I’M GREAT Every Day: A Guided Journal for Creating a Better Self

by Linda Callahan

Reading and writing have always been an integral part of my life.  My love for reading and writing began at an early age.  I was the child who would walk to the library and walk home with my arms laden with books. I especially love journaling.  I started keeping a journal when I was a little girl and I still begin every day by writing in my journal.

It was my love for reading and writing that prompted me to become an elementary teacher.  I was a teacher for twenty-seven years, but the last twelve years of my career were my favorite years because I was asked to teach reading and writing to fifth and sixth grade students.  Being able to share my passions for reading and writing with my students and teaching them how to develop their own voice made every day worthwhile. The most rewarding part of my job was in knowing that they, too, were falling in love with the books they read and the stories they wrote.

As a Language Arts teacher, I was often asked to participate in writing workshops or to be a part of a writing committee.  I participated in every writing workshop that came my way and hoped that someday I’d be able to use what I’ve learned from these workshops to write my own book. 

I truly believe that life is a journey and that everything happens for a reason.  When a family member became ill, I opted for an early retirement.  Knowing that every new chapter in life requires a transition period, I wanted to create a morning routine that would help me ease into my retirement.  I wanted my days to still have a sense of purpose, especially since I was no longer teaching and already feeling the void from not being in the classroom every day. 

C.S. Lewis once said, “We are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”  Believing this to be true, I knew then that I had to put my retirement to good use and set a new goal for myself. It has always been my belief that we should constantly be striving to create a better version of ourselves and so one day I decided that I would create a morning routine that would help me grow into a better version of myself.  

I was already journaling every day, but I wanted to add more into my morning routine.  Within the next few months, I added intention, meditation, gratitude, reading, exercise, affirmations, and time for self-care to my daily routine.  Doing this routine every day was helping me to become a better version of myself.  I found I had more energy, and my days were once again filled with purpose.  I was looking forward to each new day and the gifts that each new day would bring. I was now setting monthly goals and creating vision boards to help manifest the goals I had chosen. 

Seeing how much my routine had helped me to create a better version of myself, I knew the time had come for me to write my first book.  I decided to put pen to paper and write a book describing my routine hoping that my book would inspire others as much as it had inspired me. 

As a teacher, I wanted to give a name to this new routine that would be easy to remember.  I jotted down all the activities I was now doing on a daily basis on a piece of paper. When I took a second look at my notes, I noticed that the first letter of each activity spelled I’M GREAT.  Wow, I thought to myself, this would be a great acronym for my routine and it would also make a great mantra that I could use at the beginning of each day.  I also knew that it would make a great title for my book.  

Since journaling as always been an important part of my life, I wanted my first book to be a journal. In the first part of the book, you’ll learn why it’s so important to practice each of these skills on a daily basis. In the second part of the book, you’ll embark on a journey of self-discovery.  Using the skills you’ve learned and the activity pages provided, you will connect with your inner self,  prepare a step-by-step plan to help you manifest your monthly goals and create vision boards that will keep you focused on the goals you have chosen. 

My biggest accomplishment as a writer comes from Jack Canfield, the bestselling co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.  I had reached out to him and asked him if he would please review my book.  I was so surprised when I received an email from him saying,  “This is one of the more beautifully designed, thoughtful, insightful, inspirational and useful journals for creating a happy, fulfilling and productive life that I have ever seen.”

It is my hope that by the end of your journey with this journal, that you will discover what the rest of us already know:  YOU’RE GREAT

EVERY DAY!

—

Linda Callahan is the author of I’M GREAT Every Day: A Guided Journal for Creating a Better Self. Linda’s morning routine I’M GREAT consists of seven personal development practices including Intention, Meditation, Gratitude, Reading, Exercise, Affirmations and Time for Self-care. Utilizing these seven key components and making time to journal every day has helped her to find her inner self and keeps her on her chosen path. I’M GREAT is now a part of her daily ritual and also serves as her daily mantra.

Linda is a retired teacher from Cape May, NJ who enjoys long walks on the beach looking for sea glass and seashells. Her passions include reading and writing. She loves meeting new people, traveling to wherever the road may take her next, and is always ready for her next adventure. She believes in living each day to the fullest. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their family and friends. They are currently living in South Carolina and enjoying their retirement to the fullest.

Linda and her husband serve as stewards for the South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts, a non-profit organization aimed at protecting the sea turtles that nest on the Carolina beaches. Starting in May and working until the last turtle nest hatches, Linda and her husband spend many mornings walking the beach at dawn searching for any signs of turtle activity.

I’M GREAT Every Day; A Guided Journal for Creating a Better Self is Linda’s first book. She is currently working on several other books.

 

Follow Linda on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Linda-Callahan-103054078499195/

Find out more about her on her website

 

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing