Journaling is My Best Friend

Sharing Stories

March 3, 2024 at 11:34 a.m.

Journaling is a healthy habit.

Journaling is my best friend forever!
It was introduced to me by Sr. Bea Koerper, a Franciscan nun who befriended me.

I met her when I was going through hell in my life and was somehow lost. I didn’t want others to know the pains and sorrows I was going through but to show them I was strong and brave.

However, deep inside, my problems were eating me slowly to death until this beautiful nun talked about journaling in one of her Bible classes I attended.

So, I tried journaling the first night, but nothing came out. Sr. Bea told me to just doodle or draw what was bothering me. This time, I did well, my first notebook was filled with drawings of all kinds—some scary, pretty, or even weird. But they made me feel better.

Next, I slowly used words. Each time I poured my heart into it with tears rolling down my cheeks, I felt better. That notebook was filled fast with so many different issues.

As I did journaling, I felt I was being transformed into a strong, confident, brave, and a happy person.

Journaling has been my best friend ever since it helped me save my life from self-destructions. I shared this technique with my students with the purpose of improving their writing skills.

It worked! My students were happier and became better writers. I’m still journaling and feeling happy. Thanks to my BFF!

Loreta L. Antonio is a Washington writer who has worked with Ariele for several years. Photo of Loreta "smelling the roses."

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for, and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).
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