They say journaling is therapeutic. It’s why many creatives do “morning pages”— three pages of freeform writing you craft first thing in the morning when you write whatever is on your mind with no agenda. These pages are not supposed to be useful for anything other than emptying out the detritus of the day before in order to free yourself from what needs to come next.
Personally, I have never been a morning pages kind of person. I always want to turn it into a new project. That was a beautiful sentence! Could that be the beginning of a book? But I see the benefit. There is something wonderful about clearing out yesterday and starting fresh.
But for my son Charlie, journaling has never been on the agenda. As a nonverbal kid who uses a speaking device, communication takes effort. It is less freedom and more work for him to take the time to type out what he is feeling or thinking, much less rehash the day before. Have you ever sat down to read a book that everybody is talking about only to immediately feel like it’s homework? You slog through it, but it’s not fun. That’s what journaling would be for Charlie.
However, the advantages of morning pages or any kind of journaling are real. Journaling helps boost memory. It lets you identify your goals and your dreams for the future. It clarifies what you value. It allows you to work through your emotions in a productive way. It can make you grateful as you look back on what you have accomplished or what you have experienced.
Because of all this and simply because I am always looking for ways that are fun to allow Charlie to express himself, we’ve developed a workaround. It’s called a junk journal.
What is a junk journal? Think of it like your junk drawer – you toss stuff in and then are continually surprised when digging through it later. Oh, there’s my favorite hair clip! That’s the menu from that restaurant on eight we went to after the concert. They had the best dumplings! It’s basically a very low-key scrapbook. You don’t need funky scissors and fancy pages and ribbons from Hobby Lobby. You just need a notebook, some glue, and a little creativity. Then you need to start looking at the world around you.
As he rolls out in his wheelchair in the early morning light to go to school, Charlie will point out a new magnolia blossom. We pluck a petal. After school he will empty his pockets of gummy bear wrappers his friend gave him during band. His grandfather stops by with a belated birthday present. We tuck away the bright green ribbon. Later that night, we sort through the items. Magnolia petals, candy wrappers, ribbon – they all go in the junk journal. Just like that, we have a record of this late spring day and he can look back and remember the scents, people, and emotions he felt.
It may not be as strict a practice as morning pages and our rules might be a bit wobbly, but it serves its purpose. He is Charlie. He takes up space in the world. He did and felt these things. Let the record show.
Jamie Sumner is a special needs mom and author.
Jamie-Sumner.com
Author of the middle-grade novels:
