Journaling 101 // A Tool to Cope
As many of you know, my husband is a United States Navy Veteran. When I was 6 months pregnant with Little A, he went out to sea for work ups and preparing for a long deployment that lay ahead. We were apart for the last 3 months of my pregnancy and he was out to sea during Aiden’s birth. He was able to visit for 10 days, four days after the delivery, left us again and returned for Christmas, two months later for another 10 days. After the holidays, he left for a 6 1/2 month deployment to the Middle East. All in all, we didn’t actually live together for over a year.
It was a very difficult time in my life and if I didn’t have our beautiful son to share everyday with, it would have been pretty grim. I missed my husband every single day, cried myself to sleep and longed for his safe return. While he was on deployment, I had a total of maybe six, 10 minute phone calls – and sporadic emails. Communication just wasn’t available.
I wrote him letters every other day and hoped that they would find him. It drove me crazy that we couldn’t talk to each other. I had so much to say and share. Writing him letters was one way to communicate, but I needed something additional. I needed another outlet to release how I was feeling. I was overwhelmed.
I began to journal consistently. If I was having a hard day without him, I took to writing it out. I wrote about missing him, over and over again. I wrote about what I was thankful for in the midst of our tough situation. I used journaling as a way to process my emotions and as a tool to cope. I also filled Aiden’s baby book with photos, documentation and notes on his development, so that his dad wouldn’t miss a thing. By writing, I found that I could get through our separation and it carried me from day to day – until alas, my husband finally came home to us for good.
From my experience, whether it’s stress, sadness, or grief – journaling is a tool that can help you get through and manage a tough time. It can be as simple as jotting down a few sentences for the day that releases some of the weight of carrying those sentiments within you.
5 STARTING POINTS (COMPLETE THE SENTENCE):
No1. When I woke up this morning, I felt…
No2. I’m avoiding this, because it’s…
No3. I haven’t been doing much lately, because…
No4. In the midst of sadness, I’m still thankful for…
No5. I wish this was different…
Emily Smith is the Editor of The Best of This Life who has been writing in the lifestyle niche and creating delicious recipes for over 10 years. Her work has been featured on BRIT + CO, Today's Parent, Chatelaine, Huffington Post, The Pioneer Woman, and Food Bloggers of Canada. She writes about family, food, entertaining, home decor, wellness, travel and a litany of other topics. She loves sharing her three core values - love life, live well, share the beauty - and encourages her readers to enjoy the best of their lives every day. She lives in Ottawa with her loving husband, two darling children, and dreams of one day owning a puppy.
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Your story brought me to tears. So happy that you are with your hubby now and that you were able to do the long-distance thing 😉
Reading this totally took me back to when my hubby and I spent nearly a year apart when he went to police academy in NC. 🙁 I had so many of the same feelings… We got to talk and Skype at least… but the distance was still so hard! I can’t even imagine having a newborn and not having the hubby there!
So glad this long-distance thing is over for both of us! 🙂
Your story is heart breaking! I’m so sorry that you and your husband had to be away, and especially when you gave birth! On a slightly lighter note, journaling is a great way to let out all of your thoughts and emotions. You can’t hold all of that in forever!
-Lara
I went through a similar experience many years ago and journaled every day. My journals, however were burned in a house fire. That makes me Really sad.
I agree journaling is a great tool to cope. It got me through many rough times also & for the past few years I’ve encouraged my daughter to write her feelings down. She is a pre-teen & this helps with all the crazy emotions she’s going through.