- Image by camknows via Flickr
Dear Keepsakes Journal….KJ,
Hi hi hi.
How are you?
I wanted to let you know I’m really appreciating this commitment to creating and sharing the 31 Keepsakes….
Posting one each day is really enabling me to practically offer suggestions for folks to hold their hearts and feel loved this whole month long…And it’s so helping me focus my thoughts on the value of this moment and this season.
KJ, I created you because I think it’s important to record the process of what’s really going in thought or “behind the scenes” if you will as I engage in creating each keepsake post. Whether I’m at my desk or going about my day, there’s a bazillion ways the “inner Scrooge” tries to stall and stop this Keepsake process (much like the inner Scrooge tries to steal our joy and calm any day of the year).
I wanna reacord how my inner Scrooge is trying to interrupt my moments and wreak havoc almost as another way to show how I’m applying the keepsakes right now. 🙂
And KJ? I’m also really aware that I want to somehow hear more from the folks using the keepsakes, what’s working and not working for them..I wanna hear about their victories and their “inner Scrooges” so maybe you can help me think through what makes most sense and maybe some of the readers will start using the comment section to offer more insight to their process of using the keepsakes.
Hope so! 😉
So KJ!
Guess what Scrooge did today?
Laughed at me.
A lot.
Scrooge thinks this project is totally dumb and a waste of time.
Look at what Scrooge accused me of yesterday:
“Tre? You’re up to Keepsakes schmeeksakes nonsense again and it’s all ridiculously wrong.
I couldn’t convince you to just not do it. So now? Lemme show you why it’s all a mess.
Today? you really screwed up.
You used a noun steada another adjective.
The first 2 keepsakes are adjectives, Tre.
You needed to continue with that ebb and flow.
This inserting a noun as the 3rd keepsake? Nuts. It’s gonna throw people off and you’re gonna lose their focus.
Not that you ever had it anyway. Remember, no one’s reading this.
You blew it.
So that’s one way.
But there’s more.
You had a few typos in the first two.
And now? This 4th one you’re concocting?
Lame.
Shoulda used it at the get go.
Shoulda started with it.
Loser.
Honest please.
Stop this project.
It’s embarrassing you.
It’s embarrassing me.
It’s just dumb.
Remember.
It’s December.
Nobuddy is in a good mood. I rule this month. I own people’s thoughts and I win. I put everybody in a bad mood. It’s my whole goal. How’s it working with you?”
KJ? Scrooge tends to blab on and on and on…..
So guess what I did KJ?
I was at first a bit caught off guard. At first I started to listen to the inner Scrooge.
Afterall, I did start off with 2 adjectives as keepsakes and I usually like keeping my grammar aligned. I did teach english at middle school level for 8 years.
but guess what?
I practiced BEING COMFORT Keepsake #3.
I really did.
I got in there and comforted my heart and reminded my sweet self this is a project…a draft and if it does become a collection well there will be opportunities to edit.
And guess what else?
I thought about how awesome it would be during the project to receive real feedback from readers…who tell me what makes sense and what doesn’t.
Like my friend on twitter who nudged me to think about keeping them shorter.
Or my other friend on twitter who keeps telling me how much she’s appreciating reading these at night during her quiet time.
Or another friend on facebook who just adores this concept.
KJ? I’m not so opposed to the negative feedback.
But I am opposed to my internal scrooge. He won’t bully me into nixxing this idea. It’s too important, even if it’s still in a really raw state. It’s my gift to everyone and especially to me. 🙂
And guess what else KJ?
Mom emailed.
And guess what? She likes the project.
She really does.
She really does.
That warmed my heart.
Truly. Thanks momma.
Okay so off to create the next keepsake.
Kisses and huggies til tomorrow KJ
Oh, and KJ? Thanks for listening.
Love, Tre
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Disclosure: I named my first diary was “Mabel” when I was 8. Mabel was my safe space to record my thoughts and assess my day, what went right and what were the gimmicks and tactics of my then “inner Scrooge.” Mabel helped me a lot. I tend to use my 8 yr old voice when I journal, even still. 🙂
I’m trusting you won’t mind…Maybe you’ll use a diary as a way to record how you’re applying the keepsakes we’ve shared so far: Be Gentle, Be Grounded, Be Comfort. 🙂
Thanks for listening….
