Woody Guthrie's New Year's Resolutions from 1942

Below is an image of Woody Guthrie's journal with his New Year's resolutions from 1942. Admirable by anyone's standards. This might give you some ideas for your own resolutions for 2012.

You can see a bigger, clearer image at http://www.woodyguthrie.org/newyearsrulins.htm

Forgotten Notebooks

While I was rummaging beneath the dining table (which is actually a book table) I looked into my post-it box. And in it I found notebooks I'd forgotten about....

Most of these are years old, some even more than a decade old. Couple of these contain poetry I used to write, two are still unused, and tiny notepad came with a packet of crisps. When I found them, it was like finding a treasure, especially the poetry books because I don't write much poetry now. 

Merry Christmas

To All My Wonderful Friends

May you all have a fantastic Christmas! 

All my best wishes, and love. I appreciate any and all the time you spend reading this blog. 

The Great Gatsby Notebook

When I saw this in Waterstones, my first reaction was WOW. Just the cover is gorgeous, and then there is the fact that The Great Gatsby is one of my favourite books ever. To possess a notebook inspired from that was very tempting. It is bit steep at £6.99 for this quite slim notebook, but as I was spending vouchers, I decided to treat myself. 

The front cover is a replica of one of the popular editions of The Great Gatsby cover. 

Inside, left flap has this image. Very bookish, and very appealing to a library lover like me. 

But it's the pages where the real art comes in. The whole notebook is lined by tiny sentences. These lines are made up actual words, and if you want to attempt to read them, you will need a magnifying glass, though with good eyesight, you can probably squint and recognize a few words. It is very bookworm appealing. I haven't yet written in this journal, so can't confirm the quality, but the pages feel of good quality. 

Journaling Classes

Today I have a question for you, and I would appreciate as detailed answers as possible. 

I have been journaling for years, and over the years I have tried new techniques, developed them, and tried something different. I have figured out good stuff, waste of time stuff, and what works for me. But there is always more to learn. Some new insight that someone else might have that I haven't yet seen. That's why I read books about journaling and follow journal keeping blogs and read published diaries. 

What about you? Do you feel there is always more to learn? 

If you were to take an online journaling class, what topic / what niche would you like it to be the most? What it is about your journaling that you want to work on, and feel that you can benefit from someone else's input, whether it's group participation of journaling together, or an instructor providing a structure for you to follow? 

5 Reasons Why You Should Comment On Blogs

I remember, when I first started reading blogs I used to read a lot of them, and comment on a few. Then as I got more into blogging community, began to appreciate the work and effort people put into their blogs, I stated leaving more and more comments. But eventually, it came to a stage where I simply didn't have time for reading that many blogs if I wanted to do anything else (like writing), so now, I read far fewer blogs every day. But for all the ones I read, I try to leave a comment as often as possible. 


Here is why: 

1. It says that you found the content helpful / interesting / amusing enough to take a minute and leave a comment
2. It encourages discussions amongst others who comment and also between the blog writer and the readers
3. It shows new visitors to the blog that some people do read the blog and leave a comment, which might encourage them to do the same
4. Everyone feels good about being appreciated. In blogging world, comments are an easy way of showing this appreciation of the content someone's providing
5. It's a give and take thing. If you leave a comment on someone else's blog, it encourages the other person to leave one on yours.

Journal Writing Prompt 31 - Priorities

Good things happen when you get your priorities straight. - Scott Caan

But do you have your priorities straight? So often, we end up running around after things that simply stumble across us, or we stumble into them. Whether it's a job you fell into or a relationship or an activity that takes up your time. Have you taken the time to consider if you really want to do this?

Take the time now. You may discover that all the things that take up your time and space in your life, are not necessarily the things you want.

Knowing it is the first step. Once you know, then you can set about doing something about it. You may not be able to eliminate doing everything you don't like (for example, a job that pays the bills, but doesn't necessarily bring you fullfillment). But now that you are powered with the knowledge of what is and what isn't importrant to you, you can make a plan.

What can you do? What are your options? What interests you? How can you spend more and more of your time doing the things you love? What's more important to you?

Action expresses priorities. - Mohandas Gandhi

What are your actions saying about your life?