Kathy
  • Now when I journal, I find myself using mixed media when I create; I am more creative and more artistic.



I also found journaling gives me a connection between my chemo treatment and the caregivers.
 


During my chemo treatment, I’ll ask the nurse for a word of the day, and I’ll reflect on healing.  When I do this, I know which nurse it was, for example, Bella gave me hope, Vic gave me peace, this provides me with a sense of purpose and connection.
 


  • I also found that journaling helps me lower anxiety and provides a safe place to cope with challenging health concerns.
  • Journaling has also helped me to accept some realities in my life.
Daniel

  • I began my journaling journey after a decade of laying down my pencils and sketchbooks.
  • With a pencil in my hand and a blank page before me, I began to work, my brain and hand fought in tandem, after an hour of struggling, I made my first drawing in ten years.   
  • It was crude, nonetheless, it was a drawing. 
  • Having made this drawing, it was interesting that I suddenly had the desire to start drawing once again.

 


  • I slowly began to purchase pencils, pens & inks, a fresh sketchbook from a dollar store, an old drawing book from 1940s. 
  • When I began my first drawing tutorial, I rediscovered an outlet for my brain.  
  • From mind to hand and paper, this combination allowed me to express endless possibilities.  
  • This expression resulted in me making small drawings, cutting them out and taping them into my new sketchbook, thus creating a flipbook of my progress.


 


  • From that day forward, I took my sketchbook and made it something that I would want to fill out every single page, add pages from other drawings, and add snippets of text from art books. 
  • I wanted to create a journal where every page held something special, a journal I would want to show off, something I would be proud to keep on a shelf at home. 
  • I am truly amazed by my progress, from a crude drawing done in the middle of the night, to drawings that have become my personal treasures.