journaling journeys: how to: journaling with lists

There's something very lovely about a list, no matter what kind of list it is. Lists of names, of favorite places, of songs, of groceries, of books, or even lists of things like foods you currently love, different ways to get lost, how springtime makes your heart sing, ways in which winter speaks.

Looking back over my old journals, I find that the truest entries of mine and the most interesting to me are comprised of lists, either completely or partially. Lists can be so original, too; more than simply favorite names, foods, bands, and places. Make lists about things that no one would think about. Or things that people do think about but never write about.

Lists are also a really great way to remind yourself of all the blessings you have. I know that for myself, it's really easy for me to get caught up in my own preoccupations and worries, and while doing so, forget the many things God has blessed me with. And once you start listing the good things in your life, it's hard to stop!

I have a list of lists that I keep in the back of my current journal to reference when I'm feeling "listy". It has over 100 things to make a list about (including but not limited to "Places Where You can Find the Moon," "Human Features I Love," "Things I Would Like to Make a Movie About," "Things I Have Broken," "Places to Gather Thoughts," etc.) If you're interested, I'd be more than happy to share my list of lists with you. Just e-mail me.

There's also something very simple about lists. They don't need any extra descriptions or frills like an entry in prose does. For example, after my dad was in a motorcycle accident, I found it very difficult to write about. Where would I even start, and how could I properly tell the story? When I began to write about it, the details of that night came out in rapid succession as they were in list form.