I'm 57 years old and I still have my first diary from the age of nine. I've been journaling all my life and for those who may procrastinate, let me add to this you don't have to write everyday, or have these overwhelming desires to get feelings out. Try choosing where your going to keep your journal first. Arms length for example at a bedside nightstand? Or maybe as Miss Vicky, in a office of sorts? My writings are just that, mine. I've kept a few going at one time, one's very personal, another for keeping up ancestral history and moments of family issues current and past, plus when my grandchildren were born, one for each almost like a baby book that spans to now ages 15-4 months, ( 7 total), that I place a picture here they drew, or elementary report card there, a now dried flower one brought me, etc. Now going with this theme of writing I also have pen pals. That's a dying art you should think of doing. Peace...
So true about the secret sorrows, toxic events, and hidden pain. Listening to you has given me an idea to create a separate "Black Hole" journal for the real bad stuff that I want to get out and never look at again. Black hole items I have put in my regular journal will get decoupaged over for sure!!!
Thanks for your input in Ugly Journaling! There are so many beautiful journal pages out there and it does intimidate me. I have zero artistic talent, but I do love to journal! Your journal is like mine....just words!
You've definitely sold me on the benefits of journaling. I stopped journaling as a teenager because of privacy issues, and I've always felt since then that the best way to keep something private was keep it in your head. But you've really struck a chord in me about using a journal to work things out and then paint over it and make it beautiful.
I'm generally a very easily angered person and those negative emotions of mine can be taken out on other people who in no way whatsoever, deserve it. Writing in my journals has helped me to relax myself and pour out all of my thoughts - the amazing ones, the terribly mean ones, the depressing ones, all of them. Looking back on those entries is amazing, too because I recognize that the good moments do come and stay for a while, and I made it through the rough patches. Journaling for me is a self-reflecting process to really better and build myself up. Recently, my cousin who was like my older sister, passed away and I've honestly been numb to all of it. She was just so young and it's just so... unbelievable. Writing about it and asking myself why I can't feel anything, why I don't, helped me to get those conflicted emotions out. Great video, Vicky! I love how you worded everything.
Thank you for doing this video. It helps to hear another person's perspective on how worthwhile the journaling process can be. It's way more than buying a really trick leather journal cover and writing little entries with cute pens and decorating the pages everyday. Journaling can be an honest review of thoughts running through the brain for the time period. Definitely therapeutic. And of course it's ok to buy beautiful leather journal covers and great pens and draw pictures or scrapbook!Journaling is a wonderful hobby type activity as well. But it serves many, many personal purposes, all worthwhile. I love the journaling world.
I've been following you for a long time now, and just wanted to say thank you for all you do. I need to be journaling and I'm having a hard time doing it for some reason. You inspire me, so today I am going to do some journaling no matter what!! Thank you for this video. I've seen so many videos of "pretty journaling" that I got intimidated. You made me remember that it's to write, to get your feelings out, your hopes and dreams, all kinds of things and you don't need stickers and such, just WRITE. Thank You, Thank You.
I love this video. I constantly feel like my journals aren't pretty enough, as I love watching journaling videos. So your video is really great to hear as it is all so very real and true. Thanks
The beginning of this video literally had me in tears. I have been sick for a few years now and I bottle everything up, this video has helped me decide to journal for my own well being. I just ordered a Stalogy notebook so I can start journaling.
I really love your videos and I adore flip throughs and instagrams of beautiful journals but personally I use my Hobonichi to write about my days, something for just me to look through in the future. It definitely makes me consider how I spend my days, being more enriched by what I do and things that happen.
Great video! Finally someone hits on the heart of journaling and how it can benefit when things in life are "ugly." Thanks!!!! Good explanation of the process and will be recommening this video to some who need it! Me included !
So true! I've been trying to focus more on writing again, instead of trying to make some of my pages more decorated. I took a social media/pinterest/tumblr break for a week or two and got a cheap old pen, an old joirnal, and wrote like I hadn't recently. Some of my journal pages over the years have been pure venting- even melodramatic young angst at people- or sad topics, but I like having eben that part of my life documented to remember we can still survive and enjoy some smaller things in life even if things aren't going our way a while, and how quickly emotions and life itself can change. I keep my old journals in a locking storage bin, but like the idea of painting over the things you never want seen.
