Because I don’t share my daily journal on social media I keep my pretty journaling and my ugly journaling all in the same notebook. I am a multifaceted person just like everyone else and I want that to be reflected in my journals. When I look back in my journals I want to see the good, the bad and the ugly. Being able to see my whole self is the only way I’m going to be able to see how I have truly changed and grown as a person. I don’t care who reads my journals when I’m dead because I’m going to be dead. And whoever reads them will see that we all have good and bad days.
Thank you for this. I have a child with huge supportive needs and have kept my thoughts to myself with that for fear of anyone finding that someday. But I need a safe place to rage and cry and grow and you have just shown me the golden ticket. Thanks so much!
We all need an outlet, and that way we aren't putting our baggage on the people in our life. It's safe in our journals. I hope this practice brings you lots of peace ♥️
Also, you as the caregiver, you need a space for yourself, if you don’t have that your mental capacity isn’t up to par to take of someone else. I’m glad you found that space to allow yourself to let go and not feel bad about those feelings. You are doing a wonderful job! Don’t forget to tell yourself that cause we as humans need to tell ourselves that from time to time, sending good thoughts your way ♥️♥️♥️
I need to holler my hurray over the ugly journal. In fact I LOVE the idea of “gnarly.” Ugly works well, but gnarly tunes in in a way I LOVE. Starting this today with one of my many empty journals. Fantastic addition to a stack! Sincere thanks.
I agree, I had a diary last year and it's beautiful but I need to go back and white out things that would hurt those left behind if I passed...this year I'll keep a diary like this ugly journal! Thank you
You are so right, I have a ‘yuck’ journal which I blurt out awful things when I have to get something out. I write across the page like normal, then rotate the book and right over the top going down, then rotate and write from the bottom up, then rotate again and rotate across one more time. So the text is 4 layers on top of itself. Sometimes I watercolour over the top. It ends up being illegible and cool to look at. I can then rip those pages out and used for collage or something. 😉
This feels like, powerfully magical to me wow. I love the idea of turning my terrible thoughts into art and I’m so glad you found something that works for you!
I really love how you keep it real by talking about the “ugly negative stuff” nobody wants to talk about. I haven’t seen others talk about it bc most of the “pretty things” sound like a bunch of “be positive” bs that sometimes doesn’t always work. It’s better to be real and true to your feelings. I have an “ugly” journal as well but I actually call it my “purge journal”. It’s my safe space where I can write whatever I want and feel. It’s really therapeutic. I don’t throw them away or burn them. I keep them bc they remind me of the struggles I’ve been through.
I just put everything into one journal. I feel like I would have so many journals if I separated nice thoughts from ugly thoughts, especially since I already have separate music and movie journals on top of planners. I have kept almost everything I've written since I was in middle school because I'm a writing hoarder, I guess? But that gross stuff is what helps the most to get out because it helps with processing that stuff. Journaling was my only therapy for a long time and I'm sure will help for the rest of my life. My life is messy, I let it reflect in the journal lol.
I love this idea! I recently did basically the opposite of an ugly notebook and combined all of my notebooks into one book (think bullet journal meets regular journal meets commonplace book meets art)! It’s been huge for me because it’s allowed me to stop being so ‘precious’ with my creativity-but also with my thoughts and my memories! I journal next to my daily and weekly plans and it’s helped me integrate all of my various thoughts, but I totally see why separating would be useful. I love to see how different methods work for different people.
I just happened to find your channel when I was giving myself the chance to get a notebook and just dive into scrap booking and journaling. And I cannot thank you enough for showing the raw and unedited, not always aesthetic side of journaling and memory keeping, cause that is actually what has kept me coming back to my notebook everyday and just creating systems that really work for me. There's a video that you made about just grabbing your first notebook of the year and somehow mess it up by writing something that doesnt have to be perfect nor beautifully decorated. So thank you so much! Your content keeps me inspired on notebook ways that really matter to me and they´re making this new hobby and habit really fun and inspiring. THANK YOU!
THIS! This comment is why I make UA-cam videos. I super appreciate you commenting this because this is exactly the kind of approach I used to make it all work for me. Thank you so much for watching and I really wish you lots of luck and fun and love and goodness in your new planning and journaling hobby!! ♥️
I also draw as a hobby and I have an “ugly sketchbook”, a place where I need to warm up my hand or have an idea but doesn’t quite pan out. This is how I approach my journaling, I have a journal where I scribble down intrusive thoughts, it’s not pretty but it’s where I don’t care what I write it’s just a place to figure shit out. Then, I have my pretty journal and that’s where I decorate and put down all the things that matter and what made me happy lol.
I always wondered why I felt so deeply uncomfotable with sharing my journal and planners, and watching this made me realize it's bc I combine all the ugly with everything else. I've also journaled since I was a kid and it was mostly my outlet for big emotions, rage, angst etc. Even when I try to just document what happened in a day now, I find I write in all of my uncensored thoughts, which makes everything feel private. I wonder if my life would be different if I separated it out. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing!
Fwiw I think thoughts and moments that aren't joyous are not necessarily our ugly gross sides, it makes us who we are. We should remember them, and we should also show others grace when they show us who they really are
I have kept some sort of journal through most of my life. I did take a break after college but then my friends moved away from me and I was in a spiral of bad thoughts. January 2020 I took up journaling again and would only let myself write about highlights of my day. When I look back on my journal in high school, I only focused on the negative and I wanted to change my mindset. Focusing on the beauty in my life has changed my life so much as a person-but I think you’re right, that we have to write about some of those bad days too. There was a year where a friend hurt me terribly and I wish I had journaled more about those feelings, to show my process from grief, acceptance, and then finally letting them go. Anyways, all these thoughts bubbled up while I watched your video, so wanted to share that you’ve made me think and thank you.
YES. We need a space for the mess, the ugly, the nonsense. I journal to get everything inside of me outside. Humans contain multitudes, of course some of that is going to be uggggggly. Having a specific space for the ugly lets go of our need to be perfect and makes it easier to let go. It gives so much freedom to allow whatever we are. And there's magic in that honesty, in the truth, in the allowing of it all. There's no need to keep it either. I like looking back too, but I also like burning old journals, tearing them up, shredding them, reusing them. It's just paper, it's not precious. Thanks for another great video.
I'm used to seeing your videos on planners, so this was a nice change. GREAT IDEA about how to use postcards. I have a journal that I need to hide, too. I had an ordinary journal in high school, but I destroyed it because an eye doctor off handedly said I must be blind. I was horrified and in tears going home when I told my mom what happened. I never saw him again. I have BOXES of pictures and papers to sort and organize. I am a website designer and photo layouts are my favorite thing to do. I also am working on collecting my family recipes on my cookbook website. The smells of food can be a great memory. I've talked to people who are sad because they don't have Grandma's recipe for a dessert, main dish, or salad. The tradition of collecting family recipes is dying with Instagram or Pintrest and other social media. Thanks for this video; it's encouraging me to "get back to work."
I am SO grateful that you brought this up! I've always journaled but not 100% about the "happy times" because it's just not realistic. To keep all that negativity inside while it festers can take a toll on one's mental health (I know from personal experience), so it definitely helps to have an outlet to release those thoughts/feelings. Also, thank you for being open about seeing a therapist! I'm so happy that more and more people are comfortable seeking out such a valuable resourse. Another great video, as always!
