Kindred Notes #01

Written in my journal, which at the moment is a dark blue Moleskine notebook, that I have on me at all times.

I have started journaling to get in touch with my soul and my body again, and I hope I’ll never stop. I started at the beginning of July and I am now on page 121 of my notebook. It’s full of highs, lows, ideas, truths, growth, hopes, understanding, affirmations, dreams, and so on.

I remember having just turned 13, having written three pages in a little notebook, and someone in my family asked if they could read it. They were just curious, but it was then that a paralysing fear came over me. What if someone knew my desires and fears? What if they mocked me for it? What if I just didn’t want someone to know some things about myself? What if they used my secrets against me? And it was then I stopped writing in my little notebook.

I am glad the fear has dissipated. In a way, I see it as an act of rebellion to write down my feelings, because of my past fear. An act of defiance. It has grown to mean so much to me, to my day, to my state of mind. Sometimes, I write three lines, sometimes I write page and a half.

Recently, I read on

Brand Seasons®

#01 Notelets on Nurture, where Sarah writes about the small things that bring comfort, and I realised that one of the things that brings me most comfort at the moment is my notebook. It goes where ever I go, it feels like a trusted friend, a pillar to my being, an important ritual. As I dwelled on this, I found that I wanted to share short passages from it.

— And so, a new series is born:

I will share five notes found in my journal, that I find valuable. They are notes that bring me peace of mind. Notes that are learnings which I mustn’t forget. Notes that lead to more notes, to growth. Notes of comfort, of self-nurture, of tenderness. Notes that I am happy I wrote.

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Without further ado, here are the first five kindred notes I want to share with you:

1.

The narrative made around an event makes it a situation. I have to remember to turn ‘a lot of things always happen to me’, into ‘a lot of things have happened to me this year, and I am learning so much from it’.

2.

Today, be tender with yourself, observe your surroundings, and listen to your own inner voice. — a morning note

3.

We are all flowers. We grow, we bloom, we wither, and we start again.

4.

My feelings are all over the place. I don’t know if I am noticing them more, or if I am giving them more space to matifest.

5.

My emotions can’t be dependent on other peoples reactions or critical responses. I can’t stop people acting or reacting. I can only choose not to let it in. I’m good as I am.