Project ONE Life: Just the Beginning!

*** I create blank books and leave them in public places.  Strangers find them, share their feelings/thoughts, and leave them for others to find.  Connecting strangers, stripping artifice away, and becoming ONE.  Follow the journey on Facebook ***

Project ONE Life is picking up steam and leaving books along the way.  The journey is just beginning and we have a long way to go but so far, it as been a blast.  Each book is left in a public place and has a theme.  I get a small rush of placing down a book and taking pictures, unnoticed.  And when I walk away, I wonder.... where will this book end up, who will read my writing, and will I see it again.  I feel anxious, giddy, and optimistic. 

So far, seven books have made it out into the world and with many more to come.  Plans are in the works to go national as well.  So... keep your eyes open and follow the journey on facebook so YOU can track down one of these one of a kind books! 

Here's a look at the books on the go so far...



Something I Never Told Anyone...
 




Before I Die I Want To...



 

 



It Might Not Be P.C But...



 

 



At This Point in My Life I Thought I'd Be...



PROJECT ONE LIFE: The First Book

Today I dropped the first Project ONE Life journal off into the world.  When I last saw it, it was sitting in a packed cafe in Chicago (Filter Cafe).  With Project ONE Life, I am asking others to open up and share.  I wouldn't ask someone to do something I wouldn't do myself. So in keeping with the idea of Read, Share, Pass it On, I wrote the first entry in the book.  I placed it down, snapped a few pictures, and walked away - leaving a piece of myself for anyone to view.  I wondered if I would ever see it again. 




I am a journal maker and believer in the healing power of words so it seemed like a natural progression to extend what I do in my everyday journal to the rest of the world.  Each book is special and made 100% with LOVE.  From cutting each sheet of paper and book board, stitching the pages together, and creating a mixed media collage cover, I put every ounce of myself into each book.  I do this all in the hope that this project will bring people together and create a safe place to express themselves. 

So this is the look at the first book... and if you see it out there, put your stamp on it, take a pic, and leave it for another to find.  Read, Share, Pass It On.



The first entry for the "Today I'm feeling" Journal



Follow the Journey at www.facebook.com/projectonelifeshareit

Project ONE Life: Share It - The GUIDELINES

Here's how Project ONE Life works! 

• It's annonymous - be open, share!

• Take a pic of the book in it's location and post on facebook so we can follow it's journey. Don't want to post with your name? Email me and I will post it without your info.

• Be RESPECTFUL & SINCERE: If you find a book but it's not for you please respect the value/worth of others words and feelings and leave it as you found it so that someone else may have the opportunity to participate. If you do participate, please make a sincere entry. Do no disrespect the nature/intention of this book by making a mockery of it.

• PASS IT ON: Write in it, then leave it in a indoor (it's paper and needs to be protected from the elements) public place, preferrably a place you think people will be receptive to this project.

• DON'T KEEP IT! Yes, it would be a cool thing for your collection but that goes against the very reason for the book!

• LAST PERSON to write in it? Drop it in the mail or Contact me! It's on you I pin most of my faith... Please RETURN this traveling book of honesty, love, inspiration, and courage HOME so I can share all the entries and truly share and connect others!

MY JOURNALING ADVENTURES: A timeline

Sometimes you have to look back to where you've been to appreciate where you are.  In a recent urge to declutter my life, I have been sifting through old letters, cards, and yes, journals.  

I pulled them out and lost myself in them for hours.  Lost myself in the girl I was and where I used to be.  Parts were embarrassing, parts were hilarious, parts were sad, and some parts were simply lovely.  And as I went through each book, I saw an evolution. The evolution of who I am as a person... and as a creative spirit.
           

My first journal is about 10 years old.  A simple book I bought from the now defunct Borders bookstore.  The binding is kinda busted and pages are falling out.  It's decorated in a simple and straightforward way.  Some artwork, tons of quotes, LOTS of writing. 

My current journal is a handmade Celio Designs journal.  It's handbound with a coptic stitch and  features rich imagery on the front.  Like the first one, it has some artwork, tons of quotes, and LOTS of writing.  

That was then.

This is now.

What a difference. I laugh at my old one, like the crude writing of a child first learning how to hold a pencil and applaud myself for my advancements. It's fun to see the difference and wonder what my journal will look like in the next ten years...We shall see!!