries, as well as reading them again later. So, get busy documenting all those beautiful moments of your life, and let happiness abound!
PS: Another spin on this could be a journal that the whole family contributes happy memories and moments to, simply just because, or perhaps when a loved one passes away. This could also be especially nice if someone in your family has Alzheimer’s, as “the long goodbye” is heartbreaking for all involved. Either way, happy memories can be a salve for the soul when life gets hard.
🙂
