5 Reasons to Keep a Journal

1. A journal is a place where we can keep personal thoughts, without storing them up in our minds.

At times, our minds carry the weight of the world. So many ideas, hopes, and fears all fighting to exist in one place. Samwise Gamgee, from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien once said to his best friend, Frodo Baggins, "Share the load." Let your journal be your Samwise Gamgee. Write down your worries and your concerns. Transfer your frustrations from your mind to that piece of paper and leave them there. Trust me, you'll feel loads better!

2. Writing down our hopes and our dreams is one of the major steps to realizing them.

No dream was ever fully realized until it was written or drawn out on paper. A cartoon character doesn't just pop out of its creator's mind. It has to be drawn out. The words in a book may be created in the mind of an author, but the world and characters aren't fully preserved until they make it onto paper.

Write down what you want most out of life. What are your dreams?

I recently read a book called The Jackrabbit Factor by Leslie Householder. It's a fictional story about a man name Richard who is trying to figure out what to do with his life. He is talking to a man named Andy about what he wants and how he can achieve it. Andy answers, "Okay, then. It's simple. You'll need to write it down, and know that the mere act of doing so causes unseen things to happen for your benefit."

3. While we often remember the significant changes in our lives, sometimes we forget all about the little moments leading up to these.

When you look back on your life, you don't just want to remember the milestones, you want to remember all the lessons you've learned and the trials you've gone through to get there. A journal is a great place to record life lessons. These will not only be an inspiration to yourself as you look back, but to your posterity as well.

Which brings me to my next point...

4. Shouldn't we want our children and our children's children to not only remember us when we've gone, but to know how we became who we were?

What are the significant points in your life that helped you become the person you became in life. These are the sorts of things your children down the line will look up to. They will read about your courage, your successes, your failures. They will learn from these personal moments and build upon the story.

Bilbo Baggins from the Lord of the Rings is a great example. He wrote his story. His nephew, Frodo Baggins then wrote his. Then, having no children of his own, Frodo passed his journal to his best friend, Samwise Gamgee. Their bravery and heroics became immortalized simply because they were written down.

5. Personal Satisfaction

Don't just keep a journal for reasons like the ones listed above. Keep a journal because you want to. From my own personal experience, keeping a journal has been one of the most satisfying things I do each night. There is nothing more pleasing than to see yourself immortalized in a book.

-Thomas Stanley, Jr.-

Attributions: J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings, books and films). Leslie householder (The Jackrabbit Factor). Thank you for your inspiration.

Smile the Storms Away

If I have learned one thing in life, this is that it doesn't do anyone any good to be sad. Life is so short. Don't waste it away with a frown. Smile a bit. You will find your courage, and you will go through life witnessing and even bringing miracles to all those wonderful people around you. Storms will come, but don't let them stay. Smile them away and live your dream.

Thomas Stanley Jr

The Key to Success...

...is to realize that nobody is above you and that nobody is below you. Know this and you will have a clear vision and determination to live your dream. Not only will your dream be realized, but also the dreams of others.

There will always be those who place themselves above others, who believe they are more important, smarter, or wiser. This is but an illusion that takes place in the minds of the selfish.

It does not matter how much knowledge you have or how much experience you have gained, you are no better than the next man.

Yes, man is given status in life. Some people become Kings and Queens, CEO's and Managers, Teachers and Politicians, etc. These and many other titles deserve respect, but even the best of these do not think themselves above others.

The great men and women of our world have worked alongside those whom they were given stewardship over. The worst men and women in history were those who thought themselves better deserving of life and all its glory than others.

Remember why we are here on this Earth. We are to uplift and inspire each other, but this is only possible if each man and woman views their own life and the lives of each individual around them as the equals they are.

Thomas Stanley Jr

Misunderstood Creatures

At the edge of the forest a magnificent creature quietly walks, watching, waiting in shadow.
A deer, a sheep, anything to fill the stomachs of its pack.
Another day, another hunt, its purpose in life.

Out in the fields, farmers till.
Mothers watch as their children play in the yard.
Another day, another joy, their purpose in life.

Little Anne strays too far.
A forest lies at her feet.
Mother yells, but Anne is scared.
A wolf stares into her eyes.

An innocent girl.
A hungry wolf.
Both stare, watching, waiting.
Each unsure what the other will try.

Mother runs, stick in hand.
Mother strikes, but the wolf just cries.
Little Anne, not an option.
The wolf understands.

"Beast!" the mother cries.
Anne in her arms.

Silently, without malice,
The wolf moves on.

