Journal Day Prompt #14

Here's this week's prompt:

Think about the plans you had for your adult self when you were younger- would you say they match up to your reality today? What did you wish for your future when you were a child? Did you have a plan? And would you say you've followed that plan in any way? This week, look at the life you hoped to have (even if you consider your childhood "dreams" silly now) and see how your current life compares.

I share my answer this next Monday evening, 7/14, and that's when I'll ask you to post a link back to your post too.

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #13

Here's this week's prompt:

This week, write a "State of Me" address. Write about how you're really doing- what you've been thinking, what you've been up to. What have you accomplished lately? Where is there room for growth? Where are you right now in life and where are you headed? Current joys, currents sadness...write it all out. Discuss the current state of YOU.

Because I'm out of town I'll be back in one week (Sunday, 6/22) with my response, and that's where I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post.

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #12

Here's this week's prompt:

Let's talk about love. Do you believe in the idea of a soulmate? Do you think there is one person for everyone- and do you think that no matter what, if you're "supposed" to meet that person you will? This week, talk about your experience with love and discuss what you believe, and also be sure to touch on what helped shape those beliefs.

I'll be back Thursday with my response, and that's where I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post.

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #11

Here's this week's prompt, kind of piggy-backing on last week's question:

Sometimes it can be hard to hear criticism from others. I know for me it's something I may always struggle with- being a people pleaser, etc. At the same time though, constructive criticism can be very helpful, and allow us to look at ourselves in a new light and maybe even grow and change. Take a step out of yourself. If you were on the outside looking in, how would you critique yourself? What things do you see that could change or work on? This isn't about tearing ourselves down; it's about really looking at ourselves and seeing where there's room for growth.

I'll be back Thursday with my response, and that's where I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post.

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #10

Here's this week's prompt-

Quite simply, what are you good at? All of us have particular strengths- what are yours? This week, talk about these talents, big or small. Ideas: discuss how you use these things in your daily life or job, how you discovered a knack for this or that, perhaps even touch on whether or not you are passionate about the things you're good at.

I'll be back Thursday with my response, and that's where I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post.

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #9

Before we get into this week's prompt, I've gotten a couple of questions if there's a book of the prompts you can get somewhere, etc. I do have a notebook full of prompts I used while teaching, but all of the ones we have had thus far are from ME- I've made them up week by week. The only idea that really came from somewhere else would be the question about funding an issue close to your heart, and that came from a list of writing ideas in the New York Times, but I wrote the actual prompt myself. I will continue to make these up every week, and if I ever do borrow one from somewhere I will be sure to let you know, so you can check out the source too! :)

Here's this week's prompt-

How would you say your upbringing or background has shaped your idea of beauty? Were you taught to apply makeup or do you hair by your mother or friends? If not, where did you observe what is now your norm as far as beauty practices? And although most of us have been inundated by different cultural beauty "norms" via the media, would you say that television and magazines have had a strong impact on shaping what you think of as beautiful? This week, write about your idea of beauty- how your background has shaped it and what that means for you today.

I'll be back Thursday with my response, and that's where I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post.

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #8

Here's this week's prompt-

Would you consider yourself a religious person? Quite simply- what do you believe happens when you die? Have you always believed this? Do your current beliefs align with what you were taught as a child? And if not, what was the turning point? This week, talk about your religion or spiritual beliefs (or perhaps your lack of), and try to sum up, if you can, what you believe happens "next."

I'll be back Thursday with my response, and that's when I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post.

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #7

Here's this week's prompt- 

Do you use social media in your daily life? Do you think it adds to your relationships with others, or takes away from them? And furthermore, do you think social media adds more positive or negative to your life? Write about your relationship with social media, and talk a bit about how you got started, and what role it plays in your world.

I'll be back Thursday with my response, and that's when I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post.

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #5

Here's this week's prompt- 


We all encounter challenges on a daily basis. You may consider yours something small, like having enough time in the day to accomplish everything you set out to do, or it may be a bit bigger- perhaps something you have to overcome mentally or emotionally, or even a struggle when dealing with a difficult person. Whatever the case, take a look at your daily life- what would you say is your biggest challenge? Or if you have a past struggle you were able to overcome, how did you do it? This week, write about a challenge you currently deal with on a day to day basis, or discuss one you managed to get past.


