Ballou High School ​Visual Arts Department
2017-2018
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Words...

11/2/2018

 
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     As I sit here in the café of Barnes & Nobel, striving to focus on the task at hand; a writing assignment due in less than a week, I am distracted by the thoughts of how writers and visual artists are similar. Possibly this is a result of the movie that I watched last night on Netflix entitled, Words that has caused me such contemplation today, but none-the-less, here I sit thinking about writers and painters.
    Writing is an art just as painting is an art. I have explored many areas of the arts including music. As a young child, I played the piano and the clarinet, but not with great success. I seem to do better in art forms where the art is separate from the artist. Just like the painter walks away from the painting at its completion, so does the writer walks away from the papers when the book is finished. The two do not meet again; it is an archived experience with only the evidence of a name on the work as a reminder that the two were once together. I believe that is why I like to write. I also believe that I am a bit of an anti-social introspective person who thinks too much.
   For me, journaling is one of my strongest personal tools, the other is prayer. Both help me to process my emotions, experiences, conflicts, and interactions. Journaling is also a way that I keep a record of my life for my own personal growth. I ‘work things out’ on paper in ways that other people, ‘talk things out’. Maybe this is because I am a coward of sorts and of course we can look back to our childhood to place the blame for all our shortcomings onto our family (just kidding...sort of).
   But, there is some truth to this. As the middle child of an Italian family of six, I was the quiet artist type. A spiritual dreamer of sorts. One who experienced more life in her imagination that she ever did in real space and time. I painted more paintings, wrote more books, fell in love more times, and even danced a ballet all in the safe space of my own imagination. My dreams were my retreat from the tough world around me and oh how I loved to daydream!
   When it came time for me to express my thoughts out loud, I was always overpowered by the bolder, louder angrier opponent. When faced with such people, often I would concede my defeat and then retreat to my own personal safe place; my painting or writing. I would turn to pen and paper and say all the things that I wanted to say but could not get a word in edgewise.
   So today I ask you this question, “Have you ever thought about journaling for ‘working things out’ on paper?” There is a lot of research that shows the benefits of daily journaling. I have written about this topic in the past and I revisit this again with you because it is an area of personal passion.  I have experienced the healing process of writing. Daily journaling has released my anxiety, stress and has evoked deeper mindfulness within me in ways that I could not achieve otherwise.
   Journaling has also assisted me in achieving my personal goals by helping me to sort and prioritize my plan for success. Just as a builder uses blueprints to build a home, I use my journaling to ‘build’ my dreams. But, the greatest personal benefit that I have achieved through journaling is increasing my emotional and spiritual intelligence. I want the same for all of you!
   Let me tell you about some online free journal/diary sites that can assist you to a safe place to begin a personal journal.  I enjoy the old fashion way of feeling the pen touch the paper, but I know that it is a different era and many of you have better typing skills compared to handwriting. So, allow me to challenge you to start a daily diary and watch how it transforms you. Below are some of the top ‘free’ online journaling sites that you can use to begin this amazing life changing journey. Here is the link: 
: Free online journals    
 
Love,
Ms. B.

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    Donna Bonavia

    I am an art educator and  a professional artist. I write this blog to guide my students in  (SEL) social, emotional, and academic development. S.E.L. is the District of Columbia Public School's priority because we believe that we must educate the whole child.


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    This work by Donna Bonavia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
    Based on a work at www.msbonavia.com.

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