I love the idea of an ugly journal, because I used to be so afraid to journal when I was having a tough time because I was afraid of being scrutinized for my inner thoughts and feelings if someone ever found it..but I know the practice is hugely impactful for my mental health. I still remember a gold journal with trees embossed on the front that I poured my deepest feelings into throughout high-school and throwing it away, because I was afraid to bring it with me when I moved away from home and afraid to leave it home and be exposed. It was a truly vulnerable time and I'm sad it's gone, because I had so much growth through heartache and I wish I could leaf through it and remember that girl.
It makes perfect sense. When I look back at my “diary“ I feel bad about some of the things I wrote because I don’t want my kids to read it thinking I did not enjoy motherhood. I had a lot of beautiful memories in raising them, but I sometimes focused on the hard stuff. I wish I would have put that in an “ugly“ journal. Thanks for the idea.
This year I have found many ways to “journal”. I have a memory keeping notebook with blank pages for personal memory keeping, one for professional Projects and a lined one for reflection which I call “reflection journal” rather than an ugly journal but the purpose is the same. When I first saw bullet journaling it seemed to me that everything had to be together and I felt that the daily tasks completely ruined the joy of the highlights and memories I wanted to keep. I don’t want to keep my schedule but only the memories. This and your channel helped me choose more than one notebook and I love them all for their different purposes. Like you always reiterate: do what works for you. ❤
I combine my morning pages journal and my ugly journal. It's great because I can trash it if I want to or come back to it if I need it but it's totally outside of everything else. Love this video. Thanks, Rachelle!
I have a morning pages journal as well. Just writing out everything that’s going in my head feels liberating. I write quickly and it’s sure isn’t pretty, but it has been very helpful in emptying my mind every day!
I think what I've been seeing as "memory keeping" these days just reminds me of a maximalist version of scrap booking that I always tried and failed to do growing up, but there are aspects that I am trying to incorporate. If I try too much, everything will go off the rails, so for the past 5 or 6 years I've kept one yearly bullet journal that was mostly planning but gave me the space to journal more if compelled. Occasionally I would long form journal OR try a multiyear one-line-a-day thing. But recently I've been doing a big Konmari organization process of my stuff, so I've been thinking about storage and memories (good and bad). So I definitely need to let some things go, but I'm now full of ideas to manage the sentimental stuff (mainly, I want to remove the writing from the barely filled notebooks and bind them up into one packet so I can make some physical and mental space).
I don’t really memory keep. I just started journaling mid year last year. I kind of put everything there - the good, the bad, the pretty, and the ugly. I’ve been using the blank pages in my Common Planner for journaling. I’ve been intrigued by morning pages , but I honestly don’t think I would keep up with it. I tried memory keeping in a travelers notebook at the beginning of last year - stamps, pictures, blurbs about the day… and I couldn’t keep up with it. I admire some of the awesome memory keeping journals out there, but I have t figured it out for myself.
This vid totally makes sense! There's nothing like having a place to write your thoughts down when you're in a pure rage. I've got the journal(s) for ephemera, planning, spiritual stuff, random life notes, and the ugly journal. I've burned a really ugly journal from a traumatic time in my life. Sometimes I wish I didn't, but ultimately think I'm better off. Thank you for making this video! Gret insight
I don’t know anyone else who collects playing cards - I started out with a collection of airline-branded decks (from airlines like TWA, Braniff, and Northwest Orient) and then when airlines stopped making cards, I transitioned into collecting cards from all of the places I’ve traveled. They’re usually easy to find and not much to carry. I’ll have to make a note of the store you mentioned and visit it sometime! Thanks for the suggestions, too. My journaling is a bit all over the place - partially gratitude, partially memory-keeping, partially art journal, partially venting. I have a sense that I should try to find a theme, but I think that’s coming from the “perfection” we see too much on social media. I just keep telling myself that my journal is for me and no one else, so I can make it what I want.
I’m new to playing card collecting but I’m very much the same, picking them up from where I travel and stuff. It started by collecting tarot decks and now I just can’t be stopped lol. And yes you’re so right - your journal is just for you! Be yourself in there as much as you can :)
I have many journals. As an avid writer (I've been writing since 1992, 30 years!), I always wrote the bad alongside the good. I've never separated the two, just as life doesn't separate them either. I have a daily journal inside a Traveler's Notebook, a plain white paper and a simple gel pen to keep me going and putting pen to paper while writing down my most daily and basic thoughts, alongside some REALLY heavy thoughts. I actually don't find having stickers and lovely ephemera very inspiring. but I know some people do and that's okay :) I have commonplace books (inside TN's) where I decorate and write quotes from favorite music, movies and books and another commonplace book for quotes about nature. That are my "decorative" journals, but they're not considered as a memory keeping journals, nor as diaries. They're commonplace books. All other journals I keep (I have a whole list because I write so much), are words related and I write everything inside, not leaving the ugly and annoying and upsetting stuff outside. I don't believe in that. And I'm not into "pretty" layouts either. I guess this is why I'm not into planning and I don't use planners anymore. I guess beautiful planners are just not for me :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this topic.
“the memories that you don’t want to keep are the ones you need to write down.” yeah. and the stuff in the red and black journal I bet are actually the stuff of novels and stories. because they’re true, and dark, and it’s the duende. as a poet, my mentor always told me, “the good stuff and the bad stuff, they’re all part of the stuff.” of course we want to keep our eyes on growing what’s working in our lives, but I’ve learned to sit with it all and see what comes of it. and like you describe, figure out a system to keep them separate or together, whatever works for us. you just gave me some ideas for my Hobo cousin. thanks, rachelle!
I find it funny that while you're talking about memory-keeping, I was writing on the Diary collection of my bujo. And yes, it's a collection because my bujo is not a daily journal. I don't have the time to write a very long entry on what I did on every day. So I just write a minimum of 3 sentences. More if a lot happened. Now, for dark and intrusive thoughts, what I do is I write it on the Notes collection of my bujo. That is where I do a brain dump of ideas, thought and questions I had for the whole month. And I think that's enough for me to reflect on but not dwell on my problems.
You continue to be a fantastic resource. The way you think about planning and journal (mind) management continues to inspire me every time. Great ideas in this video, and I like how you frame memory keeping vs. a growth-cauldron approach to personal reflection. Organized and useful! Thank you!
Totally agree that journalling means more than just a log of the pretty. Growing up I've always had hybrid journals/notetaking, a physical set (a planner/event/tracker space, another for reflection/memory/freewrites, a trash one for throwaway notes and drafting) and a set of digital spaces, for snippets on the go/straight up photos (to transfer/flesh out in longhand), heavily revised notes on special interests/studies, and also for giving myself free rein to ruminate on the "ugly" or inconsequential (I type much faster than I write but it sticks less, and that's perfect)
I love the idea of memory keeping. I started my own ugly notebook this year and it feels so nice to have a place that is no pressure to write down ALL of my thoughts. I’m thinking of using an A5 Stalogy for more fun and creative memory keeping!
Thank you for voicing this. We as humans DO need our ways to express bad emotions. I keep seeing those "gratitude" and "positive affirmations" spreads like the positive emotions are the only things that are allowed to be recorded. But it's impossible to be grateful and positive all the time. Not healthy too. (Honestly, who expresses gratitude all the time??? Is there the same "thankful for having a roof over my head" every week?)
