Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Forty

Hey Journal Gang, 

Were you able to dive into your toolkit and channel some creativity last week? We had so much fun letting all of our washi and supplies guide our journaling experiences. It’s always so interesting to see what comes together when you let the materials inspire you! There are so many cool and unique tapes, stickers, stamps and writing instruments out there. Endless inspiration. Did you find a theme coming through on your page? 

Themes..if there was a ‘theme’ for your Summer this year, what would it look like? Ours would be different than a typical Summer, but there have still been some bright moments and progress along the way. That said, we can’t help but let our minds wander towards what lies ahead in the traditional comforts of the Fall season. Here in Colorado, there have been wildfires, temps in the 90s, and we desperately in need some rain. This makes the crisp chill of Fall more alluring than ever. There are still unknowns and hesitations about the end of this year..with the pandemic, schools back in session and the election looming. Lots of uncertainty to be found. Still, the days will cool, the Fall harvests and flavors will start appearing as our hemisphere winds down and shifts towards winter. Perhaps we can find moments of comfort and normalcy along the way. We remain hopeful.

What are you looking forward to about Fall? What are you concerned about? What are your favorite aspects of the season? Do you have an annual Autumn activity you always look forward to? What is your food of the season? 

When the heat is hot…find some comfort in your sweater weather daydreams.

Happy Journaling!
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirty-One

Hey Journal Gang,

Happy Monday to you all - it’s journal prompt day! Making Mondays a little better since November 2019. It’s a bit surreal that this is our 31st week since the inception of journal club. It feels about half as long! Time flies when...life gets..weird? Is that a saying? Because it totally seems accurate. :)

Hopefully you had a chance to do some journaling last week and ponder how you would like to see things to change for the better. It can seem like a long list! Over the past few weeks we’ve seen people come together and the wheels starting in motion towards enacting some of those changes. We’re staying hopeful and always trying to look for opportunities to make our little personal corner of the world more aligned with some of the changes we wish to see. Every effort counts!

Things we’d like to see..speaking of that, let’s, for fun, take a peek into our daydreams. Vacations are on hold, but that doesn’t stop us from planning and making lists of all the places we’d like to explore! Working in the garden during quarantine had/has us seeing all of the possibilities (and effort) that goes into a dream garden. All of the shifting of life lately has a way of making you take step back and perhaps wonder what your true goals are, what they look like and even how to reach them. The first step in reaching a destination is deciding where you would like to end up, no? 

Describe your dream ________

Job

What is your role? What does it entail? What do you love about it? Do you have your own company or work for a cool one that aligns with your values?

Lifestyle

Are you into the homesteader life or do you see yourself in the bright lights of the big city? What aspects of your desired lifestyle are you drawn to and why? Do you want a big family? Or maybe the nomadic explorer life is more your vibe. Write about where you see yourself on the daily in an ideal future!

Garden

What does it look like? What plants are there? Are you growing food, or maybe prized roses? What climate is it in? How do you incorporate enjoying your garden into your life?

Home

Tiny house life? On the road in a custom RV? Modern Farmhouse? Loft apartment in NYC? Small single family home with a garden and land? Historic Victorian fixer-upper? Cool Mid Century Mod house surrounded by trees? Where is it located? Envision your dream house!

Travel Destination

A faraway remote tropical island? Nepal? Alaska? Southern Italy? Australia? Japan? If you could go anywhere in the world, logistics aside, where would you go and why? What would you do while you’re there? 

Literally any other ideal dream thing that resonates for you

Journal all about it! You can choose one of the above examples, all of them, or come up with a whole new category.

Maybe you’re already living the dream in some of these categories, which is awesome. Heck yes! Maybe you feel you have a ways to go - that is totally relatable and ok too! Very much so. No matter where you are, take a little time to indulge in some of your ultimate goals and just have fun with it. Dream it do it babes.

Hope you all have a great week!

