Journaling with Nature
Day One
“Life is not orderly. No matter how hard we try to make life so, right in the middle of it we die, lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce…What writing practice does is bring you back to the natural state of mind, the wilderness of your mind…The mind is raw, full of energy, alive, and hungry.” - Natalie Goldberg
What is Journaling?
In this digital age, journaling can mean many things. We’ve seen online written journals (blogs, fan fiction, comic strips, etc.), video journals (think platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch) and photographic journals. However, we’d like to encourage you strongly to create handwritten journals using paper, pens, pencils, crayons, markers - and whatever other tools you’d like - to write words on paper. The reason for this is simple:
“A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that handwriting stimulates different and more complex brain connections that are essential in encoding new information and forming memories.” - Psychology Today, February 6, 2024
When combined with other activities known to promote and enhance healthy brain function, journaling is both an enjoyable and effective way to help develop and maintain an ageless mind.
Journaling with Nature
As you know, we’ve been interviewing and sharing stories from Phil Youngblood, a retired university professor who is an active member of the Texas Master Naturalist Program. To read our two previous articles about Phil, visit:
We asked Phil to suggest some activities readers can do in nature that he feels promote overall health and wellbeing. A summary of his first suggestion, “Walk,” is below and is available as a page to print for your journal by clicking on the image.
The full text of “Walk” is below.
WALK by Phil YoungbloodGet out of the house, car or office and walk (if you’re able).
Walking does wonders for the mind, body, and spirit. You don't have to walk fast. You can even walk if you are in a mobile wheelchair or walker. Your “walk” may just be out the front or back door.
Don't just walk from point A to point B. Use the walk as an end in itself. Observe, listen, think. Make notes. Journal about your experiences - what you see, hear, or think - and about your feelings as well. Observe natural phenomena like the changing sky, the many colors, animals, birds, and insects. Listen to them and wonder what messages they are sending and why.
Watch people interacting with nature, whether it be kids in a park, a couple having a picnic, or people sitting on a bench enjoying the weather. Think about what they must be doing and what it would be like to be in their world.
Go outside at night and look up. If you are not amazed at what you see, find an opportunity to visit a dark area away from where people live and then look up. What does looking at the night sky make you feel? Think about how we interface with nature, how we might incorporate more nature into our lives, and how that might benefit all concerned.
Be honest and do not deny yourself both positive and negative thoughts or feelings.
To Share Reflections from Your Journal with Us
To have your journaling considered for inclusion on our Substack, please send your work (including images) to AgelessMindProject@gmail.com with "Journal Submission” in the subject line. Please PLEASE remember to include your name and the best way to contact you (a phone number would be great). Also, please know that by submitting, you are agreeing to some judicious editing.
If You’d Like to Create Your Own Journal - Here’s How to Do It
You can use almost anything to create your journal. Use a notebook, take photos, do sketching, type texts to yourself, anything that works. This activity is meant to be simple and fun.
If you would like copies of artwork Jena is using to create her journal, please send us an email to AgelessMindProject@gmail.com with “Artwork Please” in the Subject line and we will send you the images we’ve created.
We hope that you will not only jump feet first into creating your journal but also share your thoughts about the project with us in the comments below and/or on the Ageless Mind Project Facebook page. Happy journaling!
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Copyright 2024 by Ageless Mind Project. All Rights Reserved.
Love this idea of reconnecting with Nature. Thanks Jena for including me!