Day 2: Just finished writing my first entry, where I described some of the highlights of my day and some of the things going on in my mind that are both exciting and concerning at the same time.  Also, I've decided that the best time to write in my journal is after all the kids have gone to bed and before I lay down myself.  By then, I will have calmed down and can reflect on the day I've had.  

Day 1: Found my fancy pants pen and the journal I had bought several months ago.  Read through some of the old entries.  I remembered how I stopped writing in it because my 10 year old son was taking pictures of the journal entries with his phone's camera.  We're still not sure why he was doing that, but it just kind of disturbed me and caused me to stop writing in it.  Need to figure out when I'm going to do my entries and get the first day out of the way.

Go you; one entry down and you've picked a time! I have a friend who was really touched by her late grandmother's journals and letters and actually collected them into a book for her family. It seemed like a really cool project.

this is such a great way to keep your thoughts and spirits alive! I have been writing in my journal when I wake in the morning...it give me time to reflect, but also time to put forward my thoughts and ideas for the coming day. Good luck with your entries...i look forward to following along.

 Day 3: Talked about the new huge monitor I got at work.  Seems like a mundane thing to write about, but 50 years from now, it'll probably pretty funny to those who read about it because technology will have changed so much by then.  Also talked about the board of education meeting I went to tonight and some of my views on public education.  Again, could be interesting to read 50 years from now if education has transformed by then (and that's a big IF).

Love this goal.  I tried it a while back.  Now, I do write, but more sporadically.  Enjoy it & good luck on your goal to be a Board of Ed member.  I have a friend who just got elected last year to our BOE. 

 Day 4: Talked about the challenges I'm facing in building a strong small group after our former small group grew too large and broke into three separate groups. Questioning why some people aren't coming as much anymore ... is it me?  is it them?  What can I do to get this ship turned around?  Being a small group leader at church is an important job, and I think it's good for me to reflect on it in this journal of mine.

 Day 5: Wrote about what I had on my birthday list (yes, I still have a birthday list even though I'm going on 31 years old).  Again, it seems like an odd thing to put in a journal, but I can see how it might be something neat for my grandkids to read 50 years down the road.  If I could read my grandpa's birthday list from 1960, I bet you it would be fascinating to me!

 This is a really cool goal. I find that when I sit down and actually write (the once or twice a year when I do), it's amazing how much I can write on the most mundane, pointless things. It really can give one clarity sometimes, too.

 I sometimes think about the legacy I will have left behind when I depart from this world.  And one of the things I hope I'm known for was that I was a man committed to God, one who didn't hide his faith behind closed doors but let it shine.  So I think the things I write in my journal should give evidence to that.  

Today's church service centered around letting go of events that have scarred us in the past so that we can live free ... live without regret and unforgiveness.  After the service, I had a great conversation with my wife and mother (who was down for my birthday) about the things that have scarred us and continue to affect us in many ways.  The conversation was profound in many ways, which is something I talked about in my journal.  I also talked about how I don't necessarily feel like I have been scarred in the past, but how I worry that I may be scarring my step-son by holding him to impossibly high standards.  I'm not 100% sure what causes me to do that, but still it was good to admit this shortcoming to my wife and mom and receive some feedback from them about it.  Healing, in a way.

 It sounds like your journal writing is helping you think things through clearly. It's really nice that you got a chance to discuss such important things with your wife and mother and get feedback.

Yeah, it does help me collect my thoughts.  Tonight, I talked a lot in my journal about my political views right now.  I think it will be interesting to see how they change over time and whether my views will hold water decades from now.  Will history prove me right or prove me wrong?  I guess we'll see.

This looks like it's going well for you!  I enjoy coming here to check your progress and "read your thoughts", LOL.  It really makes me want to work this in as a goal for myself sometime.

 Last night I wrote about some of things I fear but don't tell people about and some of the ways I feel stuck in my life, even though I know on the whole that I have a really good life.

 I slacked off the last two nights and didn't write anything.  Well, I shouldn't say I slacked off.  I was just really busy (plus it was the premier of American Idol and I couldn't miss that!

Great goal!  Looks like you're writing about good things - you're right, 50 years from now it will be neat to look back.  Stories that seem "day to day" now will be great memories to look back on, and for your children and grandchildren to read (if you want them to!).  Similar to you, I wish my grandmother had kept a journal that I could read now.  She lived to be 97 years old, and passed away just a few years ago.  What amazing things she must have seen and done in her life!  She was born in 1913 - things that seemed mundane to her would be fascinating to read now.

Hopefully you'll get back to writing this weekend - write about American Idol!

so great to see that you are continuing to write down your thoughts...and i am sure that when you read back, you will see how there are so many different thoughts and ideas that will come forward. keep it up!

how's the journal writing going?

Not so good.  This is not an ingrained habit in the least bit, hence my lack of posts :(

Well, as the 21 day challenge comes to a close, I have to say that I did not keep up with this enough for it to become a habit.  I could probably offer up some excuses why I didn't prevail, but they're just that ... excuses.