When it’s a journal. An article in the NT yesterday reminds readers to write a daily journal in order to reduce stress and improve memory, referring to Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way, first published 1992; 25th Anniversary Edition, 2016), one of whose recommendations is to write 3 pages of a journal, longhand, every morning. Done that. And yes, it helps. I must have a first edition - haven’t checked. I was still living in my winterized cottage in Muskoka when I read it and took it seriously. Cameron offers a 12-step program, not unrelated to AA but not the same, she maintains. I believe her.

My son and his roommate are getting shovelled out this morning by a team from Molly Maid and I have to go and protect them - the maids, not the young men. I’ll be back. Wait for me.

Or not.

I’m back now but I don’t know how long I’ll last. I worked at my book this afternoon after I returned home and I’m— never mind. You know. I wanted to tell you a little more about Julia Cameron. In addition to the daily journalling she recommends. She proposed a different project each week. I actually faced the most difficult and memorable one twice, at least twelve months apart.

NO READING FOR A WEEK!

That meant no books, no newspapers or magazines, no letters or files, no books - i.e. no stories, so no TV (no movies up there, anyway).

NADA

It was a revelation. I live by words. I have a Gutenberg complex . It’s a serious addiction. Well - how did I manage? What did I do? I look back now and wonder. I did my mending, caught up about three years’ worth. This turned out to be an an incentive to do it a second time. I also cleaned out all my drawers and cupboards, especially the kitchen. That was good. I had to resort to other activities in the evening: I listened to a lot of LPs (in those days before CDs). That was interesting as I figured out what to LOOK at while I listened.

I had an odd feeling when I finished the week. I felt as if I had been ill with the flu and recovering normal life very slowly. I don’t think I could have survivied or completed or even begun this deprivation if I had been living in the city. The silence of the country and its different rhythms enabled me to experience the deprivation withoutt going stir-crazy.