It’s Not Always About You…yes, it is!
There sometimes seems to be a notion floating out there that, if you do things for yourself, then you have some kind of ego problem. That’s simply not true; nor is it a healthy approach to this wonderful and magical short time we have here with family and friends and exploring an exciting world.
A wonderful and busy view of the Fish Market in downtown Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
If there were anything I could encourage you to do, it would be to put yourself first in more things in your life - not in a self-centred way or with that uncomfortable cocky attitude that we sometimes see in others and find ourselves embarrassed for them. Rather, simply look more thoughtfully at the time we have here and move yourself up the food chain in terms of making time for the things you enjoy and for the things you do that will leave a clear sense of the wonderful and creative person you are.
One of the most simple and straightforward ways of doing this, is to keep a Travel Journal - or, if you already keep a Journal, I’d like to introduce a couple of the very easy ways you can add a wonderful and exciting new dimension to your writing.
Sketching
Now, some of you may be thinking, ‘I’d love to do this, but I can’t draw.’ On the other hand, what if I could show you a few simple sketching exercises that would change your whole thinking? Would you at least give it a shot? I know you have a brave and creative side to your character, so give it a try.
Follow the few and simple steps here to draw a ‘banner’ in your Journal.
I’ll add a couple of links to short (3 minute) YouTube videos I’ve done to help you out and give you a bit of guidance. I’m not asking you to do complex landscape scenes or detailed portraits. Instead, this series is one that will add some fun visual elements to your lines of writing.
https://youtu.be/xZNkJokigis This is for a ‘banner’ you might use in your Journal.
https://youtu.be/366TtqfPFN8 This is for a ‘feather’ you might find along the route of your travels.
https://youtu.be/366TtqfPFN8 This is for ‘balloons’ - an easy and fun sketch to put into your Travel Journals.
New Writing Prompts
Under this heading, I’d like to encourage you to step a little ways beyond your comfort zone ‘list of prompts’ and focus on just one set of cues to get you going (to start, at least). Those cues simply pay more attention to your 5 senses.
The places you visit in your travels are more than distinct landscapes. They are also Smellscapes and Soundscapes and Tastescapes. Let me give you just one example to spark your imagination.
Here is the tasty Needlefish appetizer that we had cooked for us after our day of fishing in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
With just a little creative thinking, I know that you’d quickly agree that a seaside town smells very different that a mountain/alpine village. Similarly, I know you’d also agree that their restaurant menus are very different - there’s your Tastescape coming into play.
The challenge here, then, is for you to simply keep your 5 sense in mind when you’re travelling and making those entries into your Travel Journal. When you do make those entries, perhaps add a note or two about how those heightened sense made you ‘feel’. Did the new foods you were trying give you a sense of comfort or were you weary? Were the bustling sounds of that local farmer’s market exciting and fun?
These kinds of Journal entries show so much about your keen observational skills. They also say a lot about your thoughtful sense of perception. When you can also add even a few small vignette sketches, you’ll find your Travel Journal comes to life in so many new and exciting ways.
All sorts of quick doodle-type sketches will get you loosened up to do more sketches and little watercolour vignettes in your Travel Journal.
You know that you have a creative side, I’m sure. I am equally sure that you’d be so pleased with yourself to be able to add even more examples of that creativity into your journals. I really am here to encourage you to try these new things with sketching and your 5 senses. When you look back over your journals in years to come, you will be so surprised and so proud of yourself.
Finally, remember that keeping a Travel Journal isn’t supposed to be a job….so relax and I think you’ll quickly find that you get better and better with every single Travel Journal you keep.
To help with the challenge of ‘what to include’ in your Travel Journal, I’ve attached a link to a PDF that I’ve put together to help you build that framework and get you going. Years from now, you’ll never regret having kept a Travel Journal, and your descriptions will be so much richer if you pay attention to your 5 senses.
Email me to let me know how I can help you get going on setting up your very own Travel Journal. Tell me what your biggest barriers are, and I’ll help you overcome them.
Go ahead and click this link to download you framework on Travel Journal ‘content’!
https://www.newtraveljournal.com/50-best-Travel-Journal-Prompts
Brought to you by: www.newtraveljournal.com
