I begin most days, M-F, writing /journaling during London Writers’ Salon 8AM Writer’s Hour, a platform that attracts people from all around the globe who have one common goal: writing – perhaps a book, short story, play, blog post, Julia Cameron’s morning pages, etc.

I use the platform, DayONE and each day, we’re offered a prompt – just in case we might be stuck or without a topic, a starting point. Today’s prompt: What is one thing I’m looking forward to this October? My response: Finally getting my “life on paper” under control!

I have a “few” – and I say this facetiously – projects always swarming around in my head: Write/publish blog post – happens to be Numero UNO for today. And: Get a handle on October -December writing and holiday season goals…this of course doesn’t include the plethora of writing and journaling/memory keeping projects and daily paperwork , e.g., bills, emails and texts; “bright ideas,” to-do”and “someday-maybe” lists, and the occasional blog post.

I often think : Paper! The bane of my existence! But OH! What a wonderful invention, especially when coupled with pen/pencil; paint; stamps and acrylic inks; crayons, etc. As evidenced, people have been making “marks” on surfaces for “time in memorial”. Clearly doing so is a ‘natural’ inclination. I know t’is so with me. Always, I have a pen/cil and paper, at hand…consequently, a lot of flotsam and jetsam on both paper and in my mind … occasionally a digital version.

Tho’ I don’t have samples, I’ve always written – well, ‘er scribbled – since I was able to hold a pen or a crayon , approximatley at age 2-3 years. In the early ‘90s, I began, in earnest, the practice of morning journaling, encouraged by overwhelming feelings of spinning at work. I took to paper and pen and poured my heart and soul out, ostensibly, trying to come to terms with my current status and a path forward, but more importantly, needing to acknowledge and deal with a path for “freeing up my future.” And I did…but in the interim, I took to writing, journaling in the mornings, often times, even weekends. Always with paper and pen. Mornings, especially for the words I wrote gave me strength and the courage to not only “face the day” but/and also, the future and to do/give my very best to staff, the publics the library served and most importantly , myself.

In a way, I served two or more roles – one to my place of employment,and the other, to myself – finding me. The latter, accomplished with daily AM journaling and eventually, any/all times of the day as I engaged not only with work but also, more importantly, LIFE!

At the time I began daily journaling, , I’d no idea that the journey would last this long with no signs of being over. WH is about to wind down! On this first day of October and the tenth month of 2024 – just three months, 92 days left in 2024.

493 words. To be continued…