-Thomas Stanley Jr-

Read about the author's inspiration behind "Misunderstood Creatures."

A Note from the Author

Dear Followers,

Please accept my apology. I have been absent from my blog for far too long! Many of you have expressed interest in my writing and have asked for more. I will admit I got a little lazy last year. I used to be a member of an online blogging community which shut down. Since then, my blog's hit count diminished significantly, causing me to be a bit discouraged. However, finding a new blogging community, keeping up Junior's Jrnl, and pulling in many new followers is on my list of resolutions for 2014.

I have already begun my next piece. It will be posted sometime this week. I do hope you enjoy it just as much if not more than my previous work. This new piece is a topic of interest in which people have asked me questions about...one that I hope will cause you to discover more about the author of Junior's Jrnl ;)

Thanks again to all you faithful followers! I look forward to once again reading your comments and discovering what each you like (or even dislike) about each post.

Sincerely,

Thomas Stanley Jr

When Dreams Reach Out

Have you ever woken up from the most remarkable dream, and though you thought it to be unforgettable, it seems to have slipped away? You know in your mind there was something Phenomenal there, but you just cannot remember what. I am almost certain there is no man or woman to ever walk the earth who has never experienced moments of bereavement such as these. If I am wrong, I envy those to whom my question does not apply.

Dreams can ofttimes be the climax of our imagination; sometimes involving a great deal of inspiration. Who says the two cannot be related? In our moments of slumber, when our minds have the chance to fulfill their will to exist beyond this world, we experience things unheard of, sometimes effects we think not possible, but are.

It is during these moments I fancy the idea of being able to write in my sleep. Some people walk and talk in their sleep, so why not write? When I wake up to my "dream journal," those meticulous memories of another me in a far off place will be fresh in my mind and a keepsake forever. I would be able to write those stories for others to enjoy. Such a thought makes me wonder how many authors, screenwriters, directors, video game designers, etc., have envisioned what they have because of dreams. Not all dreams are forgotten, but think of all those miraculous moments that have slipped away between sleep and awake...

Thomas Stanley Jr

What Do You Love Most?

Never put yourself in a situation where you will despise what you do. Do what you love most for the entirety of your life, and you will find you are among the happiest people on earth.

Thomas Stanley Jr

In a World Full of Change...

The greatest comfort in my life is knowing that no matter what happens, I will always be me. No judgment, responsibility or expectation can unwillingly change who I am so long as I do not lose sight of my character.

Thomas Stanley Jr

The Cradle of Humanity

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won’t fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges. I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through."

- Harold B. Lee, 11th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -

A Thought...

Reality will slap you in the face, but sometimes you just need to slap reality in the face.

Thomas Stanley Jr

Everything Will Work Out In Time

Accepting uncertainty is really the only way to fully stop worrying. Accept the things that don't work out and continue on living. Ask yourself, 'Am I putting the past behind me and looking to a brighter future, or am I so concerned with what I could have done better that my future seems hopeless?' Everything will work out in time.

Thomas Stanley Jr

A World of Purpose and Focus

I've always imagined my ideal world to be a mix between the sixteenth century and the twenty-first century. Could you imagine a world full of the elegance of the sixteenth century and the technology and fashion of today? It would be a dream come true!

Our world today has lost every touch of elegance and respect that once existed in the old world. In Mary Hoffman's "City of Stars," a teenage girl finds herself in a sixteenth century Italy existing in a parallel world to her own; the twenty-first century London. She realized "in spite of the noise and bustle, her world...suddenly seemed thin - a meaningless jumble of events and busyness without purpose and focus," compared to "the formal design and many rules" of the sixteenth century Italy.

I love the century we live in because of our neat fashions and advanced technology (especially in medicine). I would never think of giving up such advancement. However, in my ideal world, I would make the "formal design and many rules" from the old world to be a part of our world. It would be a time of elegant, grand Balls where dancing is an art; not some mess of heads, arms, and legs looking like people are having seizures. Balls were the social life of the young people in the old world. How neat is that? Life for young people, rich or poor, would be less confusing with much more meaning and focus as they are given a chance through apprenticeships to learn a trade...not through a university costing thousands of dollars.

It would be a time when courtship isn't so confusing. A date is simply a walk through the gardens, an evening at a ball or supper with the parents, days of sitting on the porch or near the water fountain talking and enjoying nature. Today, it seems as if money and activities must be a part of courtship to show how fun you are to be around, thereby excluding those without money to spare and those who may not enjoy such activities. In old times, all that mattered for guys was that they had a respectable trade, personality, and loved and respected the girl and her family with all his heart.