Happy Journaling♥
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirty

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, 
but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
~Maya Angelou

Hey Journal Gang,
Another week, another prompt and 7 more days of journaling await us; 7 more chances to explore the benefits of keeping a journal. We hope last week’s prompt helped you channel your experiences after navigating through each day. Sometimes just summarizing things in a few strong words speaks volumes. The past few weeks have held so many emotions. As a country we’re experiencing so many things: Sadness, fear, anger, uncertainty, solidarity and even traces of hope as our collective voices ring louder and more persistent than ever, across the political and social landscape. It can all be a lot to process; time and time again we find refuge and healing through creative outlets, like journaling. We hope the same is true for you.

Have you found that your journal process has changed over time? If so, that’s normal! We’d be interested to know how your journey has shifted. Change - the only constant in life. Change as a concept has been on our minds a lot lately. As a country, and individuals, we have collectively come together to demand racial justice and sweeping changes to the systems in place. Even international communities are gathering to show support in our struggle. Covid continues to linger, as question marks '?' hover abound. Within our own lives, we seek to make personal changes, or ask for the strength to accept changes that we have already had happen.

Some change is transparent and clearly defined; easy to understand and interpret in a context we can relate to. Other changes are more abstract, complex or difficult to define. Change in motion tends to fall under this hazy category. This type is more difficult to deal with. Does the caterpillar know what will become of it, while it’s in the chrysalis? 

That is 2020 in a nutshell so far. We can plan all the plans, and expect all the expectations..but sometimes we just have to ride that wave (or those waves!) that comes towards us, as best we can. By the time this year is over, we’ll all be professional surfers. ;)

So think to yourself…what changes do you want to see in this world? In our country? In your town? In your own daily life? You can focus on all of these, or choose certain areas that are the top of your values and priorities right now. Try writing steam of consciousness (whatever comes to your mind with no editing), or if lists are more your style, give bullet journaling format a go. You can later break these things down into small actions steps by asking yourself, “How can I, today, be a part of the solution to this problem, or contribute to this change? What action can I take?” Even the seemingly smallest actions can ultimately create huge momentum.

Self-reflection is healing and can change the world when the insight from that reflection merges with action. Use the power of journaling to collect your thoughts, and empower you to contribute to the changes you seek.

Stay Strong, Stay Safe and Happy Journaling,
xoxo,
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Nine

Hey there Journal Gang, how are you all doing this Monday? Were you able to brainstorm up some creative Summer activities to look forward to? We’d love to hear some of your favorite ideas in the comments♥

At times, like recently, it seems as if each day, the weight of the world is a bit heavier than the day before. There is so much going on - things are changing at lightning speed. People demanding action, tides shifting, and situations constantly evolving. Uncertainty. It can all be so very much to process. We want to approach this week from the perspective of mindfulness and taking some time to decipher the events of the day, internal and external. Words are powerful - translating thoughts, fears, hopes and wishes and beliefs into them is a grounding experience.

This week, take a few moments to write a few words that come to your mind and encapsulate your experiences each day. What are you thinking about? What are you hoping for? What emotions did you encounter? How do things in your life or current events make you feel? You can approach this from any perspective that resonates with you on a personal level. If you haven't dabbled much in art journaling, now is the perfect time to give it a go - incorporating artwork can give you a boost in therapeutic effect! 

Sometimes the best catalysts for positive changes, are the hard times. You are all in our thoughts. Thank you for being a part of the Journal Gang and following along with our journey. We love daydreaming up prompts to share and love seeing your journals. Here’s to seeing more encouraging changes in the world; health, happiness, prosperity and equality for all.

Happy Journaling and Stay Strong!
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Eight

Hey there Journal Gang! Happy Memorial Day to you all. Our thoughts are with all the men and women that have sacrificed everything in the line of service for our country; their families, friends and community. True grit. 

