Organize Your Thoughts to Organize Your Things.

I've been urged by many to express my thoughts through keyboard and screen instead of pen and paper. Since the 5th grade, I’ve kept a journal which was gifted to me from a fellow classmate at my 5th grade Christmas party. To Shanell, wherever you are, THANK YOU. When first received I thought, “What am I going to do with this thing?” All of my other classmates had received little gadgets, games, dolls or stuffed animals of some sort. I was the only one who had been gifted a journal. Little did I know how much of a gift it truly was! Journaling has been the best source of reflection, meditation, and healing for me in this journey of life. I guess the universe knew what I needed before I did.

I’ve always felt that I’m better at expressing myself through pen and paper than through spoken word. There’s a hyper-clarity of thought when my hand glides across the page that does not exist for me in verbal communication. I’m more at ease with silent words displayed across a page than with words uttered which are sometimes jumbled or my train of thought lost when listening or conversing with others. You’ll often find me writing when I really want to retain information, a new idea or concept.

Or maybe it’s that at times I don’t translate my thoughts into words exactly how I think them. Some may find me strange if I should say an archaic phrase such as ‘though shall” or “come hither” in everyday conversation. This is really how I think sometimes. Or I might get a side-eye if I should emit a Spanish explicative to a non-Spanish audience. I mean, you have to agree “idiota!” sounds so much better than “idiot”. It just rolls off the tongue with the ah sound left hanging disdainfully in the air.

I don’t have to worry about these things when I write. It’s just me, my thoughts, time and space. And they’re such beautiful thoughts. Thoughts on how to navigate the clutter of life. Thoughts of “Aha, I get it now”, of lessons learned, of "Wow what a great idea!" But, what’s the purpose of having such great thoughts if not to share with others? I recently had a conversation with a filmmaker at the Afrikana Film Festival and told him that I had been writing for years and desired to start a blog but was nervous about putting myself out there. He simply replied, ‘It wouldn’t be in you for no reason.” Enough said. That sealed the deal.

I have these thoughts and I want to share them with you because, perhaps they will help you on this journey of life, to makes sense of things, to organize your thoughts and hence your life.

“Thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand.”

-Bob Proctor