I'll be back Thursday with my response, and that's when I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post so we can all check it out.

 

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #4

Here's this week's prompt-

If you had unlimited resources, what political or social issue, or area of scientific or medical exploration would you fund? Do you have a cause that is dear and near to your heart that you'd put your time, energy, and money into if you had the means? Tell us about it, along with a bit of background explaining where you're coming from.

I'll be back Thursday with my response, and that's when I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post so we can all check it out.

 
 

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day Prompt #3

Here's this week's prompt-

They say hindsight is 20/20, and with good reason- looking back at something always gives us a better view. We're often able to really see how our choices and decisions then shaped our today, and examine what we would have done differently given the chance. When looking back though, we often look way back, but for this exercise stay a little closer to present time and look back just 12 months. If you could go back just one year, what would you tell yourself? What advice would you offer about everything you've experienced?

This week we're taking one more look back before shifting gears- I had to ask this one while we're still in the whole "remembering" mode. I'll be back Thursday with my response, and that's when I'll ask you guys to share a bit from your writing in the comments, as well as a link to your post so we can all check it out.

 
 

Read more about my Journal Day project here.

Read previous Journal Days here.

Journal Day (again)

Two years ago I started a project here on Sometimes Sweet called Journal Day and it was probably my most favorite reoccurring feature, ever. Then the other week when I shared part one of "Post Ideas for the Stumped Blogger" I realized how much I miss that whole exchanging of ideas, sharing inspiration, and finding ways to freshen up content. I got to thinking, and I realized that right now was the perfect time to bring back Journal Day.

Here's the gist of it with a couple of updates, from my original post in June of 2011:

I love being a stay-at-home Mom, but there are some days when I really miss being a high school English teacher. And most of all, I miss the creative writing. For six years of my life, every Tuesday and Thursday, we had Journal Day. At the start of the year, each child would get a journal of their choice (typically a black composition notebook), and we'd add at least two pages per week. Upon the students' arrival in class on they would see a prompt on the board. They could always choose to free-write, but typically the kids would choose to at least start with the prompt and then let their writing go wherever they wished.  I had no rules for their journals- they could write about whatever they wanted, and although they did get a grade for completing each day's writing, I never gave them a grade on content. At the end of each journaling session, we'd go around the room and everyone could share anything they wanted- at the least just one word, and at the most, their entire entry. Some kids started by just offering up a word or a phrase- "good day" "sad" "really weird mood" - but as the year went on everyone got more and more comfortable. There were so many days I heard something that then prompted me to talk a child after class. Perhaps the one word they shared sounded a bit off, or maybe they shared a lot, and I knew they needed to talk to someone. I found that it was pretty therapeutic for a lot of the kids. I mean, I know some couldn't care less, but I do know there were more than a few that loved it. And I miss those days, I miss the writing, and the mix CDs the kids would bring it to play during those ten or fifteen minutes. The sound of the pencils on paper, the look of concentration. The feeling when one of my "non-writers" would say, "this isn't so hard after all."

So I got to thinking. And I decided that I'm going to bring back those journal days right here.

And if you'd like to join in, I'd absolutely love it.

Here's how it will work- I'll post a prompt on Sunday evenings (or other days if specified). Then some time in the next week, write about the prompt in your blog, then come back here on Thursday to my prompt response (I will post mine each Thursday morning) and leave a comment with a sentence or two from your entry, along with the link so we can all blog hop and check each others' writing out.  I know I'd be so honored to be able to read what you write, and I know a lot of others would love to, too. I think this will be a fun way to get a writing community going, and I'm so looking forward to getting to know more of you through your words. I'm so excited to continue focusing on what I believe is the most important aspect of blogging- writing.  I think this will be a neat way to infuse some creativity into our daily lives too, and inspire each other to write a lot more! So, here we go.

Stay tuned for next week's prompt, then come back on Thursday to my prompt response post to share your link blurb and link in the comments. And in the meantime, check out previous Journal Days here.