Rochelle that was so helpful. I was starting to think I was loosing the plot with my different journals. I have 5 journal books on the go ATM - from a Buju kind of productivity journal, a learning journal (ie for key learnings or quotes I get from reading a books, podcast and talk etc), to stream of consciousness writing (based on the book The Artists Way). For some reason I kind of felt ashamed by this. Yet after listening to your video I have got the confidence to embrace them all; have gotten clarity on different purposes and roles each journal plays for enriching my life; and how I can tweek them to work better as a kind system - complementing each other. To help with bringing them all together in an enjoyable way, I went out and bought a cute basket to enable me to carry the current collection with me no matter where I maybe in the house (thus being able to add to the other journals if i feel so inspired to. I like how it is about keeping it fun write and re- read. I also got how journaling needs to be dynamic and adaptable so it contributes to one's life and not become yet another chore in the day!! Thanks!
I really enjoyed this video. I love the idea of separating the ugly journal. I actually loved all of the ideas here and use a few different ones myself. The “prettier”, documenting, almost scrapbooking format is the newest to me. I journal essentially daily though and think it’s a great outlet.
What a great video! I have an ugly journal that never is shown on instagram. It is very cathartic to write in it. It’s wonderful you shared your extensive journal history and why this type of journaling has been so helpful.
Agree, memory is weak, so I use my hobonichi lower right corner for "summary of the day" in 2-3 statements that summarize what most impacted my day. The problem is to find the time to keep up with those reflections and still in January. Beautiful vid 👌.
Thank you for this. I tend to write whenever I need to vent and it’s definitely not something I want to put in with everything else. However, I love the idea of having them in another book! It would be a great way to look back and keep from possibly making similar choices that may not get me to where I want to be in life. ❤
I've been journalling for a few years now on and off. I have OCD and I don't find it particularly helpful to journal my repetitive intrusive thoughts. I just end up in an awful loop that degrades to delusion. I do make a practice of journalling positive and happy things because this is something that does not come easily to me. When I'm really sad and down I can gain hope from seeing and remembering the good things. I do reflect on more deeper personal things. For example I want to work on the dynamic I have with friends. But I try very hard to put a limit on negative exploration. My sister on the other hand is a nurse. She deals with horrific things daily. She has a journal specifically for raging in. And it helps her to process some of her daily struggle in a productive and also professional way. I only just found your channel a few days ago. But really enjoying your content so far 😊
Love this and it makes perfect sense !! I’ve been a journaler since I was young basically of the ugly stuff, it’s so helpful, it helps by stopping it from just sitting inside you, I can analyse myself, learn so much, definitely reflect and learn. I would like to be better at memory keeping, I will continue the process for that but it’s not where I would like it to be just yet. This was a super helpful video. Thanks 😊
Wow, just wow. This put things in perspective for me. I need that outlet (ugly journaling). I always write about the beauty of my day, never the negative; I’m so afraid that someone would read it and miss understand me or think I was a dark person. I don’t have rainbows, hearts and butterfly days everyday, and didn’t have a healthy outlet to express how I was feeling. I think holding it all in hinders a person mentally. I’ve become this big ball of nervousness, terrible anxiety, mind not settling. This is a great way to let my frustrations out, I truly appreciate you sharing with us.
As per usually, great video! I've noticed a lot of my journalling tends to be on the negative side and it makes me feel discouraged to keep going because it feels like I'm just moaning about the same things over and over, but you're 100% right, later on, there will be lessons to be learnt from those entries. Thank you for the reminder.
such an interesting video! i’ve been thinking about planning vs memory keeping vs journaling a lot & i’m a little messy with what stuff is where. but i know i absolutely need to process the anxiety and stress and grief somewhere. thank you for the video!
Yes! So I'm an avid journaller - just get the thoughts out of my head and on paper - and I'm actually pretty new to whatever people are calling "memory keeping." I'm doing that decorative/fun memory keeping in the weeks part of my Hobonichi Cousin, but the daily pages are basically a space for me to journal about whatever I need to - and that can often be very ugly. I do struggle with intrusive thoughts and other mental health issues, and I'm thinking of coming up with a way to differentiate the intrusive thoughts from other parts of the journal. Like, it helps me to actually write them down. I also do commonplace book stuff, and so a lot of my thoughts about those things live in different parts of my traveler's notebook.
You and I are from the same tribe… I just listened to this and I kept shaking my head yes… this me messy nasty journaling that you described is how I got through my divorce and it’s getting me through some more personal struggles right now as well.. thank goodness for this incredible gift of journaling….
I love the idea of having a separate “ugly” journal that you burn in a year after reflecting. Many times I want to journal a lot when I’m going through something not so nice or feeling and thinking poorly. Journaling is a way of expressing those things but I never want anyone to go back and read what I wrote. I write memories and fun stuff on my planner pages, but don’t want to re write all that in a happily go lucky journal because it’s just redundant. I want to start a journal of each of my 7 kids AMC my husband, like letters from mom/wife that I write throughout our lives and eventually give to them or pass to them when I die.
Ohhhhh.Thank you for this video, acknowledgement, showing the pieces of “not pretty”. I hope to believe that a lot of bloggers sharing these pretty instagrammable spreads do in fact have their own “”ugly notebooks” on the side that they don’t mention. Hidden powerful paper buddies of sort :) I also want to thank your for showing and giving an idea of having childhood memories journal. I seem to think that I don’t remember a lot from y childhood. But will try to start a journal to document those glimpses I d remember. I started journaling around age 11 -12, but then moved to another country, and journals stayed behind. I soooo wish I could have them now. Well… at least I’ve kept another pile of all from the past 19 years :)
Ok I have obviously discovered this video a couple months late. I really enjoyed this one. I liked hearing your thoughts on the different styles of memory keeping. I currently memory keep in a loosely adapted BuJo style of rapid logging my thoughts and experiences throughout and at the end of the day. Sometimes I’ll long form if Im feeling that i have a lot on my mind. The ugly journal though, this I have not tried but am now going to! I hold a lot in and I’ll journal some of what I feel but i find myself holding back since I’m currently a 1 book person and wasn’t wanting too much deep inner thoughts in my planner/BuJo. You have opened my mind! I’m going to buy a new notebook once I’m done with this comment! Thank you!
I'm using the 6-ring planner this year and for memory keeping I've ordered 2 types of weekly spreads: one vertical with timeline for daily plans, todos, meetings etc and simple vertical weekly spread for memory keeping in a form of bullet journal (short bullets about my thoughts/feelings/ideas during the day)
I think/hope that the «pretty with stickers» (only) type of memory keeping version is a fairly recent phenomena. Before social media I think people included more of the not-so-shiny parts of their day. Noone was supposed to see it anyway! 😊
I realise that what I thought was memory keeping was just journalling, cause to me the core of memories are the emotions I feel. I'm a person who's really nostalgic and I feel a lot so memory keeping is saying what happened and how it made me feel.
And you’re right! We wanna remember the good stuff (as I age I am ever more mindful of this. Its importance. But the ugly and gnarly stuff IS worth tracking so to speak. In order to reflect upon, as you say. What better way to learn?! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
My journalling has always been a bit on the "ugly" side but I never think of them that way because they have eventually lead to some really profound breakthrough. I don't have multiple journals and never have but I'm starting to think that I would like to start so thanks for the suggestions.
I’ve been watching your videos for the last couple of days. Very inspiring and really helpful since I just started to use a Hobonichi Weeks. You mentioned you studied in The Netherlands. I’d love to hear about your experience since I live in The Netherlands.