I am so grateful you posted this. I have been gathering "fun" supplies to make pretty journals for about a year, but always end up not writing or listing or using my journals other than for work purposes, for time and client management, only for work. Due to privacy issues as a teen (my journals were read by parents), writing my inner most feelings has been an incredible obstacle to work on overcoming. Thank you for the complete honesty and breakdown of how I can begin to heal and write again. :)
Agree 100%. Love that you put this out there bc not everyone's stage of life is going to make for "pretty" journal pages, sometimes you just have to get it out. I started journaling faithfully when my boyfriend/son's father got extremely sick, was in a coma & almost died. It started by writing notes on the hospital papers, then it became absolutely necessary to vent any and all emotions in a journal just to stay sane. Thankfully things aren't so bad now, but I still keep a separate private journal to write in when I'm upset, frustrated, etc because it truly helps to get those negative emotions out. Lengthy comment, I know, but I just wanted to back up what Vicky is saying here. It doesn't have to be pretty, just get it out and feel better. Thanks for sharing this Vicky.
Thank you! During the video I thought about the movie Inside Out, intresting view of why all feelings are important, and Jason Mraz song The Beauty in Ugly. I recommend both: these will be my inspiration to write about this week. Thanks again. Great video!
Wonderful video, thank you for sharing! I started journalling at the age of 13 and I constantly work on not censoring myself in my journal. Being honest with yourself is one of the most important traits that a person can develop, in my opinion.
Love seeing your journals. I've been journaling since I could write...I went through a horrible time in my life where my now ex husband actually photocopied my journals..Since getting my divorce a few weeks ago I've been back to journaling and have missed it so much.
That is horrifying. I am so sorry that that happened to you! That in and of itself is something traumatic that needs to be worked out in a journal, and the fact that you couldn't...it honestly makes me sick. I am so glad you've returned to journaling!
I stopped Journaling when I got married. Because I felt my journal was no longer safe from other people's eyes. I kept it in my bedroom before I was married. When you share a room you never really know if they will betray you by reading it. As people we get angry and hurt. I expressed all that in the raw in my journals. At times I really hated people who hurt me. But I don't want to hurt them by telling them how I feel right at that moment. I love the idea of painting over it. That way I can get it out & work out a proper response. Without the fear of being violated.
This is definitely my favorite video and the reason I love your channel. Like everyone else I used to write a lot when I was younger. I will be starting back...thanks for the tips on covering up the tough days!
Hi Vicky! I have been a lifelong journaler for as long as I can remember. I stumbled across your videos a few months ago, when I discovered bullet journaling and art journaling. I really love the way you are so honest in your videos, and love all of your journals! Also, I think I like you because I grew up in downers grove (live in a suburb of Atlanta now) so watching you feels like going home. Anyway, keep making these awesome videos! ❤️❤️❤️
Missvickiebee, I just love your site and ideas. I tend to blab to complete strangers wherever I am about journaling mostly bulletjournaling and now I am mentioning your site too. I told a lady just two days ago about ugly journaling and how she could say all the stuff and then make an art journal over the top so that the art will be her legacy to her family after she is gone rather than the personal venting she said she tended to do. She said she didn't so much journal the happy times and this will help a lot. Thanks again for sharing so I too can share very helpful ideas!
Vicki this is really helpful it's like a brain dump of emotions and feelings instead of bottling it up. I love journaling I've been doing it for years but I know what you mean that their somethings you can't put down because you wouldn't want someone to read it so I like the way of jumbling it up writing something on one page maybe skipping some pages and put another entry down so it's not quite about coherence release of emotion by putting pen to paper along with doodling and artwork is a good stress reducer. Great video !!!! Hugs Kate
Thank you so much Vicky! Trying to get over this cloud of bad hits one right after another and thinking these paralyzed emotions and feelings need an outlet. I Love listening to your words of wisdom and advice because your video's are always so therapeutic in themselves. TYFS always, it means a lot! xoxo
I just want to say how much I enjoyed this video. Thank You for breaking it down. I want to journal but sometimes I feel lost and I dont know where to start. Some of the things you talked about just hit home. My oldest daughter disappeared 3 1/2 yrs ago. We are all in so much pain especially my youngest who are twins. I see the pain comming out in different ways in each of us. This journaling video has been so inspiring to me. I just want to say Thank You for explaining it the way you do.
