If you ever were to have a brand, what would you call yours? I call mine Simple Daily Joy.

When the global pandemic of 2020 accelerated the growth of the new digital economy, I decided to embrace the new possibilities that it offered.

I found myself asking: if I were to share a message out there, what would it be?

Research tells me that I could analyze trends and use that data to produce things that others would buy. It doesn’t take rocket science. Case in point: trending item last year? Masks. In other words, I could easily call my brand Masks Galore.

A message, however, is something more. It tells the world:

This is who I am. This is what I stand for.

Like every skill I have acquired in life, becoming clear about my message is a skill that requires work.
In this case, self-work.

A journal is always a good tool to unpack the thoughts that take up the mental space in your head. Whether it is to clarify one’s purpose, declutter unpleasant feelings and thoughts, share things unfiltered, a journal is the perfect platform for ruthless honesty.

Call me old-fashioned but I believe the best thing you can offer a hurting, confused and crazy world is love and more love. So I take my rants, my upsets and my hurt and pour them out into my journals.

“Way to go. You can do it, Angela!” they would cheer.

Two veteran soldiers, an ex-military couple, would eventually turn out to be my greatest cheerleaders as I learned how to ride a bike. I was afraid of falling and getting myself hurt and so somehow along life’s way, I told myself I was too clumsy or heavy to ride a bicycle.

The WHY has to be important.

In one particular year during my professional development, the Director of Instruction said: You need to know your WHY.

My WHY then was:

I wanted to enjoy biking with my preschool boys. Plus have some personal time on my own.

So on many a Friday evening, you would see me practicing on my Walmart bike, going uphill and downhill in my neighborhood. I do not recall the names of my neighbors but I do remember how they would put their lawn chairs out, relax with their cold beer and watch me practice (and huff) those warm summer evenings. I definitely provided them a few good laughs and amusement.

OH WELL.

So at 36, I finally conquered my fear of biking and learned how to bike.

OH, what fun! Boy, what wonderful fun!

The places I went around my neighborhood!

Like all skills, every new thing you try takes time and practice for it to bear fruit.

So perhaps a journal is that safe space for you to record your new projects or undertakings. What I love about these journals is that they are what is known as dotted spiral notebooks. Not only can you write on them but you can also draw and illustrate things you can’t put words to.

For inspiration and ideas, check out the hashtags on Instagram:

#bujo, #bujoinspiration, #bujojournals, #bujoideas, #bujoinspire

I need to lose some weight myself. After all, I am just in my thirties.

And so confessed my ex-military neighbor. Yes, the very same one who cheered me on in biking. Maybe it was my sorry sight and profuse sweat. But she got in the game of exercise herself.

In this busy world today, a journal is a great way to keep track of new habits, write down your to-do lists or as a record of your goals, dreams and prayers.

There is something about putting things down on paper that refreshes the mind.