Beyond the History Book: A Creative Way to Journal What Really Matters

 I recently saw an artist’s journal page featuring the castles she had visited on vacation. The page was absolutely beautiful—carefully placed photos, lovely sketches, and a few small notes. There’s something truly delightful about a traveler's journal, isn’t there? A space to tuck away memories, colors, and places in a way no social media post ever could.

But as I admired her page, a quiet question crossed my mind:

“I love seeing the images of the castle so artfully arranged... but how did you feel as you walked through that ancient, breathtaking space?”

That simple question lingered.

And it became the heart of what I want to share with you today:

📖 Let’s take one step beyond recording what happened. Instead, let’s try to capture how it moved us.

Yes, details and facts are important—but your journal doesn’t need to read like a history book. The power of art journaling, especially as a daily or travel companion, lies in what it reveals about you.

It’s about preserving the moments that stirred something in your soul—the thoughts, emotions, and quiet realizations that might otherwise fade. That’s what draws you back to a page again and again...
...to the you who paused, felt, and fully absorbed the beauty of that day.

Here Are a Few Creative Tips for Daily or Travel Journaling:

🎨 Let images and words mingle. Pair a phrase with a sketch, photo, or color swatch. Let the visual elements carry emotion, not just information.

📌 Use layers and hidden elements. Add pockets, flaps, or taped-in keepsakes—like a ticket stub, leaf, or hand-written prayer.

🖋️ Write to your future self. Even one sentence like “I don’t want to forget how peaceful this moment felt” can become a gift later on.

💭 Include your internal landscape. What were you feeling? What stirred in your heart? What questions or prayers surfaced?

🌹 A Journal Page Close to My Heart

Here’s a journal page I recently created to celebrate an amazing Christian concert I watched online.
It moved me deeply, and I wanted to capture not just the music, but the meaning.

To explain the page, I want to share something personal:
At this time in my life, roses are challenging for me to paint.
Capturing the flow of the petals do not come easily.

But I chose to paint them on this page intentionally to symbolize something deeper:
How God helps us with hard things.

So, these roses?
They are more than decoration.
They are a quiet prayer.
A reminder that God meets us in the hard things—and walks with us through them.

Whether you're exploring faraway places or simply reflecting on the beauty of an ordinary day, I encourage you to let your journal be more than a record. Let it become a mirror. A time capsule. A place of presence.

And when you return to its pages, may it take you back...
to the part of you that was fully awake to God's nearness in that moment.

With heart and art,
Cathy 💛
Grow Joy | Creative Soul Care for the Journey

Would you like the template I created for my journal page?  Click Here