carry a camera when I travel, so I
record sights and thoughts on paper
with pen or pencil. Not only does jour-
naling help me to remember what I’ve
seen, it helps me to more fully grasp the
present – to participate in it, taking the
time to capture it in sketches and
words.
Journaling gives me a sense of
accomplishment. It’s more than just
snapping a photo of a landscape or a
bug. It allows me to interact with the
world in real time, beyond just observ-
ing it. It deepens the experience and
makes it more personal. And although
it’s probably not as pretty as a picture, it
is more authentic.
Journaling helps me to contemplate
and question what I’ve seen and done.
I often return to my journals not just for
reference, but to add more facts or
thoughts to my notes and details and
color to my sketches. Returning to
these pages takes me back to places and
times of pleasure again and again. My
journals are never retired; they remain
accessible and are well-used.
Even though you’re seeing some of
them now, my journal pages are prima-
rily for me. Journaling my experiences
helps me to discover and better under-
stand the world – and myself, too. I
hope seeing some of my random notes
and questionable sketches will inspire
curious persons to do some journaling
for themselves.
Cenizo
Second Quarter 2013
13