March Journal Prompts

I’m starting a new monthly feature to give you ideas for writing or creating visual journal entries.  Many of my blog readers create lovely handmade books and then struggle to fill them. This post is intended to give you some jumping off points and encourage the flow of thoughts and ideas.

Flower Memories

March 12 is National Plant a Flower Day and March 21 is the first day of Spring. While it’s too early to be out planting in New England, I have many memories of flowers that I could write about, such as:

~ The cream roses and ivy that were in my wedding bouquet
~ The sweet williams that my grandfather used to grow in his allotment (community garden plot)
~ The yellow tulips sitting on my dining room table that a friend gave me last week

What flower memories do you have that you could write about? If writing isn’t your thing – how about making a flower collage.

Women of Influence

March 8 is International Women’s Day and a great journal entry might be to write about an important woman in your life. Of course, for many it’s going to be their mother or grandmother, but think outside the box to others in your life:

~a teacher who encouraged you
~ a nurse who took care of you
~ an elderly neighbor whose stories you love to hear
~ a librarian who encouraged your love of reading

And you don’t have to record all good memories (especially when we’re talking about our families) – you might find writing out the tough stuff is incredibly freeing. And why not include a photo or two?

A Contented Heart

One of the greatest treasures in the world is a contented heart.

I read this sentence by the late Irish poet, John O’Dononhue, in his book Beauty, The Invisible Embrace this month. It lead to a long journal entry about what a contented heart might feel like and how I might reach that lofty place. What does a contented heart look or feel like to you? If you don’t want to write a journal entry about this, you could create a mini vision board on a journal page.

12 Truths About Life

Anne Lamott gave a wonderful Ted Talk a couple of years ago called 12 Truths I Learned from Life and Writing. I watched it for the first time recently, and it was funny and very poignant. My favorite truth was number four, in which she reminds us to “try not to compare your insides to other people’s outsides” and that “radical self care is quantum”. Which of her truths resonated most with you?

Stone Cottage

For a final creative prompt, how about writing or creating a visual journal entry that uses this photo of an isolated stone cottage as inspiration. What would you do if you escaped there alone for a week? Perhaps it reminds you of a home your ancestors might have lived. Alternatively, it might evoke thoughts and feelings about the nature of home. Whatever it inspires, fill a journal page with your ideas.

If you feel moved to share what you created or thoughts that have been evoked, please leave a note in the comments below.