I have always said that what I needed to write a book was time. I said that I was going to write a book when I retired. I said that I would then have time. I didn’t (have time or write a book). When the pandemic came along, I didn’t even think of using all of the time it provided to write a book. I knew, if I did, I would have had to come up with an excuse as to why I hadn’t written a book. Apparently, I’ve known for a long time that I wasn’t going to write a book anytime soon
Yesterday I opened my journal to write an entry and realized that I was near the end…of the journal; happily, not near the end of any of the many other ends that loom in my future. I try to write at least three pages at a time (a practice leftover from “The Artist’s Way” class I attended). When I turned to the last page in my current journal, I was surprised to see at the bottom of that page, the words, “I may not have written a book, but I’ve filled a book with writing.” I don’t remember writing that, but I must have been experiencing a little bit of extra-sensory perception at the time. Those words were true. I like to tell the truth, and apparently, I like to predict the truth too.
I made the first entry in this journal in early November, 2018 at a time when I was anxiously anticipating my impending retirement. The entry was a summary for a book I planned to write in retirement. I must not have developed the ability to truthfully predict the future until I actually became a retiree.
Filling this journal with writing did require a lot of writing, It’s a good-sized journal. I filled the first half during my first year of retirement. It’s taken me almost a year and a half to fill the second half. I’ve had distractions. Cinnamon is a very demanding cat. There were many crocheted afghans and stuffed animals that demanded creation. Ummm, I’m sure there were other things, too, I’m just too overwhelmed with demands on my time to remember them right now.
I don’t know if I’ll ever write a book, but I’m sure I’ll fill many more books with writing. Life is good!
It's Me: Jennie Block Taylor 
Good for you! I know several people who practice the “three pages a day” habit and really enjoy it. I love your quote: “I may not have written a book, but I’ve filled a book with writing.” Maybe one day you’ll also be able to say that you have written a book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
I am impressed that you still write “morning pages!” I broke the habit when the pandemic hit. Keep it up!
LikeLike
I have to admit, I wrote morning pages much less frequently during the pandemic. Thank you for reading my blog!
LikeLike
If the inspiration ever strikes, you could always organize your journals into an autobiography. There’s an idea!
LikeLike
I love that idea!
LikeLike
I’ve been writing in a journal since I was 10 years old. At that time it was called a diary. It had a lock on it. I wrote of my many grade school crushes and the disagreements with my parents (because I was of the new generation and they did not know how to deal with it).
I remember what happened to those diaries, I burned them. In fact, I burned a lot of diaries, because they were filled with loss of love. I now wish I had not done that, because I could have used them for a book, it would have been a book of melodrama.
Did you know Queen Elizabeth II writes in a diary nightly before she goes to bed? I wonder if the truth of Princess Diana is hidden in those pages. The truth from the perspective of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth anyway.
LikeLike
Good for you!
I complete a ten year journal every day and have for 15 years. It only allows five lines so it’s not a big demand on me! It allows me to to look back on a given day for up to nine years in the past. Kind of fun.
It looks like our lunch opportunity is getting closer! 🤞
Sent from my iPhone
LikeLiked by 1 person