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Along with my morning matcha ritual, journaling has always been one of my most grounding practices. I have journaled since I was a teenager (and yes, I still have them!). Writing gives shape to my thoughts, helps me process experiences, and offers a quiet space to reflect without judgment. It slows me down, centers me, and creates a dialogue with myself that’s honest and unfiltered. It also helps me focus on what matters most to me–in the moment and as I set out on my day. And the act of putting pen to paper–the permanence, the physical gesture, even the tradition of writing–makes my practice of journaling a commitment to myself. A commitment of being. Over time, my journals have become a record not just of what I’ve done, but of who I’m becoming. They remind me that clarity often comes in the writing, not before it. My high school English teacher said, “How do I know what I think until I read what I have to say?” and that concept has never left me! In fact, I wrote it on a piece of paper and hung it above my college desk for years.

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Today, I invite you to give yourself 5-minutes. Find a notebook, or even a blank piece of paper, and answer any of the following questions. Don’t edit or censor yourself, just write what comes to you from the prompt:

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For what are you grateful today?

What do you appreciate about yourself?

Look out your window. What do you find beautiful?

What will make today great?

How can you make someone’s day today better?

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Next, I invite you to spend the rest of the week answering the questions again! Repetitive practice makes habit. And if you find the experience resonant, consider getting your own journal. I use The Five Minute Journal which I originally received as a thank you gift from a friend. I appreciate the efficiency and the elegant design. (I also love cloth bound books!) 

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