This has been one of my all time favorite videos of yours! I am watching it again today and really love the advice and encouragement you have to offer.
i think that this kind of journaling is the kind of dear diary book that was once what many people would use before the prettiness that is very much the fashion at the moment,i think it would help people like myself that has such issues like anxiety,who may worry about things etc.
I am so thankful I found your videos right after I found bullet journaling; you are the best! You cover every aspect of journaling and this is the last one for me to tackle. I have done it a little in the past and I do it like I am writing a letter to God. He knows it all and I tell him all my thoughts, disappointments, anger, my shortcomings and my out and out SIN. Yes that "Old Fashioned" word. It plagues us all. I ask for forgiveness, guidance, wisdom, and for provision for health and even finance. Even though I don't fear that my husband would violate the privacy of my Journal, this one will be under lock and key so I will feel the freedom to say it all!!! I may take you advice to color over it with some type of medium that can't be read through. Then even when I leave this earth nobody needs to see what I've written.Thanks MissVicky God Bless you and yours!
Thank you so much for sharing from your heart. It is important for me to motivate myself to write everytime when difficulties happen in my life, and about the obstacle im facing and how to resolve it by writing down everything in an amazing journal. It helped me to de-stress as well.
I think of my journal as my own private personal world that's just for me. Its for my eyes and no one else,so it can be and look however I want. No one else's opinions or thoughts or feelings matter in my journal its my safe place.
I didn't hear a sentence I wouldn't agree with. As a psychologist and journaler, I really share this conception of journaling. Vickey, very nice job, this video! :-)
Love this video Vicki !! I have watched it 3 times. I really want to start journal! Can you pls tell me what type of paper in the stalgy notebook? I checked on Amazon but the description didn't state.
Thank you for making this video. I have a book I'm trying to write in daily to self evaluate ect, I take every emotion / thought/ feelings good bad and ugly in and stuff it . I have been doing this for years. Now I notice my easy breezy self is slipping away I'm stressed and on edge all the time I feel stuck?!? But my MAIN thing is to take my darkest thoughts and fears are in this book what do someone finds and reads it? Ect. Idk I'm very scared but ready. Thank you again
What do you do with your private/work it out journal after your done? I'm guessing it's filled with topics you don't necessarily want on a bookshelf for people to pick up/read?
I think my journal is not pretty. It's gritty, it's raw, 90% of the time my mood is very much reflected in my handwriting. It can go from either very pretty (I've gotten many compliments on it) to almost chicken scratches. Yeah I sometimes add some stuff like stickers, pictures & wash, but mostly it really is just me venting. Ugly journaling is real journaling.
Great video with sooo much great information that needs to be shared so much. One constructive criticism on this video though... it was so long! Research into informational videos (since you are verbally sharing information I'd consider it as such) really start to lose attention after the 7minute mark. I found myself really skipping around because this video was almost 30 minutes long which would prevent me from sharing it even though it's great content.
I'm 57 years old and I still have my first diary from the age of nine. I've been journaling all my life and for those who may procrastinate, let me add to this you don't have to write everyday, or have these overwhelming desires to get feelings out. Try choosing where your going to keep your journal first. Arms length for example at a bedside nightstand? Or maybe as Miss Vicky, in a office of sorts? My writings are just that, mine. I've kept a few going at one time, one's very personal, another for keeping up ancestral history and moments of family issues current and past, plus when my grandchildren were born, one for each almost like a baby book that spans to now ages 15-4 months, ( 7 total), that I place a picture here they drew, or elementary report card there, a now dried flower one brought me, etc. Now going with this theme of writing I also have pen pals. That's a dying art you should think of doing. Peace...
