Story & Prompts The stories of our lives are at the heart of our journaling practices. We live our stories and we can capture them in the pages of our journals too. Stories can spark inspiration and insights! Here is a story that really touched my heart and I hope it touches your heart ... Read More >>
Story, Dialogue Journaling & Body-Centered Journal Prompts I have been tending to a very sore back the past couple of weeks. My back has been a part of my body that often speaks to me. This has been true most of my life. One New Year's Day, when I was ... Read More >>
Journaling Context I recently attended a one-day writing retreat here on Salt Spring Island, BC, where I live. I was supposed to be at a Celebration of Life that day, for a friend who died of a heart attack suddenly and unexpectedly. He was 56 years old, only one year ... Read More >>
Journaling is a storytelling practice. Journal writing is also a self-inquiry practice, a reflective practice, a meaning making practice. Writing about our inner lives and outer worlds helps us make sense of our experiences, helps us heal, and helps us grow. Journal writing is a way of noticing and acknowledging the mystery, wonder, complexity ... Read More >>
During our recent IAJW Member event, in our Writing Alone Together Circle, our theme was Growing Gratitude. I find that during these complex times we are living in, it is so important to have practices that can ground and support us to maintain our optimism, well-being and hope. For me, two of these practices ... Read More >>
From Boys to Men I, Peter Glenn Allan am the only son of my father, James Glenn Allan, who is the only son of Marshall Glenn Allan. I am the father to Jackson Douglas Glenn Allan and Jesse Alexander Allan. I am thinking of my dad today on Father’s Day of course. He just ... Read More >>
The Tale of the Traveling Group Journal By Peter Allan I’ve been thinking about one of the best jobs that I have ever had. This was in my mid 20’s (see photo above - Peter Allan, Tour Leader on a break in Aspen, Colorado, 1983), and yes this will relate to journaling. I was hired ... Read More >>
Pursuing Simultaneity by Peter Allan A story about journaling, connection and more. Have you ever noticed how sometimes with a person you have a deep connection with, that you seem to be thinking the same thoughts at the same time? Or your partner shares something and you finish her sentence? An old friend says I was just ... Read More >>
This is a beautiful example of journaling in nature. It is also an example of how journaling can become poetry, and how meaningful self-reflection is possible through stories and words... Heron - James Bay, Prevost Island by Duncan Elsey A heron skims the calm grey water, chasing its own reflection across the mirror flat surface. ... Read More >>
By Lynda Monk Recently I was folding some laundry and found two mismatched socks. I went on the hunt for the missing socks. I looked back in the dryer to make sure they weren't there. I rummaged through all the clean laundry to see if I just missed them. I went to my sock drawer ... Read More >>