Hi Petra! My college had a satellite campus a small town close to the Germany border. My experience in the Netherlands was living in that town 4 days per week and taking classes, and then the staff helped coach us through traveling all over Europe. I had a great time exploring other places in the Netherlands and all over the continent!
I LOVE your videos! I, like you, tend to have multiple journals all around me and I wondered how you organize them once you are done using them? Do you file by date? Do you file by journal type? Thanks!
I find it really difficult to use more than one book at a time in any context so what I do instead is to write out the 'ugly' stuff in code. I find doing it that way very helpful for many reasons! 1. I can immediately tell where the ugly stuff is 2. I can easily share my journal with others at meet ups without fear of them reading some dark ass shit lol 3. I am able to reread this stuff if i want to but since it's fairly labor intensive I don't reread any of it often which is probably for the best lol
thank you for this! i actually have this one journal when i just wanted to express all my angst and anger and bad unfiltered thoughts -- and it was a really basic notebook (so no one would be intrigued to look into it) hahah i browse through it from time to time and surprisingly everytime i read it, it gives me strength because i know that everything will come to pass and somehow i got through with whatever it was i experienced. =)
Thank you for sharing what you write and all the different methods you use. I am struggling between digital vs handwritten so i am trying to do both. Digital is really fun because you can easily import images, different fonts etc. Handwritten is more satisfying and cathartic and i tend to write more because it is easier to grab the notebook and pen and quickly jot something down. I am frustrated w my indecision. For now i plan to take pictures of my handwritten journal and include corresponding images, etc to the page.
Oooh this is super tough. I’m a handwritten journaler all the way, except for my dream journal, which I do on my phone because it’s so much easier to stream of conscious write into an app first thing than a pen and paper.
I keep both the bad and good reflection in one place. My brain just sinks in and out of good and bad stuff usually. I try to keep on top of it by always turning the random worries into things I either meditate on further or migrate into my planner if it's actionable. I never plan to look at these journals again. Maybe I'll burn them. They're all A6 size field note type notebooks that feel very disposable. I
Thanks so much for sharing! While I definitely enjoy “pretty journalling” with stickers and photos and ephemera, I also enjoy reflecting in my diary/summary of the day. Rants but also positive things (everything!) goes in there; (mostly) nice things I enjoy looking back on go in my creative journal. The diary is for my eyes only (and written in German Kurrent, so it‘s not something anyone could just read); the creative journal is something I enjoy to show online, too. LOVE Kelseyleigh’s channel My Abiding Journal, too!
Completely agree with your perspective. I've been watching videos on memory keeping but they all seem so unrealistic to me (a person who likes to write a lot on a blank page notebook). I think your aproach takes into account life, like real life, and it's also helpful if you want to reflect on what happens, either good or bad things/feelings/thougts. I mean yeah its nice that you made an entry on your planner saying that you had a coffe with Claire, but how did it feel? what was on your mind before and after that? did you notice anything worth anylizing? Cronological entries are fine, but I feel one is missing out on so much. PS: big fan of your videos, this is my first comment but I enjoyed them all. Love from Argentina :)
Dafne!!! I feel exactly the same way about reflecting on real life, feelings and thoughts (as you could probably tell from the video 😂). Day to day stuff is always worth documenting but the deep stuff is where I get the most out of journaling. Thank you so much for watching and commenting, I appreciate you!!
It seems weird to use a journal like we use social media: only sanitized, happy thoughts. I mean, lie to the public if we're embarrassed about our lives, but no good comes of lying to yourself. What the point? The bad parts of life frame the good parts.🤷🏻♀️
I think memory keeping (for me) isn’t the stickers, collages, or anything. I think if you have a planner or journal, you don’t need to ‘memory keep’ because you already are! I will shout this from the rooftops.
i really love the idea of an "ugly journal", but what, if i die...and i don't want my loved ones to get hurt...after i'm gone...but with the thought of "hurting no one" you can't be honest....so i don't know how to start an "ugly journal" ...meh.....
Idk how to be thoughtful in my journaling lol I just write what happened in the day, not rlly about my feelings. But I can talk abt my feelings, just not write?
@@RachelleinTheory The actual website that's on your journal isn't a parody. They truly believe in the conspiracy. If you read their "history" section on their website (which I don't recommend more than skimming) you'll see they're very serious. I'm sure there are parody sites and groups, but this isn't that.
@@SIMulatedSara It is a parody. Here's some info from the NYT on the fake conspiracy theory (started in 2017, same year the domain birdsarentreal.com was bought): www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/technology/birds-arent-real-gen-z-misinformation.html This article also goes into why Birds Aren't Real was started and who wrote the fake history that you are referencing. Anyway, this has been a weird turn of events in the comments of this video.
@@RachelleinTheory unfortunately I can't see the article you're referencing (I don't pay for the NY Times) but it looks like an interesting read. I don't mean to start a kerfuffle in the comment section, and I'm glad to hear you don't actually buy in. There are some weirdos who genuinely do. I've been incorporating my "ugly" journal into my daily pages in my cousin. I'm finding it less intimidating to journal on the daily pages cause it's short and sweet, and I don't have to have a separate notebook for it. Plus, life is good and bad and messy all at the same time.
@@SIMulatedSara Its all good. There are other similar articles available if you give it a google, or wait for your next free article from NYT. But there's nothing to buy into because it's definitely not real. Back to the fun stuff: I like that you are keeping it all in one place! I find separating it out makes it much easier for me to enjoy the journal space i'm working in, because all my intrusive thoughts go somewhere else lol. Do you find yourself journaling on the go in the cousin or all at once at the end of the night?
Because I don’t share my daily journal on social media I keep my pretty journaling and my ugly journaling all in the same notebook. I am a multifaceted person just like everyone else and I want that to be reflected in my journals. When I look back in my journals I want to see the good, the bad and the ugly. Being able to see my whole self is the only way I’m going to be able to see how I have truly changed and grown as a person. I don’t care who reads my journals when I’m dead because I’m going to be dead. And whoever reads them will see that we all have good and bad days.
THIS 🩷
Thank you for this. I have a child with huge supportive needs and have kept my thoughts to myself with that for fear of anyone finding that someday. But I need a safe place to rage and cry and grow and you have just shown me the golden ticket. Thanks so much!
We all need an outlet, and that way we aren't putting our baggage on the people in our life. It's safe in our journals. I hope this practice brings you lots of peace ♥️
Also, you as the caregiver, you need a space for yourself, if you don’t have that your mental capacity isn’t up to par to take of someone else. I’m glad you found that space to allow yourself to let go and not feel bad about those feelings. You are doing a wonderful job! Don’t forget to tell yourself that cause we as humans need to tell ourselves that from time to time, sending good thoughts your way ♥️♥️♥️
I need to holler my hurray over the ugly journal. In fact I LOVE the idea of “gnarly.” Ugly works well, but gnarly tunes in in a way I LOVE. Starting this today with one of my many empty journals. Fantastic addition to a stack! Sincere thanks.
I agree, I had a diary last year and it's beautiful but I need to go back and white out things that would hurt those left behind if I passed...this year I'll keep a diary like this ugly journal! Thank you
Hugs from this SLP 🤗
You are so right, I have a ‘yuck’ journal which I blurt out awful things when I have to get something out. I write across the page like normal, then rotate the book and right over the top going down, then rotate and write from the bottom up, then rotate again and rotate across one more time. So the text is 4 layers on top of itself. Sometimes I watercolour over the top. It ends up being illegible and cool to look at. I can then rip those pages out and used for collage or something. 😉
This feels like, powerfully magical to me wow. I love the idea of turning my terrible thoughts into art and I’m so glad you found something that works for you!
