On Moods and Journals

Yesterday, I woke up with a feeling of anger, hatred, irritation and general bad mood. I think I know why. I have a relative in hospital and, when that happens, we feel so powerless to do anything. We want to help, but all we can do is visit and take in the usual little treats hospital patients get.

Anyway, I got up early and wrote it all down in my journal. I wrote about my anger. I wrote about my hatred. I wrote about my irritation. I wrote about my bad mood. I spent two and a half pages on it, telling my journal how I felt. I told my journal about the tightness in my chest. I told about the tension in my muscles.

By the time I finished page three, I could feel my chest easing. I could feel the tension releasing from my muscles. I could feel a sense of peace and calm setting in. I could face the day.

I won't say I was in a good mood all day. But I didn't upset anyone too much!

My point is that it works. A year ago, before I started keeping a journal seriously, I would have stayed in bed most of the day; or I would have got up and had a good go at just about everyone who got in my way. Instead, I was calm. I was in control.

And that's why I keep a journal.