Memorial Day represents the ‘unofficially official’ start of Summer. This year has been a rollercoaster ride so far..with everything unfolding and changing quickly, it can be tricky to know how to feel, what to do or when to make plans. Can you relate? It’s the unofficial start of Summer, but we’re left wondering - what will Summer even look like this year? In a typical year, right around this time vacations would be beginning to pop up on our studio calendar. Trips to gardens, museums and breweries would grace the weekends. Sadly, this year...they aren’t! So..what should we do instead?

Let’s think on it! Summer is typically such a lively and adventurous time of year. We thought it would be helpful to make lists of revised goals and plans for Summer 2020 - quarantine edition. How can we still feel like we’re enjoying the spirit of Summer when many traditional activities are off the table for now? 

So what sorts of things can we put on a list? Think of things that you’d like to do, but maybe typical wouldn’t follow through with, if all of the traditional alternatives (vacations, outings, etc) were available. 

Drive-in movie theatre 

Get out of the house, fully reclining seats, your own snacks, movie, fresh air and personal space? This checks all the win boxes. 

Join an Online Book Club

Or make a list of all those books you’ve wanted to read, but never had time to..and then read them! There are SO many good books. Reading a book under a shade tree is just really…nice.

Sketch, Draw or Paint Outdoors

This is another great way to get some fresh air and practice a craft too! Your reference objects right there at their very best, in living color. 

Work on Your Living Space

No matter your budget or current space, there are always small touches you can do to jazz things up. Very rewarding to improve a space and make it feel more cozy. 

Gardening

Even if you only have a small balcony! If you have a yard, amazing! If not, you can totally still garden. Herbs and tomatoes are great for a small balcony or window garden. 

Fancy Cheese + Wine Picnic 

Even wear a pretty dress if you like! Lift your pinky finger high as you drink for the full effect. 

Sidewalk Chalk Art 

Just for kids? No way. Have kids? Make and epic sidewalk mural together!

Lawn games 

Grab some beer and hey, pretty much at the brewery..right?

Hiking a local trail 

Do a little research on your local area to see what trails would be best. So so many great trails and parks out there.

Take an Online Course or Workshop
Choose something fun and engaging that makes you feel excited!

Do you have an idea for something we could add to the list? Let us know in the comments! This is definitely going to be an unconventional Summer. But who knows - maybe we’ll find some joy along the way, spend some nice time outside and have a few stories to tell? That’s the spirit of Summer, after all. 

Hang in There, Be Well and Happy Journaling!
xoxo,
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Seven

Hey Journal Gang! We’re back this week with another prompt to inspire some journaling magic! How has your journaling been going over the past few weeks? For us, some weeks are more productive than others, but we enjoy doing our best to always come back and find solace in this creative outlet as much as possible. It’s a grounding activity with a lot of artistic freedom involved. At times, writing is more of a focus. Other days/week it’s more graphic and art journal based. You can make your journal 100% whatever you’re feeling at the time. Again - no wrong way to journal!

Last week we took a step back to view ourselves objectively for a little morale boost. What things did you reflect on and give yourself credit for? We’re sure the list was long - you have a lot to offer! This week we’re taking more solace in the little moments of the day, with a fresh spin. Our very first journaling prompt (can you believe we founded journal club over six months ago now?!) focused on recognizing and embracing the #1 best highlight of the day. It's a prompt we like to incorporate into different weeks, because it can incite gratitude and give some perspective. When times are uncertain or stressful it can be especially cathartic to find the little gems in each 24 hours we’re given. Every day has something to offer! Some days it’s a bit easier to recognize than others, but that’s life, and totally ok. 

Having positive things to anticipate can help you appreciate the here and now as well, make goals and enjoy planning. So many things have been disrupted this year because of Covid. Aside from all the of major disruptions to life and work, a lot of fun and life milestone plans - vacations, ceremonies, weddings, family gatherings, etc. - have also been put on hold. Disapointment is only natural. We remain hopeful that we can at some point carry on with our lives and find a new normal where we can safely do those things again. Won’t that be amazing? In the meanwhile, we’re looking to the every day experience and finding smaller things to look forward to.

