Journaling, when treated as a sacred act, allows you the space needed to investigate, and then transform any part of your life that may be limiting you, or keeping you stuck.

Let's hold that sacred space together, and share some of our journaling adventures.

Today's Journaling Prompt: What is one of your favorite Fall memories?

One of my favorite fall memories goes back to when my kids were little. We spent the day at the Pumpkin Patch with some friends, had a picnic, and then got caramel apples.

I also loved how my home smelled; I get cinnamon coated pine-cones, and burn pumpkin spice or berry candles. The weather was so cool, and just so beautiful. The kids and I would cuddle on the couch, and I'd read "Spookly the Pumpkin," or we'd watch Winnie the Pooh - the Blustery Day.

For me, I have many lovely Autumn memories. There is just something about the season I love so much. There's really a very different energy, and more than any other time of year, well, it just feels magical!

Journaling Prompt for the Fall Equinox:

What is transforming within you?

What is transforming within you?

I would say that I've gone through a LOT of transformation over the last year. My mom had a botched hip surgery last October, and now she's basically disabled, and stuck in bed. This process also triggered the onset of dementia. AND, my aunt has dementia. I now manage and oversee their care.

So, I had to clean out my mom's house. This meant that I found all these notes she'd written, that went back well into the 1980s; notes complaining about her ex-husband, her parents, co-workers.

What I learned from this - what caused such a deep shift in myself was this:

We absolutely are in charge of our own destiny. When we blame others for our suffering, we give them all the power. We have to, at some point, take responsibility for our own part - our choices - if we ever want to move forward again.

It breaks my heart that my mother had so much pain in her life, and never felt a resolution to it. But she has given me a great gift - and it's one I won't squander.

Thank you, Deanna!
I also had to care for my mother before her death and she had dementia. That was in 2013, and I find myself this year still coming to terms with her absence and reviewing our relationship. This is great journal entry material.

I have tried to keep journals only to forget about them when life gets busy ... sometimes I forget about them for years at a time. I feel like it's an important exercise and one of those things that I should make the effort to maintain on a regular basis. Thank you for the journaling promots, Deanna. I'll post again later this morning.

Journal Prompt: This is a future imagining

Date your journal November 1st. Journal about something you planned on doing in the month of October, and then you actually did it, and are so happy about it!

Start off: I am so happy and thankful that......

This is truly going to inspire me to get my NaNoWriMo and Library Dedication Book in order now. Thank you, Deanna!

Oh YAY Chel!!

I'm excited (just now) because I was supposed to take my aunt to the doctor's, but she's not feeling good (that's not the part I'm excited about) but we have to reschedule - which means my day is freed up - I'm going to prep some writing stuff too, and get really clear on how I want to finish up this awesome month of OCTOBER!!! YAY!

I understand you excitement and what level it is on! I am having a really good day, and part of it is because I changed my attitude. I have pushed the negativity in the back alley for the day and I am moving ahead. I love your site and all of the posts everyone has been making lately. Very inspiring! Although you all are far away from me, I feel close.

Enough sappy stuff, I have to sweep the stairs of Black Lab Hair!

Chel, I have a black lab too - and I swept a little while ago because a big wad of it kept billowing around, and distracting me HA HA!!!

So I swept - nothing like a clear space, for clear thoughts and inspiration

For the first 6 months of this year, I was a dedicated manifestor. Every morning, I focused on opening myself to my perfect life was like.

Around the beginning of June, when it was clear that life was not going as I had told the Universe it was going, I dropped the morning ritual.

And then in September, things went from bad to worse ... I was at a point of "getting out of Universe's way" - to let happen whatever was supposed to happen (it looked like I was giving up on any hope that things would improve) - I repeated "get out of Universe's way" daily during those difficult days in September.

And then suddenly, the smoke lifted and I have now found myself living the life I was working so diligently to manifest in the beginning of the year (I think I may have posted my morning routine in one of these forums).

So, what transformed in me? The complete understanding that I do choose how my life will be, but the Universe decides how and when it will unfold. I had to set the intention and then let it go.

November 1, 2015
I am so happy and thankful that I was finally able to clear out the two rooms upstairs. I'm happy because it was a hoarder's haven and my nightmare, and I'm thankful that I found the time to focus on that one fire hazard task and saw it through to completion.

I'm also thankful that my mother was not in the house, because me disturbing her numerous piles caused her great grief and unrest - until she saw the completed project, and then she felt relief.

To think, on October 19th she was very upset with me and told me to put it all back. She needs her STUFF up there because there's no other place to put it in the 3 story house or in the extra bedroom that has been converted into her dressing room.

And now she's happy the project is done. She has said she feels like a weight has been lifted.

Hello November 1st!

I celebrate this first day of the eleventh month, as well as the memory of my mother’s birthday. I miss and love you, Mom Lena Bean.

I am so excited to have posted my first words of my novel on the NaNoWriMo site.

I am also happy and grateful that I have come to peace with myself over being a care taker again, and also keeping our home in order. I have also had time for great creative projects.

I have finished organizing the upstairs and the basement. The kitchen is no longer the cluttered monster that it was.

I am grateful for October’s great friends, old and new. And the ability to write and post an article every week last month that is helping so many teens and parents.

I am grateful for the visit from my friend, Kelly, who traveled from Virginia to spend time with us in the latter part of October. We had a wonderful time.

I end by saying I’m grateful for my life and the ability and opportunities I have to keep being creative.

Chel