This morning, I discovered one of my old sketchbooks. When I first grabbed it from the row of books, I flipped through the pages quickly, and my work rhythm was swaying me to wedge it back into its bookshelf home. I was trying to manage my time well. But, a list of words caught my eye, and then I found a menu for a party, and a page of potential titles for my next book, and a design sketch for my new website (which is still in the works). I found a hundred old, awesome things, and I was lost in my old sketchbook for a long time. There was so much good thinking, musing, and sketching! It is a reminder that looking at old journals and notebooks is SUPER important because I wanted myself to find this stuff. I recorded it because I thought it was interesting. When I put it on a page, it allowed me to breathe easier because I didn’t have to hold onto it anymore. I preserved it for future me to find.
Why not have a conversation with the past you? Read an old journal. Thumb through an old notebook or class notes from your favorite class.
Above is an old paint swatch, pasted into my current journal along with word associations written in pencil. And, below is an old design sketch for my website.
Inspire yourself.