Your morning coffee, taking a walk, video chat with a friend, an afternoon nap, 20 minutes peace and quiet to yourself, a journaling session, watching a movie, tending to your garden or plants, cooking dinner, baking bread, playing an instrument, writing a letter, receiving a package, going for a joy ride, getting some takeout, doing a fun activity with your kid(s). These are a few things that make these days better!

So what are your things? What moments of your day do you look forward to, especially now? Revel in those moments, and journal all about it!

All the best, and Happy Journaling! 

xo

The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Five

Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face.

-George Eliot

Hey Journal Gang! Well, seems as if we’ve officially made it through another month of 2020. Little victories here! Despite our new normal, we’re staying busy and positive, enjoying journal club from afar and the time it allows for reflection. We hope you are staying well, feeling strong, and embracing the lovely simpler things in life..like journaling!

We’re in the full swing o' Spring now, and one of the most well-deserved holidays of the year is just under one week away. The day we honor and celebrate the life-giving, strong, hardworking, the loving; Mother’s Day! Moms are magical, really. There is an unrivaled bond between the shared experience of mother and child. They bring life, love, support, advice, encouragement. They make good things happen and, essentially, make the world go round. Moms rule.

So this week, let’s honor Mom in a small way by scribing fond memories of her to our journal pages. If you send your mom a card, you can jot down some things you remembered to give her a smile. If you’re a mom yourself, (Happy Mother’s Day!) you could also write from another angle - your favorite Mom memories, from your own perspective in that role! What does Motherhood mean to you? What are the golden moments? Everyone’s family relationship dynamics are unique, so feel free to write about Moms or Mother figures in your life that inspire you in other ways, too. If your mom is no longer with you, writing about her is a sweet way to honor her memory on a special day. ♥

We’re sending a ton of love and admiration to all the Mamas out there. Thank you so much for everything that you do, seen and unseen, every day. Happy Mother’s Day!!

Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Three

Hey Journal Gang!

Happy Monday to you! We hope your journaling last week was cathartic, relaxing and uplifting. Reflective writing has a certain magic about it in that way!

This week we want to try something fun and shift into the visual perspective, while getting outside to move our bodies and enjoy some some fresh air. An outdoor scavenger hunt, which we will then translate to our journals! After all, Spring is here and the weather is getting nicer each day. It’s good for your soul to move and get some sunshine, don’t you think? Definitely!

How does it work?

Nothing clears the head like a relaxing walk on a beautiful day. We want to merge journaling with the outdoors by enjoying the time outside, and then translating what we found into a journal spread! This is a perfect activity for when you’re feeling cooped up and just need a break. Taking alll the walks lately. Can you relate?

You can take a walk around your neighborhood, on a trail, or even do a little scavenger hunt in your own backyard. As long as you’re getting outside and having fun, that’s what’s important! Here are some ideas for things to keep an eye out for during your scavenger hunt:

• A Spring bloom
• Something smooth 
• A texture
• Something shiny
• Something sharp 
• Something white 
• Something yellow 
• Something you hear 
• A unique shaped leaf 
• An animal
• Something you think is a treasure 

Snapping photos as you go is a super quick and easy way to record your findings. That way, you can remember everything you found, and have references later for lists or illustrations when you're working on your journal! If you're into collage, you could print the photos or use a polaroid camera if you have one. You could even take your journal along and record things in real time - no wrong way to do this, gang! We’re excited. Can’t wait to see what you all discover and share too!

