Greetings,
From the time I was little girl, I have tried to keep a diary or journal. I would buy a new one each year, start writing in it, then lose interest by around mid-February. Phenomenally, when I was about twenty years old, I got a journal, wrote in it and actually kept it up for a few years. Not a few years in the same journal, mind you, because that would be a really big book. But eventually, I stopped. Not because I had nothing to say, but because I realized that writing about my life in this typical way was not MY way. I would struggle to write about the events of the day in a journal, but then I could easily write ten poems about the same things. So those poems and the lyrics to my songs, they have become like my journal. Forgive the personal exposition, but I thought I should share.
When it comes to journaling these days for me, I am currently doing something I've never done. I'm keeping what could be called an art journal, where I can exercise some of my skills as a visual artist as well as my writing. And what inspired me to do this? Well, it was a little movie called 1000 Journals.
I discovered this movie a while back and was very intrigued by it. I was actually downright flabbergasted that I had not heard of it before then, but I'm so glad I did find it. The film centers around Someguy. Yep, he calls himself Someguy. And I am certainly not judging anyone who chooses to not use their real name. Anyway, he had begun contemplating a simple, but important question - Where did our creativity go? So, in 2000, he had the idea to send 1000 blank journals out into the world and dubbed it The 1000 Journals Project. Yes, where DID our creativity go? Anyway, he stamped each one with an explanation of the project and a website where they could get info about giving and receiving journals. So, some people got them in the mail, some got them from strangers or friends, and some even just found them in one of the random places that Someguy left them. People got these books, and their creativity exploded, just as the creator of this project had hoped for. To be honest, the only negative thing I could say about this idea is that I was not the one who came up with it. I wish I had, because it is brilliant.
The film is basically full of interviews with people from around the world discussing the project and the effect that it has had on their lives. I know that, on the surface, that may not seem like anything entertaining. Still, once you hear the stories that people have to tell, and there are some really good ones here, your curiosity is aroused and you want to hear more. And, as far as the actual journals themselves go, we get a lot of exposure to their contents. We hear people reading from them, see the visual work that has been done and watch as they are worked on by people who want to add more. As an artist, I was thrilled to see people's eyes light up when they were allowed, finally, to be truly creative, knowing that what they had done would be shared with so many others. I was actually pleasantly surprised that so many people were eager to be a part of something like this. I suppose it proves that everyone has creativity hidden away somewhere and all they need is an outlet and someone to give them permission to use it.
Now there is still a 1000 Journals website where you can see entries that have been scanned in, and, initially, it was where you could go to sign up to receive a journal, but I don't think you can get one there anymore. However, since there was such a buzz, Someguy launched the 1001 Journals website, and I believe you can still get yourself into the mix there. I've actually considered getting one, and I just might do it one day. In addition to that and this movie, there is also a book that contains a lot of the entries from the 1000 Journals if you're interested in seeing more.
This is a movie that I would definitely recommend to any artist or anyone who just loves art in general. You truly are able to see what can happen when whatever people may have inside is unlocked. And, since I have always considered all real artists to be family members to one another, I loved to see the sense of community that this project ignited. Believe it or not, I am actually hoping for a sequel.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