In my ideal world, people wouldn't think about walking by others with their heads down and shoulders slumped. Everybody would stand tall and greet others with a bow, at formal events, or a tip of a hat or nod of the head, if passing by.

I couldn't agree more with Mary Hoffman's character, Georgia, when she thought, "in spite of the noise and bustle, her world...suddenly seemed thin - a meaningless jumble of events and busyness without purpose and focus."

Thomas Stanley Jr

The Perfect Team

As the noblest of God's creations, Horse and Man share a special bond. Each holds a special level of trust in the other, creating the perfect team.

Thomas Stanley Jr

An Optimist's View on Happiness

I was once asked by a wise man, "Son, are you happy?"

I half smiled and responded, "I'm alright."

The man regarded me for a moment as if he could see right through me and asked, "Just alright, huh? Tell me, when do you plan on being happy?"

I chuckled a bit and said, "Well, you know, when things actually start workin' out for me."

The man paused for a moment, obviously displeased with my answer. He then asked me, "Son, How in the world will you be happy then if you are not happy now?"

"I'm not sure I understand," I said, unsure of where he was going with this.

"Let me explain, the man said, "You and I are here right now speaking with each other. We are not existing in the past, nor in the future. We exist now!"

"Okay?" I said, still not quite understanding.

Seeing the confusion on my face, the man continued, "You, my friend, are striving to live in the future. You are hoping for happiness; looking forward to it, even. Yet, you forget that you can be happy now, even amidst all the struggles you currently face. Our future is based off the lessons we learn in the present. If you do not learn to be happy now, I can promise you, you will not be happy then!

I fought to hold back the single tear falling down my cheek, with no avail, as my new friend finished lecturing me. All I said as I looked him directly in the eyes was, "Thank you!"

He tipped his hat to me and said, "My pleasure!" as he got up and walked away.

I thought long and hard about these words from a wise man who understood what life is truly all about. I learned that life is about those happy moments we are living in now. Yes, we live for the future and the happiness it will bring. But, we must learn to be happy now before we can be happy then!

Thomas Stanley Jr

The frost twilight passes away

For one of my English Literature classes, I was required to write a "replacement poem." I had never done this before, but found it quite intriguing. To create a replacement poem, you choose a poem and substitute all the nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs with the same part of speech. You can either leave the conjunctions and prepositions or you can replace them. Basically, the point is to produce a poem with the same style, but making it your own. During the Renaissance Era, ambitious poets would often use the style and/or the tone of other famous poets (usually the poets of the previous Medieval Era) to develop their work. Then, as they improved their skills at writing poetry, they would invent a style and tone entirely their own.

I hope you enjoy this replacement poem I created based on T.S. Eliot's, "The winter evening settles down." Though T.S Eliot's poem had a much deeper meaning than simply describing a winter's evening, it inspired me to write a poem limited to the image of a winter's evening. Winter is my favorite time of year, so I found creating this replacement poem quite fascinating...

The frost twilight passes away
By Thomas Stanley, Jr.

The frost twilight passes away

With feel of ice in winds.

Sundown.

The frost-bit air of snowy nights.

And again a misty blanket cakes

The frozen ears

Of cloaked people on their way

And children in white yards;

The blanket sticks

On iced walks and house-tops,

And at the end of the road

A lost house-pet shivers and whimpers.

And then the white-out of the sky.

My Patronus - The Wolf

Lately, I have been day dreaming about what my Patronus would be. Actually, this was fairly easy to figure out. The Wolf is my absolute favorite animal, so of course the wolf would be my Patronus. However, the wolf is much more to me. You know those times when you, your friends, and your family would try to guess what animal you would all be? Well, mine was always the wolf. In many ways, the wolf and my character are closely related. Let me explain.

Many of you most likely believe a wolf is vicious and scary, for that is how they appear to be. For this reason, they are seriously misunderstood creatures; for inside, they are quite the opposite. Wolves are intelligent, friendly animals who love and protect those close to them. Once you get to know them, you find they are loyal friends. The only time a wolf gets defensive is when they are threatened or scared. If you are scared of them, they will be scared of you. Wolves can be tamed by the right people; those who truly understand them. However, in spirit, they will always be wild and free. The wolf's personality is my personality, which creates a tight bond between this animal and I. So, if I did have a Patronus, the wolf would be it; not just because I want it to be, but because it would make sense.

Thomas Stanley, Jr.

What would your Patronus be? Leave a comment below explaining what your Patronus would be and why.