So true about the secret sorrows, toxic events, and hidden pain. Listening to you has given me an idea to create a separate "Black Hole" journal for the real bad stuff that I want to get out and never look at again. Black hole items I have put in my regular journal will get decoupaged over for sure!!!
Thanks for your input in Ugly Journaling! There are so many beautiful journal pages out there and it does intimidate me. I have zero artistic talent, but I do love to journal! Your journal is like mine....just words!
You've definitely sold me on the benefits of journaling. I stopped journaling as a teenager because of privacy issues, and I've always felt since then that the best way to keep something private was keep it in your head. But you've really struck a chord in me about using a journal to work things out and then paint over it and make it beautiful.
I'm generally a very easily angered person and those negative emotions of mine can be taken out on other people who in no way whatsoever, deserve it. Writing in my journals has helped me to relax myself and pour out all of my thoughts - the amazing ones, the terribly mean ones, the depressing ones, all of them. Looking back on those entries is amazing, too because I recognize that the good moments do come and stay for a while, and I made it through the rough patches. Journaling for me is a self-reflecting process to really better and build myself up. Recently, my cousin who was like my older sister, passed away and I've honestly been numb to all of it. She was just so young and it's just so... unbelievable. Writing about it and asking myself why I can't feel anything, why I don't, helped me to get those conflicted emotions out. Great video, Vicky! I love how you worded everything.
+Khanh Nguyen Thank you so much for sharing such personal things with me! Thank you for watching and supporting my channel! xoxo
Thank you for doing this video. It helps to hear another person's perspective on how worthwhile the journaling process can be. It's way more than buying a really trick leather journal cover and writing little entries with cute pens and decorating the pages everyday. Journaling can be an honest review of thoughts running through the brain for the time period. Definitely therapeutic. And of course it's ok to buy beautiful leather journal covers and great pens and draw pictures or scrapbook!Journaling is a wonderful hobby type activity as well. But it serves many, many personal purposes, all worthwhile. I love the journaling world.
I've been following you for a long time now, and just wanted to say thank you for all you do. I need to be journaling and I'm having a hard time doing it for some reason. You inspire me, so today I am going to do some journaling no matter what!! Thank you for this video. I've seen so many videos of "pretty journaling" that I got intimidated. You made me remember that it's to write, to get your feelings out, your hopes and dreams, all kinds of things and you don't need stickers and such, just WRITE. Thank You, Thank You.
I love this video. I constantly feel like my journals aren't pretty enough, as I love watching journaling videos.
So your video is really great to hear as it is all so very real and true.
Thanks
The beginning of this video literally had me in tears. I have been sick for a few years now and I bottle everything up, this video has helped me decide to journal for my own well being. I just ordered a Stalogy notebook so I can start journaling.
I really love your videos and I adore flip throughs and instagrams of beautiful journals but personally I use my Hobonichi to write about my days, something for just me to look through in the future. It definitely makes me consider how I spend my days, being more enriched by what I do and things that happen.
Great video! Finally someone hits on the heart of journaling and how it can benefit when things in life are "ugly." Thanks!!!! Good explanation of the process and will be recommening this video to some who need it! Me included !
So true! I've been trying to focus more on writing again, instead of trying to make some of my pages more decorated. I took a social media/pinterest/tumblr break for a week or two and got a cheap old pen, an old joirnal, and wrote like I hadn't recently. Some of my journal pages over the years have been pure venting- even melodramatic young angst at people- or sad topics, but I like having eben that part of my life documented to remember we can still survive and enjoy some smaller things in life even if things aren't going our way a while, and how quickly emotions and life itself can change. I keep my old journals in a locking storage bin, but like the idea of painting over the things you never want seen.
I am so grateful you posted this. I have been gathering "fun" supplies to make pretty journals for about a year, but always end up not writing or listing or using my journals other than for work purposes, for time and client management, only for work. Due to privacy issues as a teen (my journals were read by parents), writing my inner most feelings has been an incredible obstacle to work on overcoming.