I really love how you keep it real by talking about the “ugly negative stuff” nobody wants to talk about. I haven’t seen others talk about it bc most of the “pretty things” sound like a bunch of “be positive” bs that sometimes doesn’t always work. It’s better to be real and true to your feelings. I have an “ugly” journal as well but I actually call it my “purge journal”. It’s my safe space where I can write whatever I want and feel. It’s really therapeutic. I don’t throw them away or burn them. I keep them bc they remind me of the struggles I’ve been through.
I just put everything into one journal. I feel like I would have so many journals if I separated nice thoughts from ugly thoughts, especially since I already have separate music and movie journals on top of planners. I have kept almost everything I've written since I was in middle school because I'm a writing hoarder, I guess? But that gross stuff is what helps the most to get out because it helps with processing that stuff. Journaling was my only therapy for a long time and I'm sure will help for the rest of my life. My life is messy, I let it reflect in the journal lol.
I love this idea! I recently did basically the opposite of an ugly notebook and combined all of my notebooks into one book (think bullet journal meets regular journal meets commonplace book meets art)! It’s been huge for me because it’s allowed me to stop being so ‘precious’ with my creativity-but also with my thoughts and my memories! I journal next to my daily and weekly plans and it’s helped me integrate all of my various thoughts, but I totally see why separating would be useful. I love to see how different methods work for different people.
Eilidh! I’m so close to doing this myself. The one book life is so tempting. I’m glad it’s working for you!
This is what I do too! I find it very satisfying seeing how all the different parts of my life interact!
I just happened to find your channel when I was giving myself the chance to get a notebook and just dive into scrap booking and journaling. And I cannot thank you enough for showing the raw and unedited, not always aesthetic side of journaling and memory keeping, cause that is actually what has kept me coming back to my notebook everyday and just creating systems that really work for me. There's a video that you made about just grabbing your first notebook of the year and somehow mess it up by writing something that doesnt have to be perfect nor beautifully decorated. So thank you so much! Your content keeps me inspired on notebook ways that really matter to me and they´re making this new hobby and habit really fun and inspiring. THANK YOU!
THIS! This comment is why I make UA-cam videos. I super appreciate you commenting this because this is exactly the kind of approach I used to make it all work for me. Thank you so much for watching and I really wish you lots of luck and fun and love and goodness in your new planning and journaling hobby!! ♥️
I also draw as a hobby and I have an “ugly sketchbook”, a place where I need to warm up my hand or have an idea but doesn’t quite pan out. This is how I approach my journaling, I have a journal where I scribble down intrusive thoughts, it’s not pretty but it’s where I don’t care what I write it’s just a place to figure shit out. Then, I have my pretty journal and that’s where I decorate and put down all the things that matter and what made me happy lol.
I’m glad the concept of an ugly journal also works in sketchbook format!! Great to know
I always wondered why I felt so deeply uncomfotable with sharing my journal and planners, and watching this made me realize it's bc I combine all the ugly with everything else. I've also journaled since I was a kid and it was mostly my outlet for big emotions, rage, angst etc. Even when I try to just document what happened in a day now, I find I write in all of my uncensored thoughts, which makes everything feel private. I wonder if my life would be different if I separated it out. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing!
Fwiw I think thoughts and moments that aren't joyous are not necessarily our ugly gross sides, it makes us who we are. We should remember them, and we should also show others grace when they show us who they really are
Yes definitely ♥️ thank you so much for commenting this it’s a great point
@Rachelle in theory thank you for making this video! I think we all need to hear this!
@@itsmeLori Im so glad! I always appreciate your comments
I have kept some sort of journal through most of my life. I did take a break after college but then my friends moved away from me and I was in a spiral of bad thoughts. January 2020 I took up journaling again and would only let myself write about highlights of my day. When I look back on my journal in high school, I only focused on the negative and I wanted to change my mindset. Focusing on the beauty in my life has changed my life so much as a person-but I think you’re right, that we have to write about some of those bad days too. There was a year where a friend hurt me terribly and I wish I had journaled more about those feelings, to show my process from grief, acceptance, and then finally letting them go. Anyways, all these thoughts bubbled up while I watched your video, so wanted to share that you’ve made me think and thank you.
YES. We need a space for the mess, the ugly, the nonsense. I journal to get everything inside of me outside. Humans contain multitudes, of course some of that is going to be uggggggly. Having a specific space for the ugly lets go of our need to be perfect and makes it easier to let go. It gives so much freedom to allow whatever we are. And there's magic in that honesty, in the truth, in the allowing of it all. There's no need to keep it either. I like looking back too, but I also like burning old journals, tearing them up, shredding them, reusing them. It's just paper, it's not precious.
Thanks for another great video.
I'm used to seeing your videos on planners, so this was a nice change. GREAT IDEA about how to use postcards. I have a journal that I need to hide, too. I had an ordinary journal in high school, but I destroyed it because an eye doctor off handedly said I must be blind. I was horrified and in tears going home when I told my mom what happened. I never saw him again.
I have BOXES of pictures and papers to sort and organize. I am a website designer and photo layouts are my favorite thing to do. I also am working on collecting my family recipes on my cookbook website. The smells of food can be a great memory. I've talked to people who are sad because they don't have Grandma's recipe for a dessert, main dish, or salad. The tradition of collecting family recipes is dying with Instagram or Pintrest and other social media. Thanks for this video; it's encouraging me to "get back to work."
I am SO grateful that you brought this up! I've always journaled but not 100% about the "happy times" because it's just not realistic. To keep all that negativity inside while it festers can take a toll on one's mental health (I know from personal experience), so it definitely helps to have an outlet to release those thoughts/feelings. Also, thank you for being open about seeing a therapist! I'm so happy that more and more people are comfortable seeking out such a valuable resourse.
Another great video, as always!
Thank you for being vulnerable with us, so that we can learn/remember how to be vulnerable with ourselves
Thank you for this thoughtful comment Cheska
I love the idea of an ugly journal, because I used to be so afraid to journal when I was having a tough time because I was afraid of being scrutinized for my inner thoughts and feelings if someone ever found it..but I know the practice is hugely impactful for my mental health. I still remember a gold journal with trees embossed on the front that I poured my deepest feelings into throughout high-school and throwing it away, because I was afraid to bring it with me when I moved away from home and afraid to leave it home and be exposed. It was a truly vulnerable time and I'm sad it's gone, because I had so much growth through heartache and I wish I could leaf through it and remember that girl.
It makes perfect sense. When I look back at my “diary“ I feel bad about some of the things I wrote because I don’t want my kids to read it thinking I did not enjoy motherhood. I had a lot of beautiful memories in raising them, but I sometimes focused on the hard stuff. I wish I would have put that in an “ugly“ journal. Thanks for the idea.
This year I have found many ways to “journal”. I have a memory keeping notebook with blank pages for personal memory keeping, one for professional
Projects and a lined one for reflection which I call “reflection journal” rather than an ugly journal but the purpose is the same. When I first saw bullet journaling it seemed to me that everything had to be together and I felt that the daily tasks completely ruined the joy of the highlights and memories I wanted to keep. I don’t want to keep my schedule but only the memories. This and your channel helped me choose more than one notebook and I love them all for their different purposes. Like you always reiterate: do what works for you. ❤
I combine my morning pages journal and my ugly journal. It's great because I can trash it if I want to or come back to it if I need it but it's totally outside of everything else. Love this video. Thanks, Rachelle!