"The Less You Reveal, The More People Can Wonder"

You may think me odd for posting this quote, being that it was directed towards the women; but I would like to point out how true this statement is! Everyone, not just women, need to understand and KNOW this truth. Being a guy, I respect when a girl chooses to be modest; for that is precisely the type of girl I would be attracted to! Remember, your body is yours; protect it! Modest is Hottest!

"I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me - dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. Then there’s the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini-skirt. But that’s not me. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini-skirt. It’s nothing to do with protecting the Hermione image. I wouldn’t do that. Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. What’s sexy about saying, ‘I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got?’ My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder."

- Emma Watson

See With Your Heart, Not Your Eyes

People may get the impression (or assume) I take pleasure in gore, pain, and suffering of characters in movies or books merely because of what they observe me reading or watching over and over again. They may assume I prefer to be depressed or sad because scenes of sadness are those that touch me the most. If so, they do not open their eyes and hearts enough to perceive and sense what it is that I see and feel; which is the pureness of the heart of a person who provides solace for the suffering, comfort for those in pain, peace and/or a memorabilia for those dying or dead. A human afflicted and another suffering and grieving with them shows the purity of humanity and the proper reason for possessing a heart.

If more people were pure in heart as the characters I see in films and read about in books, who dart to the side of the afflicted, this world would be a better place. I do not believe all movies and books are created to expose violence, but to illustrate as close to realism as possible the purity of the heart of a character who hurries to the aid of the suffering and/or dying; and how each of these characters feel as they suffer together and/or spend their last moments together. There truly is beauty in this.

Please do not suppose I believe suffering is okay. It is clearly not! But, we live in a world where people suffer from violence and other circumstances. Therefore, we must discover the purity of the hearts we have all been blessed with, and like these characters we watch and read about, anxiously run to their side.

Thomas Stanley, Jr.

The Perfect Example

As I look into your big, brown eyes, I see love. How, I think, can one love so unconditionally? You watch me as if you love me, as if you will always protect me, as if you do not judge me. How, I think, can this be possible? Oh the questions I would ask if you could speak. How can you have such love for and devotion towards a human such as me?

As I observe you throughout our many days together, you play as if you have no worries. You sleep as if you have the most pleasant dreams. When you get punished, you so easily forgive. When you get hurt, you plead for my help and love. When you cause mischief, you have a glow in your eye as if your behavior is to be funny. When I get hurt or feel down, you cuddle up beside me, refusing to leave. You obey every order, never questioning.

Oh how I wish I could understand how you do it; how you remain so positive and unselfish in a world such as this. Can you really be so perfect?

As I gaze into your big, brown eyes, wishing I could speak to you and you to me, I suddenly realize that you already know how I feel and what I think.

I begin to understand that you are speaking to me, rather to my heart, through your actions. You are saying, “I Love you, care for you, watch you, forgive you, cuddle up to you when you are down, and do all those things you see me do. All I ask in return is that you love me, care for me, and of course play with me.”

As I look into your big, brown eyes, I begin to understand that I cannot have a more perfect example and companion.

Thomas Stanley, Jr.

Music: The Language of Heaven?

The power of music is evident in each of our lives. This is true no matter who we are and no matter what kinds of music we prefer. In such a world as where we live, we hear music everywhere we go and in everything we do. We hear music on the radio, on our ipod's, from the instruments we play, at concerts we go to, etc. Each of us is unique and therefore attracted to specific genre's of music, matching our specific personalities. Many say our generation has been involved in and has created more music than any previous generation. Although this may be true statistically, we cannot forget that music, no matter how much, has always been the most important aspect of every generation and has played the most important role in every life from the beginning of time.

So why is music so powerful? Why does it create emotions we cannot explain? Have you ever noticed animals around music, how it attracts and calms them? We often believe music affects only humans, but how often do we see it affect all living things?

Janice Kapp Perry, a songwriter, said about music, "Is it a memory that birth could not erase?" Maybe music has such power because the feelings we receive are so close to the joy we felt in our heavenly home. Is music the language of heaven? Is everything in our universe composed? Modern scientists have reported that planets and stars within our solar system have certain rhythms to their rotations around each other. Scientists have also declared that the left-brain, right-brain theory is no longer correct. When a person hears music or when they create music in their mind, most EVERY part of their brain lights up.

Pay close attention to your feelings when listening to MUSIC, not NOISE. Ponder the power of music in your life, and how it affects you. When you listen closely to music and the feelings it creates, you will find you are more in tune with the spirit inside you; more in tune with your heavenly home.

Thomas Stanley, Jr.