January | 2020 | Uniquely Yours Craft Journal

Scars

08 Jan 2020 Comments Off on Scars

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Perspectives, Wednesday words to live by Tags: change

“My scars tell a story. They are a reminder of times when life tried to break me, but failed. They are makings of where the structure of my character was welded.”

Steve Marabol

Dear Fellow Journalers,

If you’re beginning to sense a pattern here, you’d be right! I’m turning over a new leaf. This past year has been one of hardship for me and I’m going to change my perspective, I can’t change some of the future outcomes but I can change the way I look at life in general. There’s been too much hatred, division, uncertainty, despair in my world and maybe, with a little luck, we can change it.

Join me won’t you?

~Sallie

Good Intentions

08 Jan 2020 Comments Off on Good Intentions

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Mindfulness, Paper Daydreams, Perspectives, Self-Care Tags: positive mindfulness, Self-Care

Dear Fellow Journalers,

You know that saying, “life is full of good intentions?” Well, I started out with pen and paper in hand and then old habits reared their heads. It wouldn’t hurt to just check out e-mail would it? Just for tonight? The more excuses you make the more the intention (habit) fades away and before you know it you’re back doing exactly what you wanted to stop!

I knew the benefits of mindfulness (see past posts) so I didn’t have to talk myself into a new way of thinking. I didn’t want to be affected by the angst in the world yet there I was reading about it BEFORE I turned out the light! So much for that idea, I thought to myself.

Before you make a resolution you have to think it through. I read that statement once in a self-help book and it held a lot of water for me at the time. I needed to go slowly down the path. Baby steps get you where you want to go but slowly. There is a great ad on tv these days about quitting smoking featuring an animated turkey that is dressed in hilarious outfits who slowly “kicks” the habit of smoking with the aid of the product being promoted. Well, if a turkey can do “it” (whatever “it” is to you) than I guess you and I can go slowly too.

The next step is to show myself some compassion. What is my current situation? I have to find what works and makes me more comfortable. If I stop reading the newspaper every day (except for the headlines will that help my peace of mind?

Is there someone else I know that feels the same way I do? We all need buddies to travel the road with us.

Have you ever been in a situation where the triggers to your “habit” rears its head and you sucked into the “rabbit hole?” It might be a slice of chocolate cake in the break room at work or a new book that has just been published and you just have to buy it. How do you conquer triggers? I ‘re-discovered music.

~Sallie

Self-Care, a new start

01 Jan 2020 Comments Off on Self-Care, a new start

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Self-Care Tags: Self-Care, Sizzix

Dear Fellow Journalers,

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had about all I can take of the negativity, hatred, suspicion, and downright meanness exhibited in the world right now. It seems that almost everyone I meet (family, friends, and complete strangers) are affected by the destructive behaviors of others. While many may start their “New Year’s Resolutions” to get healthy or fix relationships I decided to ” be gentle with my feelings”. I can’t fix the world but I can do something to fix some of my problems that are brought on by my reactions to the world’s chaos.

My Self-Care Journal will hopefully help in this regard. I decided to write in it all year. 2020 is not only the beginning of a new year but the beginning of a new decade, one which I hope to survive. Being a “sexy senior citizen” over the age of 70, this decade will be one of challenges and changes so what better time to start than right now!

In a way, a “Self-Care Journal encompasses every other personal journal. I decided to focus on my health first and so to that end I began my journey. I have habits like all the rest of you! Some of mine are good, some not so much! I mean reading and eating chocolate are good, right-but probably better in moderation.

I bought a die-cut 2 weeks ago which will, I hope, help me in my creative goals and also my Self-Help goals as well. This journal has sections I can create that will divide my journey and which I will share at a later date.

For now though, I decided to take my journal to bed instead of my Kindle and set up an alarm app so that I get 7-8 hours of restorative sleep. I’m still working on the chocolate angle -maybe next week…

~Sallie

January Monthly Prompts

01 Jan 2020 Comments Off on January Monthly Prompts

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Prompts Tags: January, Monthly prompts

A new year- New prompts…

If you could change just one thing about yourself what would it be?
What do you want people to remember about you?
Write a mission statement about your life.
What makes you unique?
How does journaling help you?

Life

01 Jan 2020 Comments Off on Life

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Wednesday words to live by Tags: life, Wednesday word

“Life is full of disappointments, failures, and setbacks. None of those things can permanently stop you. You have the power in you to overcome anything that life throws at you. There is nothing as powerful as a made up mind. Surround yourself with people who remind you that you matter, and support you in the ways that matter most to you. No person, situation, or circumstance can define who you are. Don’t give up, cave in, or stop believing that it’s possible. It’s not over until you win.”

Les Brown