I recently passed my 270th day using the Theme System Journal. I made a promise to myself that I would pause and reflect about what I’m doing with the TSJ every 90 days. In this post I would like to cover some trends I’m noticing in the journal pages. Before I start looking at the trends, I have an opening statement.

I want my readers to know that I am still working within the “homemade” journal (a repurposed notebook) that I started back in July. So, technically, I’m working with the spirit of the TSJ. I still have a brand new, version 1 TSJ that I will not start using until I’m finished using up all of the pages in my “homemade” journal. Call me a completionist. The “areas of focus” that I write about within the Journal Pages remain, “Happy,” “Blogging,” and “Forward.” In the “Happy” boxes I write about things that made me happy that day. In the “Blogging” box I write about what’s going on with this blog. In the “Forward” box I write about things I am looking forward to. Simple enough. Ok, on to the trends.

Happy

One trend that I noticed during this 90 day period is that I spent a lot of time writing about technology that is making me happy. The app Widgetsmith for example. This app allows the user to customize their home screen on their iPhone. I also spent a good deal of time writing about the Artist Watch Face for the Apple Watch and the joy it has brought me. In my quest to optimize my remote teaching workspace at home I wrote about 2 different pen tablets that I purchased. And…one of the most interesting pieces of technology that has made me happy is the mechanical keyboard that I am writing this post from.

Another thing that I found myself writing about in this space is how reaching out to friends made me happy.

One more thing that I wrote about repeatedly in this space is the joy my students have brought me this year. Even with all that is going on around me with the pandemic, the craziness that is happening at my school now that some of my colleagues are back teaching in person coupled with the fact that I have since had to go back to school, still teaching my students remotely, to support safety during the morning and the afternoon due to a rise in people having to self-quarantine; the manner in which my students conduct themselves on a daily basis brings me immense happiness!

Blogging

The blogging box continues to be a space where I document what I’ve done relative to the most recent post I am working on on any given week. I like using this box in this way because it is my way of keeping myself accountable for making sure that I have a post ready to publish by the end of each week.

Forward

One thing I noticed as I looked back at the past 90 days is that I really look forward to the weekends. That makes sense due to how intense my school weeks are…whether I get to teach from home or…more recently…from school. I cherish my time at home.

Milestones

This is not a box I write in daily but some interesting events took place over the last 90 days; one way more important than the other!! My 30th wedding anniversary happened. I also changed my Yearly Theme to the Year of Peace.

To conclude…

The TSJ continues to be an integral part of my daily life. It’s amazing to think that 90 days from now I will basically be reflecting on a year’s worth of writing using this unique technology.