One-Sentence Journals

Do you keep a daily journal? For decades I didn't. To me, "journal' meant those overwrought, weepy letters to myself, written late at night during my college years. They make me cringe to re-read years later.

But three years ago, I wanted to chronicle my life. Not with a big ol' bunch of essays; just with a little note to sum up each day. So I  bought a small, week-at-a-glance calendar. Right before bed, I wrote a line or two about my day.

I wrote about something notable that happened, or something that made me happy. Occasionally I vented over something that drove me crazy or made me angry.

It was a small thing. Satisfying. Do-able. But I didn't think much about it. I wasn't sure if I'd even keep a mini journal for 2012.

And then I read the February issue of  "Good Housekeeping" magazine:

(BTW, Jennifer: Good job on the weight loss! You look great.)

On page 99 there's an article about writing a daily, one- or two-sentence journal. The author finds it very satisfying, much less daunting than writing a long piece. And therefore much easier to keep doing:

And I realized I'd miss my itty-bitty journaling if I let it go. So I bought this adorable, coral-colored leatherbound calendar at my local, independent stationery store:

It comes with a little ribbon to mark your place and a tiny pencil:

The maker is "Letts of London," and they must be doing something right, because they've been around since 1812:

Dear Letts: I love how the pencil tucks into this little pocket, here:

I also bought a packet with two tiny Moleskine notebooks in two shades of lilac. I don't even know what I'm going to do with them, but they are undated, so they can hang around until I find a purpose for them.

And the purpose for my mini-journals? Not sure. I may mine them, years from now, for a memoir. Or I may just bequeath them to my children, so they can share them with their children and even grandchildren someday.

It might be nice, reading what made Great-Nana Juli so happy on January 11, 2012.