Happy Hunting and Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-Two

Heey there Journal Gang,

It’s Monday, (or is it? Honestly can’t be too sure these days!) so that means we’ve got a fresh journaling prompt to ponder over this week. We hope you had a wonderful Easter, and that you all continue to find bright moments in sprinkled throughout your days, despite all the strangeness and uncertainty. It’s been really beautiful outside recently, and that's definitely reflected as a highlight in our journals. As we creep forward in the calendar, one numbered box after another, things shift and settle like sand beneath the feet. The adaptations of routines, evolving emotions; a total change of most aspects of our daily lives. As we navigate this “new normal” perspectives shift, we reflect and adapt - as humans tend to do!  Doing the best we can in a situation we’ve never experienced during our lifetimes. A large part of anxiety is fear of the unknown - what will happen? We can approach this ‘what if’ from multiple angles.

A letter, to you, in the future. Take some time to envision what your normal, everyday life was like. What do you miss and love about it? What has changed? What do you not miss about it? What about it do you look forward to doing again? What about it did you take for granted? What are you grateful for about your current days? We can further understand the present by relating to the past! Perhaps this massive and sudden shift in the world is a chance to reflect and make changes for the better, not only on a cultural and political scale, but in a personal capacity.

So think to an imagined future, when all of this has passed (and it will pass, eventually!) and things are some semblance of our normal lives again. What would you like your future self to know? What small blessings came out of this experience for you? Who do you value most and how did you connect with them during this time? What aspects of humanity gave you hope? Were you able to learn something that propelled you forward emotionally or professionally? What advice would you give? What kind words do you have for your future self? You could tell yourself how you were feeling and what thoughts you were having, what you were doing for fun, or about something you created.

These are just a starting point to inspire your letter writing - you can write absolutely anything! It can be a short letter, a long letter, a few sentences, a haiku, or your letter can be represented visually with imagery! We’re experiencing history in real time. Having a personal letter to yourself is a one-of a kind insight to what you’re going through now, and in the present, can broaden your view towards better days. Better days will be here again!

Sending you (and your future selves!) love♥
Stay Strong and Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twenty-One

Hey Journal Gang!

How did having a daily or weekly mantra work out for you last week? It’s wild how grounding or motivating a short phrase can be! What was your stand out mantra or thought for the week? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to know so we can add it to our mental mantras repertoire too.

This week we’re going back to basics, with a throwback to our very FIRST week of Journal Club: reflecting on the highlights of our days. An oldie but a goodie! With life and routines essentially turned upside down right now for most, we’re all finding new rhythms and trying to settle into a new temporary normal. It’s a strange thing! But with the unexpected comes unexpected opportunities as well. Opportunities to experience the day from a new perspective. It will be interesting to contrast our journal entries from the very first week of Journal Club to now and see how our days have evolved with the change of circumstances and passage of time. SO so much has happened in this wild ride that is 2020 so far. Despite all the craziness, we hope you are finding silver linings and unexpected small joys in your days. Search for the magic in each day, and live that moment again through your journaling! Sounds good to us.

One highlight of our week that we’ve been really missing is our Journal Club meetup in the shop each Tuesday! It was always a bright spot, and an engaging way to start out the week and get together with our awesome Journal Club Gang. We’re working on getting a virtual meetup going (yay!) and will share the details on how to join in, hopefully by next week. Can’t wait!

Stay Safe, Be Well and Happy Journaling!

xoxo
The Antiquaria Team 

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Nineteen

Hey there Journal Gang,

As we enter a new week of journal club, we’re thinking of you and hope that your journals are serving as a therapeutic outlet through all of the sudden changes and adjustments we’re all experiencing. Even though our journal club meetup is on hold, we’re maintaining that spirit of camaraderie and community through our journals each week. Life feels a little more strange with each passing day right now, but we're all doing the best we can to adapt, be positive and resourceful. Keep on keeping on! Using journaling, letters and other creative outlets to help us process things has been invaluable.

Last week we spent some time pondering our appreciation of loved ones. When life shifts dramatically, it’s more important than ever to communicate and connect with people that love and support us, and visa versa. Our instagram share a card event has been cathartic for us as well; connecting with you, sharing circumstances and encouraging words brought a little extra light into our days. We are feeling super grateful for all the amazing people in our lives right now. When it gets down to it, what is life but the joy of sharing all it has to offer with others?

