darren r hill

the creative minimalist

Tag: journaling

  • Hope in myself

    hope - believe in myself art journal page

    This week I have had the word ‘hope’ above my desk. It is my creative prompt for the week. The creativity has been a bit scarce, so I’m not certain if it has helped.

    However, I did open the journal and write and doodle and think around ‘hope’. It was, as always, an interesting time, exploring an idea and concept in the journal. The ability to step back and think about things is the reason I journal. And the blank page is the ideal place to just explore and see where an idea or thought will take me.

    hope - believe in myself art journal page

    Today I ended up realising that my biggest hope at the moment should be to believe in myself. I should believe in my abilities and skills and creativity. To believe in myself is to actually be myself, my true self; to believe and be.

    Sometimes this feels so close. All I need to do is climb over a little ledge before me. At other times it feels like I need to cross a chasm. And it is a chasm that feels too wide. In fact, so wide I can’t really tell if there is another side, it is obscured in the darkness or by the mist.

    hope - believe in myself art journal page

    But I hope. I hope that I will believe in myself. That I will be. And I hope that you can be the person you need to be. Explore what you hope for in your journal, you never know how close your hopes might be to being realised. Take care my friends x.

    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

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  • My November Journal and Planner set-up

    My November journal and planner set-up - images of my journals

    My November Journal and Planner set-up. A walk through my planners, journals and other creative bits and pieces. My current set-up this November is a mashup of Bullet Journals, daily journals and junk journals. Oh, and I am also using Things on the computer to keep track of digital projects. It seems my journey to journal simplicity is taking a circuitous route. Please join me on my creative adventure by subscribing to my YouTube channel or blog, and please let me know what you think and how you plan and journal in the comments. Stay safe and well x

  • Seeking myself

    I seem to be struggling with a few things at the moment.

    • So much I want to say, yet can’t.
    • So much I want to do, yet can’t.

    And all the reasons I can’t are out of my hands, out of my control. And I am finding it far too easy to focus on those negatives. And when I focus on the negatives I don’t say or do what I can. I wallow. I lose myself. It’s a downward spiral I have to avoid.

    Thankfully there is art, there is journaling and there are my soundscapes and lyrics. I just have to find myself amongst the detritus of current circumstances. My future will be different.

    The path is ahead of me is all I have ever wanted and desired. As the sun rises and crosses the heavens, so I follow my path.

  • The postmark – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

    I recognised the sender’s postmark. But why contact me now, and in this old, traditional way? Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    I recognised the sender’s postmark. But why contact me now, and in this old, traditional way?

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    This Friday Fiction Writing Prompt is all about the reveal. The narrator has received a letter. The postmark means they know or have a pretty good idea, who it is from. There is history between the narrator and the sender, but the reader obviously doesn’t know what this is.

    The writing prompt is about revealing that history. It could be anything, from a dark, frightening event that darkened their past to something more mysterious through to happier times that were somehow lost. The choice, as always is yours.

    The challenge, how you reveal that information, is also yours. Does it pour out immediately, or little by little as you read what has been written? The prompt uses a letter. This mode of communication slows things down, it is more deliberate than a text message or email. And, there might just be a prompt using digital communication on its way another day.

    As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create. Write and enjoy the creative learning process.

    Original envelope image by 2211438 from Pixabay

    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

    If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

    Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

  • How I create my weekly planner layout

    This week’s vlog shows how I create my weekly bullet journal layout. I use stickers, scraps of paper and plenty of glue stick. I show how I go from a blank page to a weekly layout for my current bullet journal set-up. And I chat as I go along. Please subscribe if you like the video and find it helpful and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Happy planning.

  • Bullet journal and planner set-up October

    Here is my current bullet journal, junk journal and planner set-up for October 2020. A little explanation of how I am using a wall calendar, a monthly weekly Bullet journal, a daily capture bullet journal and the latest additions to my junk journal. I also mention how I am using OmniFocus as my project to-do list. If you like the video please subscribe (on YouTube) and I’d love to hear what you’re doing for October and any comments on how I could improve my system. Happy planning my friends x