Thank you for the complete honesty and breakdown of how I can begin to heal and write again. :)
Agree 100%. Love that you put this out there bc not everyone's stage of life is going to make for "pretty" journal pages, sometimes you just have to get it out. I started journaling faithfully when my boyfriend/son's father got extremely sick, was in a coma & almost died. It started by writing notes on the hospital papers, then it became absolutely necessary to vent any and all emotions in a journal just to stay sane. Thankfully things aren't so bad now, but I still keep a separate private journal to write in when I'm upset, frustrated, etc because it truly helps to get those negative emotions out. Lengthy comment, I know, but I just wanted to back up what Vicky is saying here. It doesn't have to be pretty, just get it out and feel better. Thanks for sharing this Vicky.
Thank you! During the video I thought about the movie Inside Out, intresting view of why all feelings are important, and Jason Mraz song The Beauty in Ugly. I recommend both: these will be my inspiration to write about this week. Thanks again. Great video!
Wonderful video, thank you for sharing! I started journalling at the age of 13 and I constantly work on not censoring myself in my journal. Being honest with yourself is one of the most important traits that a person can develop, in my opinion.
Love seeing your journals. I've been journaling since I could write...I went through a horrible time in my life where my now ex husband actually photocopied my journals..Since getting my divorce a few weeks ago I've been back to journaling and have missed it so much.
That is horrifying. I am so sorry that that happened to you! That in and of itself is something traumatic that needs to be worked out in a journal, and the fact that you couldn't...it honestly makes me sick. I am so glad you've returned to journaling!
I stopped Journaling when I got married. Because I felt my journal was no longer safe from other people's eyes. I kept it in my bedroom before I was married. When you share a room you never really know if they will betray you by reading it. As people we get angry and hurt. I expressed all that in the raw in my journals. At times I really hated people who hurt me. But I don't want to hurt them by telling them how I feel right at that moment. I love the idea of painting over it. That way I can get it out & work out a proper response. Without the fear of being violated.
This is definitely my favorite video and the reason I love your channel. Like everyone else I used to write a lot when I was younger. I will be starting back...thanks for the tips on covering up the tough days!
Hi Vicky! I have been a lifelong journaler for as long as I can remember. I stumbled across your videos a few months ago, when I discovered bullet journaling and art journaling. I really love the way you are so honest in your videos, and love all of your journals! Also, I think I like you because I grew up in downers grove (live in a suburb of Atlanta now) so watching you feels like going home. Anyway, keep making these awesome videos! ❤️❤️❤️
Missvickiebee, I just love your site and ideas. I tend to blab to complete strangers wherever I am about journaling mostly bulletjournaling and now I am mentioning your site too. I told a lady just two days ago about ugly journaling and how she could say all the stuff and then make an art journal over the top so that the art will be her legacy to her family after she is gone rather than the personal venting she said she tended to do. She said she didn't so much journal the happy times and this will help a lot. Thanks again for sharing so I too can share very helpful ideas!
Vicki this is really helpful it's like a brain dump of emotions and feelings instead of bottling it up. I love journaling I've been doing it for years but I know what you mean that their somethings you can't put down because you wouldn't want someone to read it so I like the way of jumbling it up writing something on one page maybe skipping some pages and put another entry down so it's not quite about coherence release of emotion by putting pen to paper along with doodling and artwork is a good stress reducer.
Great video !!!!
Hugs Kate
This is such an important video and I'm really glad you made it! I think it will encourage a lot of people.
Thank you so much Vicky! Trying to get over this cloud of bad hits one right after another and thinking these paralyzed emotions and feelings need an outlet. I Love listening to your words of wisdom and advice because your video's are always so therapeutic in themselves. TYFS always, it means a lot! xoxo
I just want to say how much I enjoyed this video. Thank You for breaking it down. I want to journal but sometimes I feel lost and I dont know where to start. Some of the things you talked about just hit home. My oldest daughter disappeared 3 1/2 yrs ago. We are all in so much pain especially my youngest who are twins. I see the pain comming out in different ways in each of us. This journaling video has been so inspiring to me. I just want to say Thank You for explaining it the way you do.
This video has to be my favourite on journaling it was really helpful to me! Thank you Vicky!
You are so sweet, Vicky. Generous and kind... You are right. Journalling is the best way to know thyself!
This has been one of my all time favorite videos of yours! I am watching it again today and really love the advice and encouragement you have to offer.
