Can You Describe Your Day, A Special Moment, Your Life in…
Good Morning America does a three word campaign every so often that I absolutely love! (They’re sort of like shortened versions of Hallmark card advertisements–but with no less tears!) It’s always so amazing to me how the use of just three words to describe a particular day, time period, or highlight in someone’s life can have such a powerful impact. The insights and emotions behind the three words other people use can’t help but inspire you to think of some you’d choose to define your own life! At the very least, I’ve learned that abbreviating the perspective on some of these critical times in our lives can give the outcome a more positive emphasis, I’ve needed that lately…
Have you ever had those times where all the aspects of your life seem to collide and generate real concern on all fronts? During the previous few months, that’s where I’ve been–ugh! Then I saw one of these “three word” segments on a recent weekend version of Good Morning America, and it gave me an idea–and the kick in the pants, so to speak, that I needed at the time!
Trying “Just Three Words” Approach To Journaling!
A few years ago for my oldest daughter’s birthday, we got together and tried out a new bread recipe. Her new little baby cooed and slept in her infant seat by us as we made fresh loaves of bread and gooey cinnamon rolls! It was simply one of those prized mother/daughter days that are so rare when your children grow up and have busy lives of their own! A few days later, I had another neat mom “payday”, when Malia gave me a wonderful note she’d written, accompanied by this Curly Girl notebook journal.
Obviously, I was touched by Malia’s thoughtfulness and started to use the booklet to record some favorite quotes I’d come across.
Along with my usual notes written on my calendar, I decided I would also try and tackle my new-found desire to take inventory of my frenzied state of mind, by using this cute journal and take the “just three words” approach as I recorded my thoughts each day. My hope was that by doing so I might reign in my worries a bit, and know better which ones were of valid concern and which ones I needed to just let go!
Here’s a sampling of a few things I recorded:
May 15, 2013: “Helping Malia move!” It was hard to see Malia and her cute family pack-up and leave their darling home that held so many memories for all of us! The good news though, is she is moving closer to my husband and I, but they are temporarily displaced while they build their new home.
May 22, 2013: “Jake’s going to Oklahoma!” Okay, so I used four words here–this was the day of the tornados in Oklahoma! My son, Jake will be doing his year of extended dental studies in Lawton, Oklahoma–it is located down more by the Texas border, but still considered part of “tornado alley”! There are some things you just can’t do too much about, so I had to focus on the fact that “Jake got accepted” to the study program that he wanted so badly and worked hard to get!
June 27, 2013: “Mom died 8 yrs. ago!” Again, an extra word or two, that’s why I abbreviated! You just never get over not having those times, when as a daughter, you just want to pick up the phone or go see your mom and have a good “heart to heart” visit! I also wrote “Married 4 years!” Lucky for me, my youngest daughter, Mandi, and her neat husband, Cole, were married on this day four years ago. It was an amazing, picture-perfect day of happiness and celebration–just the kind my mother would have wanted for such a special occasion!
I can honestly say that this little journal experiment has proven to be very valuable in helping me settle my brain vibes onto a much smoother course. It’s been a good way to balance the best parts of keeping a “gratitude journal” with doses of reality–which is how I think journals should be written.
This “One Good Deed” journal, by Chronicle books, is another neat little journal I picked up recently at our local farmer’s market/craft fair. I have always tried to figure in doing something nice for others in my daily life, but the suggestions given in this booklet help you “consciously appreciate yourself” better, and remind you to not be afraid to share with others “small actions that will have great impact!” 
Here are a few of the suggestions given in this journal:
“Be genuinely happy for someone!”
“Tell your colleague he/she is brilliant!” Since I’ve recently experienced some big changes to the “care paradigm” (who thinks up these phrases?) at the hospital where I work, this one hit me as particularly significant!
“Leave a favorite book on a bus!”
What I’m learning now is…
Life will always have it’s fair share of challenges, I need to be better at discerning which ones are worth losing some sleep over. What I’m learning now is to let go of some of the worries and concerns that I can’t really do anything about! 
Please share the three words that you’d use to describe an event or special experience in your life lately; or perhaps you’ve been the giver/recipient of an unexpected good deed recently–I’d love to hear about any of them. If you’re so kind as to comment, you might find yourself a lucky recipient of one of these fun, small journals!
–Mary