DavidRM Software's The Journal Newsletter

January 2008
Volume 9, Issue 1

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to 2008!

The new year is now well underway. I spent the last week or so of December hammering out my goals for the year. And then spent the first couple weeks of January revising them. Life is like that. Sometimes you make plans. Sometimes the plans find you.

Denise Alsop-Rhoades shares how she has learned to keep a journal, and I offer a new set of writing exercises and two more tips for getting the most out of The Journal.

Thank you for choosing DavidRM Software's The Journal!

Download the latest update of The Journal from here:
http://www.davidrm.com/download/jnl4setup.exe

Check to see if you have the most recent update of The Journal by clicking on the Help menu (in The Journal) and choosing Check for Update of The Journal.

Add-on Packages Available for The Journal

MemoryGrabber - Start your autobiography or help your loved ones start theirs.
Learn more about MemoryGrabber for The Journal.

Writing Prompts 1 - Improve your writing skills!
Learn more about Writing Prompts 1.

Writing Prompts 2 - Prose Challenges by Mike Hommel - Stretch your mind and your writing skills!!
Learn more about Writing Prompts 2.

Devotional Prompts 1 - Keep a record of your reflections about God, yourself, and others!
Learn more about Devotional Prompts 1.

Extended Security - Do you need a higher level of security?
Learn more about Extended Security for The Journal.

Steve Pavlina's Templates - 20 journaling exercises to help you discover your life purpose, assess your relationships, solve your problems, and more!
Learn more about Steve Pavlina's Templates for The Journal.

To order the add-on packages for The Journal, or to order The Journal on CDROM:
1. Click on the Help menu in The Journal.
2. Choose "Upgrade The Journal".

TIPS & TRICKS

TIP: How to Make an Entry on Any Date, Past, Present or Future

The Journal makes it easy to make entries for the current date, of course, and even for the current month (since you can just click on the calendar to bring up an entry for that day).

But did you know you can make an entry on ANY date? Here's how:

1. Click on the "Go" menu and choose "Go to Date" (hot-key: Ctrl+F5)

2. Type in the date you want, and click on OK (or press ENTER).

If that date has an entry, you'll see it. If not, then a new blank entry will be made available.

There is no limit to how far back you can go, nor how far forward. Any date is valid.

TIP: Search The Journal Web Page, Newsletters and User Discussion List

There is now a way to quickly and easily search through The Journal's entire Web page, including all issues of The Journal Newsletter, and The Journal's User Discussion emailing list.

Use this link:
http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/tjsearch.php

If a tip has ever been in a newsletter or a question discussed in the emailing list, you'll be able to find it.

WRITING EXERCISES

Free Writing Prompt - Write for 20 minutes using the following as your starter: "Hello Coffee..."

Journaling Prompt - Are your favorite drinks your favorite because you enjoy drinking them? Or is there something more sinister at work? When was the last time you tried a new type or flavor of drink?

Memoir Prompt - What did you drink as a child? Tea? Coffee? Milk? Juice? Kool-aid? How did your drinking habits change as you grew up? Do certain drinks remind you of specific times in your life? What are the most exotic beverages you've sampled?

HOW I USE THE JOURNAL

Editor's Note: The Journal is used by people from all over the world, from many nations, representing a variety of personal, professional, and religious backgrounds. Journaling is by definition an intensely personal undertaking, so it should not be surprising that when someone writes about how or why they keep a journal that they will end up sharing personal information. The Journal Newsletter does not support any particular personal or religious lifestyle, but rather attempts to support anyone who keeps a journal, for whatever reason they do so. Thus, the views and opinions expressed in "How I Use The Journal" are solely those of the submitter and not necessarily the views of DavidRM Software. Whether you agree with the submitter's views or not, I encourage you to read the article and glean from it the information and techniques that "ring true" for you.

How I Use The Journal
by Denise Alsop-Rhoades

I just wanted to start out by saying that I never did any journaling or diary keeping until my recent class through Ashford University. I guess I really never thought of it as being therapeutic or relaxing but I was definitely wrong. By learning different ways and being creative and open, I was able to express my inner thoughts and feelings in a positive and therapeutic manner. I also was able to get my daughter to start journaling and with her it helped in aiding her in a recent break-up and getting through her finals. It is nice to be able to talk to someone but at times it is not always convenient so this was a way to express and analyze the situations.

Some helpful tips to journaling was to be open with your feelings as if you were talking to your best friend. Always and I mean always, put one or two positive things that have happened throughout the day or something that your looking forward to. I believe that alleviates the negativity in journaling and when looking back through your able to smile and not just see sadness.

In closing, journaling is a way to soothe feelings and capture excitement and open windows and doors to a lifetime of creativity.

Submissions for "How I Use The Journal" should be sent to: davidrm@davidrm.com Indicate that this is for "How I Use The Journal" in the subject of the email. Try to limit your submissions to 500-1000 words. Submissions may be edited for length and content. If you prefer to remain anonymous, please state this. Otherwise your name (but not your email) will be used in the article heading.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

If you would like to contribute to the "How I Use The Journal", "Writing Exercises", or "Tips & Tricks" sections, or would like to submit an article about journaling or another The Journal-related topic, we would love to hear from you.

Submissions for the newsletter should be sent to: davidrm@davidrm.com

If you are submitting for a particulare section, please indicate which one. Try to limit your submissions to 500-1000 words. Submissions may be edited for length and content.

If you prefer to remain anonymous, please state this in the email. Otherwise your name (but not your email) will be used in the article heading.

As always, if you have any suggestions for, or bug reports about, The Journal, please feel free to email them. Both are always welcome.

Editor: David Michael (davidrm@davidrm.com)
Copyright © 2008 by David Michael.