365-Day Journal Your Story Project: Day 5: Page 1 of Your Journal (Part 1)

IMAGINE A BLANK BOOK

I hope you bear with me if you are a digital journalkeeper. I will talk about opening your journal and turning to the first page. Use your imagination here. I love the imagery of opening a paper journal or a blank book and flipping through the empty pages and having the realization my life will be put onto those pages. Wow. There is something magical and sacred there. It is quite special. After all, a journal is my life reflected on the pages of what was once a blank book.

You just can't see that with a digital book. But, you can sure imagine it. Hence, I will make allusions of having a paper journal as we go along over the next 361 days.

YOU HAVE YOUR JOURNAL

At this point in time, you have bought your journal, pens, paper, paint, and anything else you need in order to journal. 

You also have a plan of if you want to write, type, email, or paint (just a few examples).

Regardless of the type of journaling, they all begin with the first page. It is a blank page.

So, now what?

PAGE 1 OF YOUR JOURNAL

Do not let the blank pages intimidate you. I realize this is easier said than done, but hang in there. I will help you to start each journal off to the best start you are able. 

Every time you start a new journal, do everything listed here today and in Day 6. Why? The way you start off your journal...and the first blank page...is what sets the mood and tone of the rest of the journal. Consequently, it is important to begin your journal well.

So, what are the components of a good page 1? I will list them below and then will go through each of them one by one and explain them to you.

ELEMENTS OF PAGE 1 OF YOUR JOURNAL

1 Name of journal (title)

2 Your Name (if it is not in the title)

3 Start Date

4 End Date and a blank line

5 Address and Phone

6 Inspirational Quote

7 Goal of journal

8 Quarterly Goal

9 Yearly Goal

10 Life Goal/Mission Statement

GO TO PAGE 3 TO FILL OUT PAGE 1 OF JOURNAL YOUR STORY

As you can see, this might be a couple of pages in actuality. Consequently, if you are doing a paper journal, leave the first couple of pages blank. We are going to start on page three of this journal in order to fill out page 1 of this journal. We need to do some exercises before you will be ready to fill out page 1 and 2.

~*~ Go to page 3 your your journal.

~*~ TO DO

Every time you see this symbol, ~*~, it marks something for you to do. 

DATE, DAY, AND TIME

~*~ Other than on pages 1 and 2, every time you start a new journal entry, or at the top of every page, make sure to write at the very least the date, the day, and the time. I also put where I am writing. But, that is optional. You might find it cumbersome at first, but in time, you will appreciate it. Trust me. 

PAGE 3: EXERCISE 1: NAME YOUR JOURNAL

It is time for you to come up with a name for your journal. 

~*~ Jot down some ideas of names/titles for your journal.

Here are some examples. I will put my name in them as an example:

1 The Journal of Stacy Duplease

2 The Chronicles of Stacy Duplease

3 The Story of Stacy Duplease

4 The Life and Times of Stacy Duplease

5 My Story

6 My Life

7 Use the date. For instance: January 2012.

8 If you are Christian, here is an idea: His-Story, My Story

9 Use a word you want to focus on: Love. Peace. Joy. Patience. Serenity. Etc.

TO DO ON PAGE 1

~*~ Pick a name. You can change it in your next journal if you want. 

~*~ Write the name at the top of page 1 of your journal. 

~*~ Write your name if it is not in the title on the second line of page 1.

~*~ Write today as the Start Date on the next line of page 1.

~*~ Write: END DATE on the next line of page 1 and leave a blank for the end date.

~*~ Write your address and phone on the next line of page 1. You might want to put your email address as well.

NEXT PAGE: WHY JOURNAL?

~*~ At the end of the ideas of titles you wrote for page one, and at the next blank space, write all the reasons why you are journaling. We will look at more reasons on Day 7 of this book.

NEXT PAGE: INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

~*~ At the end of the reasons why you journal you wrote for page one, and at the next blank space, write several inspirational quotes. Look them up if necessary.

~*~ Pick the inspirational quote which speaks most to you in this moment. Star it or underline it. 

~*~ Write the inspirational quote on Page 1 on the next blank line. 

That is enough for today. We will finish with Page 1 tomorrow. 

Stacy Duplease

Prayer Warrior, Fantasy Author, and Journalkeeper
of Remembering Your Present, LLCdba USAGC 2026 * Kingdom of Lethana

Email: usagc2026@gmail.com or lethanastories@gmail.com
Blog for USAGC 2026: http://usagc2026.blogspot.comBlog for Lethana: http://kingdomoflethana.blogspot.com
Blog for Journaling: http://journalingchronicle.blogspot.com
Blog for Writing: http://writingchronicle.blogspot.com
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction