writing

Save a tree, write on paper

Jesse2 Comments

21st-century “common sense” holds that we should do everything on the computer because it, allegedly, saves a tree. The logic goes like this: paper is made from trees. Cutting down trees is bad. Computer screens don’t use paper. Therefore writing on a computer screen is good.

I’m sorry if I’m being offensive here, but I think that this is a pretty dumb way to look at it.

I think we are probably killing more trees than we save — or rather, depleting more resources, affecting the climate, and generating pollution — by putting everything on the internet. I think it’s high time we start considering our “digital footprint” as thoughtfully as we do our physical one. And although we are facing intense environmental challenges today and mastery of new technology will be required to address those challenges, it’s folly to think that “high tech” is always better — or cleaner. It is, after all, modern technology that causes climate change, waste, and pollution.

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A little coffee and journaling

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Between the day job and my grad studies, I’ve been cloistered in the office for most of the week. Things finally got to a breaking point today, and I dipped out for a little coffee and self-reflection.

The break was much-needed. Good Joe from the Kobuk, my Traveler’s Notebook, and a seat in Town Square Park. I even had background music courtesy of some random guy playing a random piano (?).

Up here in the frozen north, we have to take this kind of stuff while we can get it. In a couple months it’ll be covered in snow.

It’s OK to just write

Jesse1 Comment

Journal writing can be intimidating these days.

I check out Reddit’s r/Journaling from time to time, and it’s pretty intense. It seems like what constitutes “journaling” these days might, before the internet took everything-porn to a whole new level, be called sketching, scrapbooking, planning, etc. It’s enough to give the impression that you have to be a super-talented artist, have an idea for a big visual spread, and have the time to crank out an elaborate piece of creativity on the daily, or you might as well not even bother.

But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with just writing.

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Unconventional advice: Don’t schedule time for journaling

JesseLeave a comment

Have you ever googled something like, “how to start journaling” or “journal tips for beginners?” If so, you’ve probably come across one piece of advice that is suggested consistently on pretty much every single web article that has to do with keeping a journal/diary/whatever: you’re supposed to make a specific time in your schedule to write in your journal, and do it at that specific time every day.

That’s some bunk, yo.

I journal regularly. Probably excessively. But for a period of time I tried and tried and just couldn’t get into it. It wasn’t until I broke the supposedly iron-clad rule that says you’re supposed to journal at a specified, consistent part of the day that I was able to make it a regular part of my life.

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