Thank you so much Marissa!! That’s exactly the beauty of an ugly journal. You can just throw it right away lol.
I used to do this too! It’s great
I have a morning pages journal as well. Just writing out everything that’s going in my head feels liberating. I write quickly and it’s sure isn’t pretty, but it has been very helpful in emptying my mind every day!
I think what I've been seeing as "memory keeping" these days just reminds me of a maximalist version of scrap booking that I always tried and failed to do growing up, but there are aspects that I am trying to incorporate. If I try too much, everything will go off the rails, so for the past 5 or 6 years I've kept one yearly bullet journal that was mostly planning but gave me the space to journal more if compelled. Occasionally I would long form journal OR try a multiyear one-line-a-day thing. But recently I've been doing a big Konmari organization process of my stuff, so I've been thinking about storage and memories (good and bad). So I definitely need to let some things go, but I'm now full of ideas to manage the sentimental stuff (mainly, I want to remove the writing from the barely filled notebooks and bind them up into one packet so I can make some physical and mental space).
I love the idea of having a separate journal for the ugly stuff. Thanks for making this.
I don’t really memory keep. I just started journaling mid year last year. I kind of put everything there - the good, the bad, the pretty, and the ugly. I’ve been using the blank pages in my Common Planner for journaling. I’ve been intrigued by morning pages , but I honestly don’t think I would keep up with it. I tried memory keeping in a travelers notebook at the beginning of last year - stamps, pictures, blurbs about the day… and I couldn’t keep up with it. I admire some of the awesome memory keeping journals out there, but I have t figured it out for myself.
This vid totally makes sense! There's nothing like having a place to write your thoughts down when you're in a pure rage. I've got the journal(s) for ephemera, planning, spiritual stuff, random life notes, and the ugly journal. I've burned a really ugly journal from a traumatic time in my life. Sometimes I wish I didn't, but ultimately think I'm better off.
Thank you for making this video! Gret insight
I don’t know anyone else who collects playing cards - I started out with a collection of airline-branded decks (from airlines like TWA, Braniff, and Northwest Orient) and then when airlines stopped making cards, I transitioned into collecting cards from all of the places I’ve traveled. They’re usually easy to find and not much to carry. I’ll have to make a note of the store you mentioned and visit it sometime! Thanks for the suggestions, too. My journaling is a bit all over the place - partially gratitude, partially memory-keeping, partially art journal, partially venting. I have a sense that I should try to find a theme, but I think that’s coming from the “perfection” we see too much on social media. I just keep telling myself that my journal is for me and no one else, so I can make it what I want.
I’m new to playing card collecting but I’m very much the same, picking them up from where I travel and stuff. It started by collecting tarot decks and now I just can’t be stopped lol. And yes you’re so right - your journal is just for you! Be yourself in there as much as you can :)
I have many journals. As an avid writer (I've been writing since 1992, 30 years!), I always wrote the bad alongside the good. I've never separated the two, just as life doesn't separate them either. I have a daily journal inside a Traveler's Notebook, a plain white paper and a simple gel pen to keep me going and putting pen to paper while writing down my most daily and basic thoughts, alongside some REALLY heavy thoughts. I actually don't find having stickers and lovely ephemera very inspiring. but I know some people do and that's okay :) I have commonplace books (inside TN's) where I decorate and write quotes from favorite music, movies and books and another commonplace book for quotes about nature. That are my "decorative" journals, but they're not considered as a memory keeping journals, nor as diaries. They're commonplace books. All other journals I keep (I have a whole list because I write so much), are words related and I write everything inside, not leaving the ugly and annoying and upsetting stuff outside. I don't believe in that. And I'm not into "pretty" layouts either. I guess this is why I'm not into planning and I don't use planners anymore. I guess beautiful planners are just not for me :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this topic.
“the memories that you don’t want to keep are the ones you need to write down.” yeah. and the stuff in the red and black journal I bet are actually the stuff of novels and stories. because they’re true, and dark, and it’s the duende. as a poet, my mentor always told me, “the good stuff and the bad stuff, they’re all part of the stuff.” of course we want to keep our eyes on growing what’s working in our lives, but I’ve learned to sit with it all and see what comes of it. and like you describe, figure out a system to keep them separate or together, whatever works for us. you just gave me some ideas for my Hobo cousin. thanks, rachelle!
Thank you for the comment! I totally feel this. I'm also a poet so this resonates a lot with me 😌
I find it funny that while you're talking about memory-keeping, I was writing on the Diary collection of my bujo. And yes, it's a collection because my bujo is not a daily journal. I don't have the time to write a very long entry on what I did on every day. So I just write a minimum of 3 sentences. More if a lot happened. Now, for dark and intrusive thoughts, what I do is I write it on the Notes collection of my bujo. That is where I do a brain dump of ideas, thought and questions I had for the whole month. And I think that's enough for me to reflect on but not dwell on my problems.
You continue to be a fantastic resource. The way you think about planning and journal (mind) management continues to inspire me every time. Great ideas in this video, and I like how you frame memory keeping vs. a growth-cauldron approach to personal reflection. Organized and useful! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this
Totally agree that journalling means more than just a log of the pretty. Growing up I've always had hybrid journals/notetaking, a physical set (a planner/event/tracker space, another for reflection/memory/freewrites, a trash one for throwaway notes and drafting) and a set of digital spaces, for snippets on the go/straight up photos (to transfer/flesh out in longhand), heavily revised notes on special interests/studies, and also for giving myself free rein to ruminate on the "ugly" or inconsequential (I type much faster than I write but it sticks less, and that's perfect)
I love the idea of memory keeping. I started my own ugly notebook this year and it feels so nice to have a place that is no pressure to write down ALL of my thoughts. I’m thinking of using an A5 Stalogy for more fun and creative memory keeping!
That sounds like a killer combo!
Thank you for voicing this. We as humans DO need our ways to express bad emotions.
I keep seeing those "gratitude" and "positive affirmations" spreads like the positive emotions are the only things that are allowed to be recorded. But it's impossible to be grateful and positive all the time. Not healthy too.
(Honestly, who expresses gratitude all the time??? Is there the same "thankful for having a roof over my head" every week?)
Rochelle that was so helpful. I was starting to think I was loosing the plot with my different journals. I have 5 journal books on the go ATM - from a Buju kind of productivity journal, a learning journal (ie for key learnings or quotes I get from reading a books, podcast and talk etc), to stream of consciousness writing (based on the book The Artists Way). For some reason I kind of felt ashamed by this. Yet after listening to your video I have got the confidence to embrace them all; have gotten clarity on different purposes and roles each journal plays for enriching my life; and how I can tweek them to work better as a kind system - complementing each other. To help with bringing them all together in an enjoyable way, I went out and bought a cute basket to enable me to carry the current collection with me no matter where I maybe in the house (thus being able to add to the other journals if i feel so inspired to. I like how it is about keeping it fun write and re- read. I also got how journaling needs to be dynamic and adaptable so it contributes to one's life and not become yet another chore in the day!! Thanks!
Aw this is so great!! I’m so happy that you feel inspired to use all your journals!