So, what’s this about silver linings?
We may be collectively socially distancing right now, but a major global event like this can unite us in purpose and spirit. It can make you reevaluate your priorities, values, what self-care means to you, your world view, your routines, goals, and count your blessings. So, pretty much everything! Though it oftentimes feels like an ominous and uncertain situation, nothing is life is so plain in black and white. Even the most trying circumstances have a silver lining laced within. Everyone processes emotions at different rates and in different ways, so it’s OK to be exactly wherever you are right now! It’s absolutely normal to experience anxiety and stress when things upend your normal life. Things will get better. Let's uplift our thoughts this week and focus on those little silver linings within.

Maybe you’ve been able to :

• Spend more time with your immediate family
• Connect with distant family more often through letters or technology 
• Make your pets happy by being around more often (keeping those tails wagging!)
• Finish lingering home improvement projects
• Read more
• Write more
• Catch up on sleep
• Start or work on an art/craft hobby
• Dive into a personal passion project 
• Go for more walks
• Explore the outdoors
• Work in your yard
• Try new recipes at home
• Get a jump on spring cleaning or organization
• Catch up on your favorite show 

…These are a few of the silver linings that come to mind!

So, what are your silver linings?  Think about what small gift each of these days of late have to offer, and how you can lean into them to help you grow, heal and move forward.
While everything is still uncertain, and can feel scary at times, know that for every negative, there is a positive hiding in there..somewhere. Many things may be out of our control, but we can control being kind to ourselves (and each other!), embracing the here and now(easier said than done, we know!), looking out for others and just simply doing the best we can. One day at a time, friends. Slow and steady..we’ve got this. Hang in there!


Be well, and Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Eighteen

“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.

Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have

lighted the flame within us.”

Albert Schweitzer

Hey there Journal Gang! We’ve been reveling in the warming days and extra sunlight over this past week - have you? Spending more time outside has been so nice, and much needed. As we enter a new week, we’re appreciating the outlet of our journals more than ever. Journaling is an excellent way to process thoughts and emotions. In times of many changes and uncertainty, such as these, self-reflection and expression are vital to coping and adapting to new situations. 2020 is turning out to be an interesting year so far, indeed.

A core part of being a human is the depth, complexity and value of our relationships with one another. The human spirit needs to connect, and as social beings, we require that to thrive! In times of hardship and uncertainty, our friends, families and connection with society as a whole can build us up, give us strength and help us navigate through uncharted territory. That’s why this week, we want to spend some time reflecting on what we love most about the people we love most.

Who are your friends and family? What traits do they have that you admire, respect and adore? Why? What does family mean to you? Even though we may not be able to gather physically in these times, we can still nurture those connections through appreciation and hey, maybe even some good old fashioned snail mail! What better way to brighten someone’s day and let them know you’re thinking of them from afar, than with a sweet sentiment popping up in their mailbox? Compassion and emotional support contribute to a sense of well-being and provide strength on even the most difficult of days.

So write all about it, send some snail mail, shoot a quick text, call those you love - and tell them why they are awesome! We’re wishing you all the health and happiness.

All the very best and Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Sixteen

“Grateful for where I am

Excited about where I’m going”

Hey there Journal Gang, Happy Monday! How did your bucket list pondering go last week? What was your top priority must-do item that emerged? Are you feeling pumped about it? We’d love to know!

We definitely enjoyed thinking about our lists! So we’re using the winds of inspiration to guide the sails into this new week and prompt. EXCITEMENT! It’s something that everyone needs a bit of in their lives, in whatever way suits you best! Gratitude for the now, and excitement for the new; words to live by. We find it’s always nice to have things to look forward to dotted on the calendar, serving as little beacons of fun waiting for us to arrive. 

