Self-Discovery 

"The urge to write can come from anywhere-the desire to have a serious conversation with yourself, the need to sort out what seems like an overwhelming number of tasks, the urge to capture the past or pin down a current insight, the impulse to record an event or perceptions of an event, or simply the desire to create a record of life's journey." ~Rita D. Jacobs

There are two books in one beautiful keepsake box. The color of the box is reminiscent of burgundy leather and there are beautiful gold, pink, yellow and blue flowers on the top, sides and around the title on the front. These are high-quality books with beautiful long-lasting bindings, wonderful smooth warm covers and crisp pages. The type of books you dream about. The journal also has a gold thread bookmark to add a touch of elegance.

You will receive:

1. A Journal – a beautiful hardcover book with lined pages. Each page has a scroll design at the top. This book is for people with very small handwriting.

2. "The Way In: Journal Writing for Self-Discovery" by Rita D. Jacobs

This is a high-quality journal set. When I first found this item, I thought it was just two blank journal books. What a wonderful surprise to find there was an actual book by Rita D. Jacobs.

"The Way In" is divided into three sections:

PART ONE: The Journal-writing Tradition

If you love reading journals, there are a few treats in this book. You can ready an entry from Ralph Waldo Emerson's journal dated April 12-15, 1836. There are lists of prolific diarists like Anais Nin. Rita also shows how F. Scott Fitzgerald collected random observations in a series of notebooks and these were organized alphabetically. So, she explains how your diary/journal can be as unique as you want it to be.

I loved the ideas of creating journals for fictional characters: "as a way of letting the reader understand more fully the motivations and internal landscapes of the characters." There is also the famous quote from Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest, where she talks about her diary being a sensational read.

This is one of the prettiest journals I've found so far: 

Kutch Embroidery Journal

PART TWO: Keeping Your Own Journal

This section is especially for your own writing experience. I was especially interested in the difference between a journal and a memoir. The author shows how you have to create a "creature of remarkable depth" to capture an audiences attention. She also explains how writing on a computer is another option, but I think it is sometimes more fun to write in a real book. If you do have a lot to say, the computer might be a better option. I can say, I've never written a poem on a computer, so I have to agree with the author when she says that we can reach our uncensored depths by using free-flowing journal writing. Writing on real paper can also be rather therapeutic. You might want to keep a dream journal or a scrapbook journal. I like the idea of a scrapbook journal because often people say things to you that you want to remember and you can make up a journal of "others" thoughts.

PART THREE: Writing to Find the Way In

Freewriting is rather fun and the author shows how this is the most effective way to get in touch with your deepest self. This type of writing can suddenly appear and you have to scramble for a piece of paper. The author gives suggestions about how you can make this type of writing more of a focus.

The section on making lists for accomplishing tasks was all too familiar.

There is a section on page 106 which struck me as rather profound. It is a list of 52 topics on which you can reflect. Imagine writing about "the people you miss and why," "things I'll never do again" or "dreams that I have." There is also a list of memories. Imagine creating an entire book filled with your childhood memories or memories of love or memories of scents and cooking.

Rita Jacobs covers a variety of topics including: Journals as Fiction, the Journal in times of Crisis, Journal or Diary, The Difference between a Journal and a Memoir, Beginning the Process, Kinds of Journals, Freewriting, Waking Dreams, Gossiping with Your Journal, Making Lists, Encounters With the Self, Elaborating Memories, Changing Your Point of View, Using Drawings in Journals, Encounters with the Creative Imagination and Mining Your Journals for Memoir Material.

This book will interest anyone who has ever wanted to start a journal or anyone who wants to add an added dose of creativity to their writing. If you love collecting quotes, there are quite a few collectables!

Rita D. Jacobs, Ph.D., is a college professor and journalist. She conducts workshops and classes on journal writing and has a beautiful writing style. She has written an essential book for anyone interested in starting a journal. There is also a handy index so you can find specific topics. This is especially helpful after you start writing your journal.

European Travel Journal

Travel Journal with Inspirational Travel Quotes, November 2, 2004

We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. ~Marcel Proust

If you are looking for a compact travel journal that has a beautiful plastic cover and can fit easily into your backpack or purse, then this might be for you. The quotes in this slim journal caught my attention because I had read very few of them or was actually trying to find out the author for numerous quotes.

There are over 100 journal pages, tips on beginning and maintaining a journal, inspirational quotes, recommended travel guides and websites, tourist office locations, blank address pages, conversion and clothing size charts, money and currency exchange information, U.S. embassies and consulates, packing tips and checklists, record keeping lists, journal contents page, natural remedies, Cybercafe locations, European holidays and even information on how to make an easy return to the U.S.

Each journal page had a line for Date and Place and the
lines are delicate so you don't have to keep within the lines.

When I last traveled to Europe, I didn't think of having a journal with me. Why? I was just so excited about the trip itself, I didn't think of writing about the experience while I was traveling. Now I wish I'd had this journal with me so I could remember more of my trip in detail.

I'd also recommend this book to quote collectors because of the unique journal and travel quotes and short biographies of American and European authors, artists and thinkers.

~The Rebecca Review