I have an interesting story associated with this book. I first came across it on a shelving cart one day. I casually thumbed through it, and though I was intrigued, I saw that it was geared toward teens, so I put it back without noting the author. A few days later I changed my mind and decided I wanted the book. Although I couldn’t remember the exact title, I had a pretty good idea of what I was looking for. I checked the catalog under journaling. Nothing. Diaries. Nothing. Guided writing. Nothing. Nothing on Amazon. None of my coworkers could figure it out. I tried wandering the stacks. Nada. It took me weeks of searching, but I finally located the book, and not only have I renewed it the maximum number of times, I’ve also added it to my Amazon wishlist. For those of you who are interested, take note: Spiritual Journaling: Writing Your Way to Independence, by Julie Tallard Johnson.

Although this book is geared toward young adults, I feel that the content can be useful to anyone. Not only is it filled with inspirational quotes and sample journal entries, but it has handy “off the page” exercises that direct you outdoors to find your inspiration. I’ve always wanted to be an avid journaler, but whenever I pick mine up, it seems that I never have anything to say. This book helps with that, as Johnson gives you suggestions and questions to get you going. There’s just something about the book that makes me feel more connected to Spirit, and I like that. Even when I’m not in the mood to write, I enjoy flipping through the book and skimming random pages, just because it makes me feel good. It’s a cool way to connect to spirituality while bypassing religion (if you so choose).