into the journal: florencia ornelas
09
This feature series examines how and why people journal, because no two practices are identical. Appreciating the journal as a sacred inner world for uninhibited wandering and wondering.
If you have a journaling practice that you’d like to share about here, email me at evapberezovsky(at)gmail(dot)com.
florencia ornelas
I am Florencia Ornelas, and I was born in a border town in northern Mexico. Almost four years ago, I immigrated to the Canadian Pacific Northwest, where I now live with my partner. I work in brand marketing and write apartamento 710, a newsletter about creativity and living intentionally. When I am not writing, you can find me thrifting, drawing, or walking around Vancouver.
origins
It all started when I learned that my mom kept a diary. I was fascinated by this idea of having a secret notebook, and felt like a new world had opened up to me. I have kept a journal since then. I was maybe six or seven years old.
language
I use the terms “journal” and “notebook” a lot, and often interchangeably.
routine
On weekdays, I tend to write a bit more in the mornings before my day starts and gets a bit hectic. If I don’t have time, I will make some space in the evening to dump all my thoughts before going to sleep. That usually helps me rest better.
On the weekends, I usually search for time here and there to record my thoughts in my notebooks. If I go a couple of days without journaling, my brain resents it.
purpose
Writing down my thoughts on a page was the first tool that helped me regulate my emotions, having grown up in a house where verbal communication was not encouraged or appreciated. Documenting my existence through my journal has helped me gain a better understanding of myself and the people around me.
As an adult, journaling became the preferred medium to download all my dreams and ideas. Things that are now a reality for me, like moving to a different country or building my newsletter from the ground up, were only ideas I wrote in a journal many years ago. My journaling practice is not only necessary for me, but also sacred.
evolution
For a very long time, I only wrote in my journal when I was feeling emotional. Either very sad or super happy. Now that I am in my late 20s, my journaling practice is something that is at the core of my identity and part of my daily routine. Journaling keeps me sane, and I couldn’t imagine my life without it.
rereading
I look back at past journal entries all the time. I believe there is so much wisdom that we can tap into when we look at our journal history. I find it very comforting to look back and see how much I have grown as a person. It’s one of the best parts of documenting your life and keeping a physical archive of your existence.
current journals
Except for the occasional journaling on my Notes app, I am a pen and paper woman. I have eight journals at the moment and I swear all of them truly have a purpose. Let’s dive in.
Daily journal: This is where I do my morning pages, affirmations, and develop on prompts when I pull cards from a deck. This is the one I have been using for years.
Apartamento 710 notebook: For weekly to-dos, ideas, project planning, calendaring, etc.
Kitchen journal: For recipes that my mom shares with me, or ingredients I want to try.
Dream journal: I have vivid dreams nightly and can remember most of them, so when I have one that I think is worth remembering forever, I write it down.
Sketchbook: This is a medium-sized sketch blank page journal that I carry with me for the in-between moments of life, like when I am waiting for someone or commuting to work. It prevents me from reaching for my phone as often. I also enjoy drawing strangers, so this is also where I do my quick sketches on the go.
Pocket-size journal: This is a mini notebook that I always keep in my bag in case I have an idea and don’t want it to slip away from me. Good ideas often come to me after a good workout or after a conversation with a friend, so I always like having a place to anchor them and go back to them.
Miscellaneous: This is where I write poetry, random lists, lyrics that I like, quotes from books or movies, and my library field notes.
Junk journal: One of the practices that brings me the most joy since I can mix my passion for journaling, drawing, collaging, sketching, etc.
I definitely don’t reach for all these notebooks in a single day or week, but documenting my life this way gives me a sense of comfort and unmatched happiness.
utensil of choice
Perhaps I am more inclined towards using gel pens, but I don’t really have a preferred utensil to write with. I think it’s because I am always losing my pens, so I don’t get attached to them. For me, journaling is also more about the visceral act of letting everything out of me as quickly as possible and pouring it into a page, than about the instrument.
a recent entry
The last thing I journaled about was the bodily sensation I was feeling after a swimming session at my local pool. I am juggling a lot of things in life this year, but I promised myself that I would put my physical and mental health first and avoid burnout. It’s not perfect, but I am doing my best.
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If you want to learn more about some of my journaling techniques, read this piece I wrote on journaling as a tool to self-expansion.
@evaberezovsky
evaberezovsky.com
evapberezovsky(at)gmail(dot)com
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Thanks for having me Eva! Love this series : )
Love this!