The title of this post is not at all a homage to Chetan Bhagat or his famous book. In fact, I have yet to read any of his fine works. I have scanned a couple of columns and a few pages of One Night At the Call Center. They were quiet enough for my nerves and patience.
But I digress. This post is not about him. There might be one in the future if his writing continues to annoy me.
But for better or worse, "five point journal" is how I think of a mini habit I have picked up since the 1st of February. I have started journaling; an activity that I have tried and successfully given up many, many times, simply because after a few days, either I lost enthusiasm, or decided my life just wasn't clocking up enough excitement on a daily basis.
This time around, however, although I am not sure where the inspiration came from (must be a blog or a book) but the execution has been going well. I have set aside a journal...nothing too fancy because then I feel this incredible pressure to write fancy words. But this one is fairly simple and has ruled pages. And every morning, after I have turned on the coffee-maker for my two (I mean three really) cups of coffee and I can hear it gurgling and whispering like a forest stream, I sit down with my journal at my study table and list five awesome things that have happened the previous day. I don't write at night because I am just too tired to compose another sentence. I don't write lengthy paragraphs or sentences, just short ones that give enough information. BUT most importantly, I don't write any stuff that makes me or has made me remotely angry, sad or disappointed.
Then how on earth do I come up with five points? Simple. I include good deeds such as if a student has stumped me by asking an incredible question that I had never considered before; if I tried a new flavor of black tea and I know in my gut that it's going to be my new favorite for a month, if I ran into someone I haven't seen in a while and we had the best conversation while skipping around automatic doors, hoping not to crash into others, or if I worked for more than two hours on my own writing and made important changes to my manuscript.
There are also days when I have sighed theatrically and stared at the blank page, struggling to write more than two sentences because, hell, nothing and I mean nothing nice has happened in the last 24 hours. But then I dig deep and list, perhaps the most obvious details, but ones that now that they have been committed to paper, will always be saved for posterity.
But I digress. This post is not about him. There might be one in the future if his writing continues to annoy me.
But for better or worse, "five point journal" is how I think of a mini habit I have picked up since the 1st of February. I have started journaling; an activity that I have tried and successfully given up many, many times, simply because after a few days, either I lost enthusiasm, or decided my life just wasn't clocking up enough excitement on a daily basis.
This time around, however, although I am not sure where the inspiration came from (must be a blog or a book) but the execution has been going well. I have set aside a journal...nothing too fancy because then I feel this incredible pressure to write fancy words. But this one is fairly simple and has ruled pages. And every morning, after I have turned on the coffee-maker for my two (I mean three really) cups of coffee and I can hear it gurgling and whispering like a forest stream, I sit down with my journal at my study table and list five awesome things that have happened the previous day. I don't write at night because I am just too tired to compose another sentence. I don't write lengthy paragraphs or sentences, just short ones that give enough information. BUT most importantly, I don't write any stuff that makes me or has made me remotely angry, sad or disappointed.
Then how on earth do I come up with five points? Simple. I include good deeds such as if a student has stumped me by asking an incredible question that I had never considered before; if I tried a new flavor of black tea and I know in my gut that it's going to be my new favorite for a month, if I ran into someone I haven't seen in a while and we had the best conversation while skipping around automatic doors, hoping not to crash into others, or if I worked for more than two hours on my own writing and made important changes to my manuscript.
There are also days when I have sighed theatrically and stared at the blank page, struggling to write more than two sentences because, hell, nothing and I mean nothing nice has happened in the last 24 hours. But then I dig deep and list, perhaps the most obvious details, but ones that now that they have been committed to paper, will always be saved for posterity.
Coffee first. Absolutely.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting idea!let's see if I can give it a try!
ReplyDeleteI love the title, and the idea of not including anything sad or disappointing. :-)
ReplyDeleteSD, this post made me smile. As I was reading it, I realized how much I was missing reading your posts and then immediately I was happy that I was reading one! Do keep it up :)
ReplyDeleteSD, this post made me smile. As I was reading it, I realized how much I was missing reading your posts and then immediately I was happy that I was reading one! Do keep it up :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea, yes. I think coffee drinking alone deserves its own post.
ReplyDeleteSmita, please do try and let me know how it goes.
Butterfly, now you need to restart your blog too.
MK, (at least I am assuming it is you since the comment appeared as from "Unknown") I am going to try my level best to not lose sight of this blog anymore.