Doing this writing challenge has started to become really difficult because I’ve been trying to write everything by hand. Because that’s what I’ve always done. Every article you’ve ever seen written by me on the Internet was definitely written down in a notebook or journal before it ever saw a page in a Google doc. And I do the majority of my personal journaling in a fancy little notebook.
Also, as a professional writer and journalist, I feel like everything I write needs to be as clear, concise and coherent as possible. I admit, in my personal journaling, I don’t always maintain a narrative form with source links and headlines.
As this challenge has been going on, so has my life. I’ve had to travel, spend time with friends, sleep. I don’t always have time to sit at my desk with a cup of tea and an incense lit pouring out my heart with a fancy felt-tip pen. Plus, writing everyday plus pole classes has been murder on my wrists.
So here I am, sitting in my car, typing out my inner thoughts on my phone and it feels kind of… sacrilegious? Impure? Not real writing. If I didn’t suffer, does it even matter?
Yes. My words (and your words) matter no matter how they come out. Everything you do doesn’t have to be picture perfect. So here’s a list of reminders to myself that maybe resonate with you?
There’s no right way to write
Whether on the Notes App or a journal or your laptop or your phone’s voice recorder, getting your thoughts out is the only thing you gotta do.
There’s no right way to have sex
Outside of confirming consent (obviously), fucking should be about fun before anything else. If it’s not fun, what’s the point?
There’s no right way to read.
I’ve read 14 books (so far) this year and almost all of them have been read digitally via ebook or audiobook. And I won’t let myself be shamed by that. I’m still a reader even if everyone else can’t see the book.
There’s no right way to dress
I learned a long time ago that if I’m not comfortable, I have no hope of feeling cute. So I wear what feels good on my body and trust, I look amazing 😘
There’s no right way to heal
For some people, therapy is enough. Others like to go to spiritualists or church. Others take medication. Others do some combination of the previous or something else entirely. Your healing journey and your mental health and your business. No one else has to live in your head but you.
There’s no right way to be
Be skinny, be fat, be a good cook or order takeout if you can afford it. Go to college or build your career off of Instagram. You don’t have to be perfect or meet anyone’s expectations but your own. Just be.
I don’t mean to say that we should just go about life doing whatever whenever with no regard for ourselves or others.. There are certainly wrong ways to do a lot of things. Like, driving drunk is definitely the wrong way to drive and not getting consent is definitely the wrong way to have sex, my guy.
I think this is more about resisting perfection. Resisting the idea that I’m doing things wrong if I don’t do things a certain way, the way I’ve always done things, or the way everybody expects me to do things.
You’re allowed to do things your way. Also, you’re allowed to make life a little easier for yourself! So go forth and write and live your way, not the right way!
This entry was written under the prompt RIGHT, Day 9 of the Finding the Right Words 30-Day Journaling Challenge. Follow along using the graphic above and write about whatever comes to mind with the corresponding prompt. Share with me using the tag #FTRW or email me at joliedoggett [at] substack.com.
There’s no wrong way to journal. You just gotta find the right words. Happy Writing!