I really enjoyed this video. I love the idea of separating the ugly journal. I actually loved all of the ideas here and use a few different ones myself. The “prettier”, documenting, almost scrapbooking format is the newest to me. I journal essentially daily though and think it’s a great outlet.
What a great video! I have an ugly journal that never is shown on instagram. It is very cathartic to write in it. It’s wonderful you shared your extensive journal history and why this type of journaling has been so helpful.
Excellent video! This is something I’ve done for years and feel is so important! Beauty and the Beast is how I see them 😂
Agree, memory is weak, so I use my hobonichi lower right corner for "summary of the day" in 2-3 statements that summarize what most impacted my day. The problem is to find the time to keep up with those reflections and still in January. Beautiful vid 👌.
Thank you for this. I tend to write whenever I need to vent and it’s definitely not something I want to put in with everything else. However, I love the idea of having them in another book! It would be a great way to look back and keep from possibly making similar choices that may not get me to where I want to be in life. ❤
I've been journalling for a few years now on and off. I have OCD and I don't find it particularly helpful to journal my repetitive intrusive thoughts. I just end up in an awful loop that degrades to delusion.
I do make a practice of journalling positive and happy things because this is something that does not come easily to me. When I'm really sad and down I can gain hope from seeing and remembering the good things.
I do reflect on more deeper personal things. For example I want to work on the dynamic I have with friends. But I try very hard to put a limit on negative exploration.
My sister on the other hand is a nurse. She deals with horrific things daily. She has a journal specifically for raging in. And it helps her to process some of her daily struggle in a productive and also professional way.
I only just found your channel a few days ago. But really enjoying your content so far 😊
Love this and it makes perfect sense !! I’ve been a journaler since I was young basically of the ugly stuff, it’s so helpful, it helps by stopping it from just sitting inside you, I can analyse myself, learn so much, definitely reflect and learn. I would like to be better at memory keeping, I will continue the process for that but it’s not where I would like it to be just yet. This was a super helpful video. Thanks 😊
Wow, just wow. This put things in perspective for me. I need that outlet (ugly journaling). I always write about the beauty of my day, never the negative; I’m so afraid that someone would read it and miss understand me or think I was a dark person.
I don’t have rainbows, hearts and butterfly days everyday, and didn’t have a healthy outlet to express how I was feeling.
I think holding it all in hinders a person mentally. I’ve become this big ball of nervousness, terrible anxiety, mind not settling.
This is a great way to let my frustrations out, I truly appreciate you sharing with us.
Samantha ♥️ I’m so glad this could help you and you absolutely deserve a place to just be messy and human.
As per usually, great video! I've noticed a lot of my journalling tends to be on the negative side and it makes me feel discouraged to keep going because it feels like I'm just moaning about the same things over and over, but you're 100% right, later on, there will be lessons to be learnt from those entries. Thank you for the reminder.
I love your stuff! And am relieved I’m not the only person who doesn’t like Mildliners. Thank you for your content, I always get a lot out of it!
HAHA you are definitely not the only one who doesn't like them lol
such an interesting video! i’ve been thinking about planning vs memory keeping vs journaling a lot & i’m a little messy with what stuff is where. but i know i absolutely need to process the anxiety and stress and grief somewhere. thank you for the video!
Yes! So I'm an avid journaller - just get the thoughts out of my head and on paper - and I'm actually pretty new to whatever people are calling "memory keeping." I'm doing that decorative/fun memory keeping in the weeks part of my Hobonichi Cousin, but the daily pages are basically a space for me to journal about whatever I need to - and that can often be very ugly. I do struggle with intrusive thoughts and other mental health issues, and I'm thinking of coming up with a way to differentiate the intrusive thoughts from other parts of the journal. Like, it helps me to actually write them down. I also do commonplace book stuff, and so a lot of my thoughts about those things live in different parts of my traveler's notebook.
You and I are from the same tribe… I just listened to this and I kept shaking my head yes… this me messy nasty journaling that you described is how I got through my divorce and it’s getting me through some more personal struggles right now as well.. thank goodness for this incredible gift of journaling….
Journaling really is healing that way even if it's just getting all the gross stuff out of your system
Thank you for sharing i have been struggling getting started on journaling and this actually helped me so much. Thank you
I love the idea of having a separate “ugly” journal that you burn in a year after reflecting. Many times I want to journal a lot when I’m going through something not so nice or feeling and thinking poorly. Journaling is a way of expressing those things but I never want anyone to go back and read what I wrote. I write memories and fun stuff on my planner pages, but don’t want to re write all that in a happily go lucky journal because it’s just redundant. I want to start a journal of each of my 7 kids AMC my husband, like letters from mom/wife that I write throughout our lives and eventually give to them or pass to them when I die.
Ohhhhh.Thank you for this video, acknowledgement, showing the pieces of “not pretty”. I hope to believe that a lot of bloggers sharing these pretty instagrammable spreads do in fact have their own “”ugly notebooks” on the side that they don’t mention. Hidden powerful paper buddies of sort :)
I also want to thank your for showing and giving an idea of having childhood memories journal. I seem to think that I don’t remember a lot from y childhood. But will try to start a journal to document those glimpses I d remember. I started journaling around age 11 -12, but then moved to another country, and journals stayed behind. I soooo wish I could have them now. Well… at least I’ve kept another pile of all from the past 19 years :)
"People are ugly and gross and weird" - Rachelle, you are wise beyond your years.
Ok I have obviously discovered this video a couple months late. I really enjoyed this one. I liked hearing your thoughts on the different styles of memory keeping. I currently memory keep in a loosely adapted BuJo style of rapid logging my thoughts and experiences throughout and at the end of the day. Sometimes I’ll long form if Im feeling that i have a lot on my mind. The ugly journal though, this I have not tried but am now going to! I hold a lot in and I’ll journal some of what I feel but i find myself holding back since I’m currently a 1 book person and wasn’t wanting too much deep inner thoughts in my planner/BuJo. You have opened my mind! I’m going to buy a new notebook once I’m done with this comment! Thank you!
Yes! I'm excited that you are gonna try something new :)
I'm using the 6-ring planner this year and for memory keeping I've ordered 2 types of weekly spreads: one vertical with timeline for daily plans, todos, meetings etc and simple vertical weekly spread for memory keeping in a form of bullet journal (short bullets about my thoughts/feelings/ideas during the day)
Super helpful video, thank you! Side note: I very much involuntarily yelled 'Outer Wiiiiilds!!' when you flipped past that page hahaha
Thanks for this! I’m someone who hasn’t really allowed myself to memory keep and celebrate. So that’s my focus this year!
I think/hope that the «pretty with stickers» (only) type of memory keeping version is a fairly recent phenomena. Before social media I think people included more of the not-so-shiny parts of their day. Noone was supposed to see it anyway! 😊
I realise that what I thought was memory keeping was just journalling, cause to me the core of memories are the emotions I feel. I'm a person who's really nostalgic and I feel a lot so memory keeping is saying what happened and how it made me feel.
Love this -- getting the ugly out is so important and I know I really need to give myself permission to let it out.
And you’re right! We wanna remember the good stuff (as I age I am ever more mindful of this. Its importance. But the ugly and gnarly stuff IS worth tracking so to speak. In order to reflect upon, as you say. What better way to learn?! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Great Video! Looking for ideas 💡 memory journaling. This gave me a couple of ideas.
