Journaling is hard
It is hard to maintain regular check in or journaling for yourself. The consistency required some levels of sanity and power of reflection. There are some people who now suggesting headline journaling, some sort of micro journaling or writing smaller and more concise chunks of thoughts or feelings. It is also a way to accommodate micro speed reading in the social media era. I haven’t buy into this idea.
I think journaling is supposed to be hard because it’s a challenge to ourselves. Often it’s not simple to describe my day. I can state the facts and some layers of feeling I had that day but I need to process them. It takes time to process them and put me into the present. It will better with practice, but the pressure and control of other expectations–work or personal relationship– can take me further from the present. I need to be aware of this.
Sholat is important to keep the pace and give some room to some headspace. It’s important to give some mental-space to what I am doing. How meaningful those activities to me? What did they take from me that I need to refill? How bad they drain my energy? How long will it be? What can I do about it? I may not have all the answer but the act of questioning my days already a step forward.
It’s only about the work-life balance. It’s also about my surrounding, for example the weather. It has impact on me. Yesterday morning, as I prepared to go out and walking, it rained. I continued my light weighlifting and simple aerobic. It felt good but I like to walk. In a way, walking is my way of journaling without words.
During my walking, I do many things: listen to music, feel the sun and air, people-watching, say hi to cats and birds, pay my condolence to dead mice on the street, map the stores and new buildings in my mind, and talk to myself. I often feel excited if I see new or existing food stalls that I never know before. It’s good to have morning excitement and have conversation with myself before I start the day.
Tomorrow will be the start of fasting month. It’s Ramadan. I am so excited. I need to change my morning routine and another discipline. The walking will be in the afternoon. I hope I can do at least 5 times per week because the meeting usually happen at noon or afternoon. I need to move all in the morning or night time. I love the vibe on Ramadan. Love and prayer to the people of Gaza and Congo. Hope they can feel the bless of Ramadan, whatever their religions.