Shelter is my guiding word for this year. It is a non-striving word. A shelter offers refuge, provides safety, and embraces calm and quiet.
Notebooks provide shelter for my mind and memory. I have a plethora of the darlings as one can never have too many notebooks. In January, I set up my new Leuchtturm 1917 notebook with dotted pages as my calendar and a record of daily activities. I prefer to draw my own weekly calendar on one page and on the following pages I keep a log of my day-to-day activities. I also use it as a tracker of my habits and routines: meditation, walking, reading, art practice. I find it comforting to know that my days are not just passing by in a blur even though some days may seem like that.
With the start of a new month, I create a monthly calendar to record birthdays, holidays, and other recurring events. I design an art collage page as well; one that connects to the season or special holiday for that month.
Instead of taking up brain space trying to remember and keep track of everything in my mind, I get reminders, appointments, and ideas out of my head and into the safety of the pages of a notebook. But, I do not overfill my days, weeks, or months. I prefer to have space–or shelter–between activities and adventures.
For this year, I have already chosen a few out of the ordinary experiences on a monthly basis and have started recording ahead those treats for myself. For example, in February I’m going to California to visit an old friend and to meet new ones I made virtually through a meditation meeting on Zoom.
In March, I have planned to wake up on my birthday in a castle! Details to follow on that royal adventure.
Other uses for my notebooks include: log of books read (with notes) and books I want to read; shows watched on Netflix; art project ideas; a record of correspondence with friends; travel journal; daily journal; shopping and home maintenance needs; meaningful quotes; gratitudes; and….well, the list goes on and on.
Notebooks come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and costs. I have a drawer full ranging from an exquisite handmade leather one purchased in Pienza, Italy all the way to a 99-cent utilitarian composition notebook purchased at Staples.
All provide a safe place to record and plan and make sure I don’t miss an appointment or forget to pay a bill. A shelter to embrace the spectacular, splendid, and simple things life has to offer.
Happy New Notebook Year!
By Lucy M. Pritchett
P.S. Check out more ways to find shelter here.
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