Journalled on Sunday, 20 August 2023 | Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro: 22 degrees, cool, grey and stormy.

It is Sunday, so it is a lazy day. Yasmin and Nalva are out in Nova Iguaçu until at least the end of the day, so I am free to do whatever I want.

So, as usual, I got up early, walked, and exercised. The session was tough because I tried new exercises I hadn’t done before, but it was good.

I then go to the Portuguese bakery to write in my journal. I have at least two, but no more than three coffees. I cannot remember if I mentioned before that I often write in my journal at the bakery. I usually sit at the same table in front of the main counter.

The girls know me, so they automatically bring me a large black coffee without me having to say anything. I take my notebook out of my pump bag and begin to write, and write, and write.

I began writing in December of last year, specifically on the 27th. I had never done it before. As a child, I was encouraged to keep a diary at school, but, being ignorant, I never thought it was interesting or worthwhile.

Now that I am older and have less time left, I have discovered the true value and power of journaling every day. I am on my third notebook since I began in December, and I am loving it. Since I started writing, my life has been changing for the better in so many ways.

Writing in a journal brings the external you closer to your internal you.

You become more understanding of yourself, the people, and the situations around you. I have also noticed that when we put our things, thoughts, feelings, and experiences on paper, it helps us in so many ways.

The power of putting what we feel and think down through our bodies, to our hands, and eventually onto paper, really helps us and moves our lives in so many ways. This is probably one of the best forms of therapy that I can think of, and it is cheap. You only need a notebook and a pen. The only other treatment as good as this is having a dog.

When we write about positive things, it helps us appreciate and better understand them.

It also allows us to focus on our goals and objectives and find solutions to problems. I have found that by writing, I have been able to resolve complex issues, or the universe has seemed to conspire to provide a solution.

Writing has helped me find my path and continue without fear, trusting in my future, fate, and capacity. Even in moments of doubt, I can do what is necessary for my future and myself. Writing about positive things helps us improve ourselves and approach issues more constructively.

And what about negative things?

I have noticed that when I write about negative things, things from my childhood, living alone in England, problems with my family in the past, it does not matter what I write; putting these things down on paper helps me come to terms with them. It is as if I am vomiting, putting out all my bad experiences and traumas, when I write them down in my journal.

When you physically throw up, vomit, etc., you usually feel better after. It is the same with journaling regularly. When you put your problems on paper, you feel lighter and less heavy or bad than before. A load has been taken off your shoulders.

Now you can move on more quickly and easily. Your posture is better; you feel taller because you are not carrying the heavy burden that was tying you down.

You no longer have this load on your back. In some ways, it is a feeling of redemption, a feeling of receiving parts or parts of your life that were either lost or hidden under a pile of bad memories, bad feelings, shame, frustration, and low self-esteem.

All this is just from writing about yourself every day. It is pretty impressive and free. That is the point. It is free, and it helps a lot. If you write good things, it helps you get closer to them and achieve them.

Writing about bad things frees you from them hurting or haunting you, or from trying to put you down and slow you down in your journey. Whether you are writing about good or bad, positive or negative things, journaling helps you get the best out of yourself and life.

I love it and am thankful for doing it for the last six months. The only thing I regret is not doing it before, but that is due to my own stupidity and ignorance.

After a relaxing shower and a change into fresh clothes, I took Perola for a walk in the park, and we both loved it. Later, I had to go to the supermarket to do some shopping. When I returned home, I opened a bottle of wine and relaxed, doing things at my own pace.

As I wrote yesterday, it is so good to have time alone to do things the way you want, when you want. It is even better if you are lucky enough to have somebody special who understands and knows when you need your alone time.

Nalva and Yasmin arrived home at about 6 p.m after having a great time in Nova Iguaçu, so everything was good.