I'm so happy that you are inspired with this video!
I love your channel its so genuine and you are a true inspiration to my journal life!!
Love the idea of painting over it
you hit the nail on the head about privacy here.... it's always been a huge issue for me
i think that this kind of journaling is the kind of dear diary book that was once what many people would use before the prettiness that is very much the fashion at the moment,i think it would help people like myself that has such issues like anxiety,who may worry about things etc.
I am so thankful I found your videos right after I found bullet journaling; you are the best! You cover every aspect of journaling and this is the last one for me to tackle. I have done it a little in the past and I do it like I am writing a letter to God. He knows it all and I tell him all my thoughts, disappointments, anger, my shortcomings and my out and out SIN. Yes that "Old Fashioned" word. It plagues us all. I ask for forgiveness, guidance, wisdom, and for provision for health and even finance. Even though I don't fear that my husband would violate the privacy of my Journal, this one will be under lock and key so I will feel the freedom to say it all!!! I may take you advice to color over it with some type of medium that can't be read through. Then even when I leave this earth nobody needs to see what I've written.Thanks MissVicky God Bless you and yours!
Thank you so much for sharing from your heart. It is important for me to motivate myself to write everytime when difficulties happen in my life, and about the obstacle im facing and how to resolve it by writing down everything in an amazing journal. It helped me to de-stress as well.
Mika Ang 0
MissVickybee
Thx....for being so REAL
Love the paint-over idea. Thank you.
I love your videos. I wish I could journal like this. I guess I have to keep trying.
We, your subscribers, really needed this. Thank you
thanks Vicky - your vid was very timely & inspirational xx
So young and well put together! God Bless!
I love your hair in this video! Such a cute look for you.
Awesome video Vicky, your the best xx Wendy
Thank you, Vicky san. I totally agreed what you said in your video.
I think of my journal as my own private personal world that's just for me. Its for my eyes and no one else,so it can be and look however I want. No one else's opinions or thoughts or feelings matter in my journal its my safe place.
Very encouraging video. Thank you so much!
I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for the great ideas and viewpoints.
+aimee k Thank you so much for watching!! xoxo
I love your take on journaling!
I didn't hear a sentence I wouldn't agree with. As a psychologist and journaler, I really share this conception of journaling. Vickey, very nice job, this video! :-)
+KatFib Wow thank you so much! Great to hear that!
Great video and very helpful for me, thank you!
Love this! Thank you for such an inspiring video! :)
Love this video Vicki !! I have watched it 3 times. I really want to start journal! Can you pls tell me what type of paper in the stalgy notebook? I checked on Amazon but the description didn't state.
Amazing Video! I love it! Thank you!
Thank you for making this video. I have a book I'm trying to write in daily to self evaluate ect, I take every emotion / thought/ feelings good bad and ugly in and stuff it . I have been doing this for years. Now I notice my easy breezy self is slipping away I'm stressed and on edge all the time I feel stuck?!? But my MAIN thing is to take my darkest thoughts and fears are in this book what do someone finds and reads it? Ect. Idk I'm very scared but ready. Thank you again
What do you do with your private/work it out journal after your done? I'm guessing it's filled with topics you don't necessarily want on a bookshelf for people to pick up/read?
I think my journal is not pretty. It's gritty, it's raw, 90% of the time my mood is very much reflected in my handwriting. It can go from either very pretty (I've gotten many compliments on it) to almost chicken scratches. Yeah I sometimes add some stuff like stickers, pictures & wash, but mostly it really is just me venting. Ugly journaling is real journaling.
Amazing great video. This video made me press the subscribe button!
Very inspirational video!
this is great! thanks
I don't even know you, but I love you lol you're so genius, you're goals, you're goals!!! When do you sleep 😂?
Awesome video 😊
BEST VIDEO EVER!!!
Great video with sooo much great information that needs to be shared so much.
One constructive criticism on this video though... it was so long! Research into informational videos (since you are verbally sharing information I'd consider it as such) really start to lose attention after the 7minute mark. I found myself really skipping around because this video was almost 30 minutes long which would prevent me from sharing it even though it's great content.