Having plans made and goals in action is very motivating and can help you through times where the struggle starts feeling pretty real! A trip to the ocean, seeing family, a coffee date with your best friend, taking a class, Spring blossoms emerging, starting a DIY project, trying a new recipe, a new museum exhibition, planting a garden, lazy Sunday, Friday night sushi date, the heart of Summer. Nothing is too minute to be excited about!

This week we hope you find reasons to be excited and are energized by all the good things on your horizon. If there’s nothing on your calendar that’s making you say YES!..then it’s a perfect opportunity to set some fun plans in stone!



Happy Journaling!
xoxo

The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Fifteen

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” 

Mark Twain

Hey Journal Gang! It’s been FIFTEEN weeks since the establishment of Antiquaria Journal Club! Such a sense of accomplishment to see the pages filling up with our thoughts and artwork, don’t you think? Last week we sent some vibes of recognition and appreciation to Old Man Winter before we bid him farewell in a few short weeks. Are you ready for Spring? We are!

This week we’re looking towards the future, but beyond the short term, and focusing on the grand scheme of things. One thing we’ve found through journaling is the fact that getting things out of your mind and onto the page is a powerful thing. These thoughts, aspirations and goals that seemed to float around abstractly are suddenly there before you in black and white, living in the heart of your journal! It’s crazy how such a small action can bring about a clearer vision and motivation to make things happen. Journaling can really assist in organizing your thoughts, blasting through lists and defining dreams!

Speaking of goals and dreams…this week those are majorly on our radar. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and not see beyond the week ahead of you, but it’s also productive to think of longer term goals, and reaffirm what you value most. Breaking it down into daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, 5 year and lifetime goals etc. is a great way to make small steps into big changes. Sometimes it helps to envision an ultimate goal and then deconstruct it, working your way backwards to make it happen. So, for fun, let’s spend some time focusing on the ultimate lifetime goals, or creating our ‘Bucket Lists’ - Heck yes!

So…What are some things you’ve ALWAYS wanted to do? Daydream and write all about them! Go to Fiji? Whale watching? Skydiving? Visit the Louvre? Backpack on the Appalachian trail? Start a family? Own a home? Write a book? See the Northern Lights? Learn a trade? Start a business? It can be absolutely anything!

This is going to a super fun list to make - we can’t wait to start ours, and hear all about yours!


Happy Journaling!!

xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Fourteen

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire; it is the time for home.” 

Edith Sitwell

Hey Journal Gang!

Was your past week filled with thoughts of self-love and rituals of self-care? Hopefully so! After reflecting on ways to nurture the self and live a little more simply, we are feeling motivated to make more time to sustain a balance within. Life happens, things get busy and the scales can get tipped, but reflecting on ways to slow down and just ‘be’ is always helpful for some mental perspective. Let’s keep it up throughout 2020! *Adds to 2020 intentions list*

Speaking of 2020…How are we almost into it’s third month already?? Spring is just a little over a month a way, and the sun lingers a little longer each day. It seems like around late February, daydreams of greenery in Spring start creeping in. In our Journal Collage Workshop last week, we noticed green coming through as a collective theme among the collages; we suspected our subconscious thoughts of Spring were playing a role in that! With that in mind, we thought we would take some time this week to lean into the remainder of this season we’re in, and end on a high note by reflecting on all of the things we appreciate about this time of the year. After all, there are many joys in Winter!

So, what aspects of Winter do you look forward to or revel in? All the cozy hobbies? Skiing adventures in the mountains? The mountains in Colorado are majestic in every season, perhaps even more so in Winter.  Do you love how quiet and sparkly the world feels after a fresh snow? (That's the best!) Soup and candles? Maybe you enjoy the vibe of being indoors and the overall tone. Winter wardrobes maybe? All the layers - so many fashion opportunities! For those in warmer climates, what are your favorite Wintry things?



No matter your favorite season, there is beauty to appreciate in each one. So let’s think positive and reminisce on all those lovely things while it lasts. For next thing we know, it will be Spring!