My journalling has always been a bit on the "ugly" side but I never think of them that way because they have eventually lead to some really profound breakthrough. I don't have multiple journals and never have but I'm starting to think that I would like to start so thanks for the suggestions.
I’ve been watching your videos for the last couple of days. Very inspiring and really helpful since I just started to use a Hobonichi Weeks.
You mentioned you studied in The Netherlands. I’d love to hear about your experience since I live in The Netherlands.
Hi Petra! My college had a satellite campus a small town close to the Germany border. My experience in the Netherlands was living in that town 4 days per week and taking classes, and then the staff helped coach us through traveling all over Europe. I had a great time exploring other places in the Netherlands and all over the continent!
I LOVE your videos! I, like you, tend to have multiple journals all around me and I wondered how you organize them once you are done using them? Do you file by date? Do you file by journal type? Thanks!
Um... I have a big box labeled "old journals" 😂 I really need a better system for that. Future video idea?
I find it really difficult to use more than one book at a time in any context so what I do instead is to write out the 'ugly' stuff in code. I find doing it that way very helpful for many reasons! 1. I can immediately tell where the ugly stuff is 2. I can easily share my journal with others at meet ups without fear of them reading some dark ass shit lol 3. I am able to reread this stuff if i want to but since it's fairly labor intensive I don't reread any of it often which is probably for the best lol
Oh! And a ritual burn! This is priceless!!
I call this my rant journal in a b6 staology. If something’s keeping me up, anxious, angry whatever the rant journal comes out!😅
thank you for this! i actually have this one journal when i just wanted to express all my angst and anger and bad unfiltered thoughts -- and it was a really basic notebook (so no one would be intrigued to look into it) hahah i browse through it from time to time and surprisingly everytime i read it, it gives me strength because i know that everything will come to pass and somehow i got through with whatever it was i experienced. =)
Yes this is the exact experience I have with my ugly journals ♥️♥️
Thank you for sharing what you write and all the different methods you use. I am struggling between digital vs handwritten so i am trying to do both. Digital is really fun because you can easily import images, different fonts etc. Handwritten is more satisfying and cathartic and i tend to write more because it is easier to grab the notebook and pen and quickly jot something down. I am frustrated w my indecision. For now i plan to take pictures of my handwritten journal and include corresponding images, etc to the page.
Oooh this is super tough. I’m a handwritten journaler all the way, except for my dream journal, which I do on my phone because it’s so much easier to stream of conscious write into an app first thing than a pen and paper.
I keep both the bad and good reflection in one place. My brain just sinks in and out of good and bad stuff usually. I try to keep on top of it by always turning the random worries into things I either meditate on further or migrate into my planner if it's actionable. I never plan to look at these journals again. Maybe I'll burn them. They're all A6 size field note type notebooks that feel very disposable. I
Thanks so much for sharing! While I definitely enjoy “pretty journalling” with stickers and photos and ephemera, I also enjoy reflecting in my diary/summary of the day. Rants but also positive things (everything!) goes in there; (mostly) nice things I enjoy looking back on go in my creative journal. The diary is for my eyes only (and written in German Kurrent, so it‘s not something anyone could just read); the creative journal is something I enjoy to show online, too. LOVE Kelseyleigh’s channel My Abiding Journal, too!
Heck yeah Jess. I love the different journals with different purposes. Thanks for watching
I journal and do a separate memory log for the highlights.
I love this! BUT… i feel i have those intrusive thoughts on my main journal (first kept semi consistent journal in my a6 hon😂). Hmm what to do?
Your videos are excellent! I wanna se more! The quality the topic the way you comunicate. Awesome! Just Spreading some Love! =)
Completely agree with your perspective. I've been watching videos on memory keeping but they all seem so unrealistic to me (a person who likes to write a lot on a blank page notebook). I think your aproach takes into account life, like real life, and it's also helpful if you want to reflect on what happens, either good or bad things/feelings/thougts. I mean yeah its nice that you made an entry on your planner saying that you had a coffe with Claire, but how did it feel? what was on your mind before and after that? did you notice anything worth anylizing? Cronological entries are fine, but I feel one is missing out on so much.
PS: big fan of your videos, this is my first comment but I enjoyed them all. Love from Argentina :)
Dafne!!! I feel exactly the same way about reflecting on real life, feelings and thoughts (as you could probably tell from the video 😂). Day to day stuff is always worth documenting but the deep stuff is where I get the most out of journaling. Thank you so much for watching and commenting, I appreciate you!!
LOVE the uglyjournal idea!!!
This is currently a struggle of mine; perfect timing
13:20 I thought that the traveler's company traveler's notebook 😢
Love your videos!!❤
You always know what to say 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
My memory keeping is just the odd ticket, note, polaroid etc that is tuck in throughout my bullet journal. Not a specific page or book.
You had me at intrusive thoughts 😂😮
😂
Nice >>>>> Thank you
It seems weird to use a journal like we use social media: only sanitized, happy thoughts. I mean, lie to the public if we're embarrassed about our lives, but no good comes of lying to yourself. What the point? The bad parts of life frame the good parts.🤷🏻♀️
I think memory keeping (for me) isn’t the stickers, collages, or anything. I think if you have a planner or journal, you don’t need to ‘memory keep’ because you already are! I will shout this from the rooftops.
i really love the idea of an "ugly journal", but what, if i die...and i don't want my loved ones to get hurt...after i'm gone...but with the thought of "hurting no one" you can't be honest....so i don't know how to start an "ugly journal" ...meh.....
We do all need a burn book
Such a fun video, but here's what I want to know...why do you think birds aren't real?
They work for the bourgeoisie
😂😂😂😂
😂
Idk how to be thoughtful in my journaling lol I just write what happened in the day, not rlly about my feelings. But I can talk abt my feelings, just not write?
It shall henceforth be known as The Ugly Journal. 💀🖤💀
I have also have a ugly journal
I love the idea of ugly journaling!
Why are you promoting the ridiculous “birds aren’t real” website? Credibility…lost.
It’s a parody website, my friend
@@RachelleinTheory The actual website that's on your journal isn't a parody. They truly believe in the conspiracy. If you read their "history" section on their website (which I don't recommend more than skimming) you'll see they're very serious. I'm sure there are parody sites and groups, but this isn't that.
@@SIMulatedSara It is a parody. Here's some info from the NYT on the fake conspiracy theory (started in 2017, same year the domain birdsarentreal.com was bought): www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/technology/birds-arent-real-gen-z-misinformation.html
This article also goes into why Birds Aren't Real was started and who wrote the fake history that you are referencing.
Anyway, this has been a weird turn of events in the comments of this video.
@@RachelleinTheory unfortunately I can't see the article you're referencing (I don't pay for the NY Times) but it looks like an interesting read. I don't mean to start a kerfuffle in the comment section, and I'm glad to hear you don't actually buy in. There are some weirdos who genuinely do. I've been incorporating my "ugly" journal into my daily pages in my cousin. I'm finding it less intimidating to journal on the daily pages cause it's short and sweet, and I don't have to have a separate notebook for it. Plus, life is good and bad and messy all at the same time.
@@SIMulatedSara Its all good. There are other similar articles available if you give it a google, or wait for your next free article from NYT. But there's nothing to buy into because it's definitely not real.
Back to the fun stuff: I like that you are keeping it all in one place! I find separating it out makes it much easier for me to enjoy the journal space i'm working in, because all my intrusive thoughts go somewhere else lol. Do you find yourself journaling on the go in the cousin or all at once at the end of the night?