One of my favorite happiness suggestions from Gretchen Rubin is the One Sentence Journal.
I started keeping one more than a year ago... but then I remodeled and my journal was accidentally packed away. When I started moving back in, I was so happy to find it again.
Looking back over my journal, what's fascinating to me is how a very brief journal entry (I'm not very good at keeping it to one sentence-- but they're still very, very brief) truly captures the essence of what was going on at that time.
And while I would never go back and read through an in-depth journal (because that would be flat-out exhausting, as well as time-consuming), it's easy to flip through the One Sentence Journal, and within moments take myself back to a given day or month.
Here are some selections from last January to show you what I mean:
Jan. 2, 2010: Went to my second yoga class of the year/decade/century.
Jan. 3, 2010: Have my fourth cold in three months. Arg.
Jan. 5, 2010: Jury duty-- got released early, came home, called architects, and ORDERED SPERM!!
Jan. 11, 2010: Enormous, tragic earthquake in Haiti. Heartbreaking.
Jan. 14, 2010: Finished shooting Lie To Me episode 214. Great acting in this one. Glad to be done.
Jan. 16, 2010: Brunch with Tracy, and got an apricot tree from Echo Park Improvement Association.
Jan. 23, 2010: Dinner at Liz's-- Jack's growing! Gretchen's in town on her book tour. She seems happy!
Jan. 30, 2010: Super lazy day. Lots of reading in bed!
A mere eight-day sampling covers world events, what was happening in my life (my first sperm purchase!), and what was going on in my career.
And that makes me happy.
Even with an entry like the one on March 16, 2011: Definitely not pregnant. Again.
Oh, well. Someday I'll look back at those words, and be glad things turned out as they did.
At least, I hope I will.
Ah, sorry to hear the news. It was a long shot, but I was so hoping that this would be the one. I'm sending strengthening thoughts for the next cycle.
Posted by: Jen | 03/17/2011 at 10:58 PM
Sucks. Sucks. Sucks. Onward.
Posted by: @elizabethcraft | 03/17/2011 at 11:02 PM
i don't even know how to word this without it sounding crazy to your friends in real life but speaking as an imaginary friend: i was so relieved to see from your diary entries that you've only been trying a year. i was late boarding this blog and i assumed you were well into the process, like a couple of years. sounds stupid on this day of disappointment to use the word relief...i know it does but you got lotsa light left at the end of that tunnel. you're just getting warmed up. i hate that you're away from your house/doggies/coffeepot & bed comforts when you get that kind of news-that even sucks suck but we here in the little village you've created will do what we can. in person i would be acting bartender and keep your glass more than half full. years ago, i sat in my dressing area, alone, holding a clearblue easy stick and watched, in disbelief as the lines get darker and darker. i confess to re-reading the instructions again and the lines got darker. i didn't call anyone and i didn't move. i sat there in the quiet, staring at that stick and knew every disappointment along the way was damn well worth it. and it was just us. our secret. that's what my journal entry said about that day...a day i can recall just as clear now as it was then. a sterling moment. i was half past 41. your moment will come-i see lotsa light ahead.
Posted by: jerie b | 03/18/2011 at 12:19 AM
Sorry to hear that you are "not pregnant. again." I'm not a very religious person, but I do believe that God has a plan for us. It just sucks when his plan does not coincide with our own! On to IVF with stronger sperm :)
Posted by: Beth | 03/18/2011 at 04:05 AM
I like the idea of a one sentence journal. It seems like something I might be able to keep up with! Sorry about your BFN, again. I'm expecting the phone call this afternoon confirming the same fate for me, again.
Posted by: BB - Single Mom 2B | 03/18/2011 at 06:28 AM
I'm sorry. :( Gah.
Posted by: Heather | 03/18/2011 at 12:46 PM
jerie b's post gives me a lot of hope for your future baby. you are a star!
Posted by: megs283 | 03/18/2011 at 01:54 PM
Ugh. Those dratted slow swimmers. Sorry to hear that. But I agree that IVF with strong sperm will be such a likelihood-booster. And thanks for the one sentence journal inspiration.
Posted by: The Gladdest Thing Under the Sun | 03/18/2011 at 07:58 PM
So sorry.
Posted by: genkicat | 03/18/2011 at 09:59 PM
:-( never mind. next time.
Posted by: bibi | 03/19/2011 at 02:46 AM