Do you use your phone?
One of the simple joys in life for me is writing my appointments in a hardcovered book with a beautiful pen or colored pencils. I know a lot of people use their phones to keep track of their schedules. I could… And I did try it for a while. It just wasn’t for me. I missed the lovely tactile feeling of putting a pen to paper and having space to write down notes and ideas.
Ten years ago, I bought my first red, hardcover, Moleskine diary/planner, and I’ve ordered a new one every year since then. All my books from past years are stacked on a shelf in my office, guarded by two of my antique Staffordshire spaniels. I’ve put a gold label with the year on the spine of each one, so I can easily identify the year of each book.
My annual ritual of sorts...
It is always a special day when my new book arrives. I even have a kind of ritual that I follow when I first get it. I truly get a tingly feeling as I start dreaming about all the wonderful things that could happen to make the next year special.
I rush into my office with it, and I begin by peeling off the plastic wrapping. This year they started embossing the year on the front cover, so I admired that for a bit. Then I start the careful process of opening the book without breaking the spine. It’s kind of like warming up before exercising. It’s a process I do with all my books. It doesn’t take long, but it is important if you want your books to last.
Anyway… Once I’ve finished “warming it up,” it’s ready for the last part of my ritual. I write my name in the front and copy all the important dates in it. You know, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special dates. There were more dates to add this year because we have some new family members.
The beginning and the end...
After all the important dates are written in, I write something for the upcoming year… maybe a word, or quote, or even a dream… on the inside front cover. It’s kind of like putting an intention out there for the new year. This is something I started just this year, and it’s something I’m going to continue.
Then at the end of the year, I write something special about the year on inside back cover. So, every book starts and finishes with something special.
What I find so beautiful about these books and that I love so much is I can pull any year off my shelf and flip through the pages, and I’m reminded of all the things that happened that year… the happy, the sad, and the mundane… I think it’s important to pay tribute to all those things. It’s all part of life.
When I started using these red Moleskine books, I had no idea how important they would come to be for me. Originally, I just thought they were beautiful books, but they came to mean so much more.
Why it's so special to me...
For me, my hardcover weekly diary elevates even the most mundane schedule, and each book is more than just a calendar. It truly does become a record of my life and way to look back and reflect.
So, that’s why I don’t use my phone.
I’m ready for the New Year! What about you? Are you ready for 2023?