Happy Journaling!!
xoxo

The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Twelve

creative outlet 

pages fill with memories

journal club is grand

Hey Journal Gang! We hope you are having a wonderful start to the new month and enjoyed last week’s prompt! Did you find the mood tracking to be insightful? It’s a great thing to incorporate into journaling as an ongoing element. Staying in touch with how you’re feeling, and why, is a key to being mindful and living in the moment - one of the intentions we set for 2020. Pretty neat how things build and give you momentum when you’re keeping a journal!
This week we want to continue building on those things and growing as people, so we’re going to try incorporating another element into this prompt - poetry, specifically Haikus! “Poetry - but I can’t write poetry!?“ If you just had that thought -- don’t worry! Absolutely anyone can write a Haiku, including you!!

What is a Haiku, anyway?
A Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. They are short poems that use very few words to capture a moment in time, create a mental image, or convey a message. Traditionally, a Haiku is composed of three lines, and broken down into syllables - 5 in the first line, 7 in the second line, 5 in the third line. 5, 7, 5.



For example:

1. creative outlet   (5 syllables)
2. pages fill with memories  (7 syllables)
3. journal club is grand   (5 syllables)

See? Not so intimidating! You can be literal with your Haikus and keep them very straightforward, or go for more conceptual and imagery-based content. Many Haikus are inspired by nature and the seasons. You can write one about a moment or event, a feeling you had, about a memory, or as a summary of your day as a whole. You would be surprised how much can be conveyed in just three short lines of text! Since there is a simple and set format for these little poems, anyone can approach them and add a little poetry to their life. Once you get into the swing of it, writing them is so fun and easy! So we encourage you to think outside of the box, try something new and 5-7-5 your way through the week!

Happy Haiku-ing, and Happy Journaling!!
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Eight

“Our intention creates our reality.”

Wayne Dyer

It's official, friends: A brand new year and the dawn of a whole new decade is upon us! We've had a wonderful week reflecting on all the bright, sparkling moments of 2019 and we hope you have too! It’s amazing how much goodness can happen in just ONE short year, right? To see all of our very favorite memories coalescing in our notebooks summons all of the positive emotions from those events. So sweet. What were your top highlights over the past 12 months? We can’t wait to see them!

Our prompt last week was setting the stage in our hearts and minds for this week’s prompt and subject: Intentions. Fresh from reflecting with gratitude on our past year’s experiences, it’s the perfect time to recenter and create an internal space for your intentions for this year. So, what are intentions exactly?

We’ve all heard of New Year’s resolutions, and most of us have personal experience with them! Defining your intentions is very much along similar lines. A resolution tends to be a more singular and broad statement, which is all good, unless it feels too daunting! Maybe you want to do something, but aren’t exactly sure how to get there. Intentions have a sense of versatility and layers. They too can be solid and concrete, but living intentionally can be translated and scaled in many ways. Essentially, intentions can act as larger resolutions, as small stepping stones to reach your big goals - or both! Pretty cool, right??

For example, you could set an intention for your week, day, or even how you’d like an hour long meeting to go. On a larger scale, it could be envisioning what you want your life to look like over the next year and beyond. Defining these for the year can help you assess how to break it down into smaller ways to fulfill your goals!

Maybe you’d love to start your own business, or travel to a country you’ve always wanted to visit (like Spain!), or start a family. Maybe you want to attain a habit of mindfulness, focus on your internal world and spiritual health, organize your living space, or perhaps your focus is living with intention financially and saving money. So, whether your goals and intentions relate to tangible or abstract subjects, just the act of setting the goals and intentions (writing them in your journal!) takes you another step closer to making your dream come alive!

So, this year, we hope you get to go to that country, start that business, meet new friends, try that new hobby (or finish a current project! Guilty as charged, here!), find peace or anything else you have your heart set on. We believe in you!! We’re excited to spend some time creating that new reality, starting with our journal pages.



All the best, and until next time, Happy Journaling!!

xoxo
The Antiquaria Team