1001 Journals

I have signed up to contribute to three different traveling journals that are part of the 1001 Journals Project! 

1001 Journals is an outgrowth of the 1000 Journals Project.  In that project, 1000 projects were "released" into the world by Someguy, who then attempts to track their progress around the globe. 

Anyone who finds one of these journals is encouraged to add a story, a drawing, or a picture--anything they care to contribute--and then pass the journal along to a friend or stranger to continue its journey.  It is a giant interactive art collaboration that encourages creativity in those who are lucky to come across one of the journals.  According the FAQs on the originator's site, only one has returned home to him, and 999 are still in circulation!

Because 1000 journals in the scope of the entire earth isn't really that many, and there's not such a huge chance that you or I would ever get our hands on one, the creator of the project began 1001 Journals, where you can go and sign up for a journal to come right to your doorstep for your contributions.  Or better yet, you can start a journal of your own, so that at the end of the project, the journal comes back to you and becomes your own personal piece of art.

Bonita's photo of her traveling journal, from the 1001 Journals site

Sometime in the next year or so, I should be receiving journals sent out by Bonita Rose, Regina Lord, and April Cole.  Regina's journal has been sent off, and participation is now closed.  Bonita's journal has been created, though I'm not sure if she has sent it off yet; participation for hers is closed now too.  There are still spots open to contribute to April's journal.

Regina's photo of her traveling journal, from the 1001 Journals site

Each originator sets up their own guidelines, but basically when you receive the journal, you have a week or two to create a page or a spread, and then you send it on to the next person on the list.  Fun, right?

It will be interesting to see the contributions of the people ahead of me, but I can sure see the appeal of launching a book so that it would come back to me full of art after its journey is complete!

Maybe that will be a project for a later date.....

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A thought from the October 2011 issue of Self magazine:

"To succeed at any challenge in life,

you've got to tune out the noise around you--

the footsteps of others (ahead and behind),

distracting "advice,"

doubters who tell you it can't be done. 

Instead, focus on your inner voice. 

Setting your own goal, charting your course and

trusting your instincts

take courage,

but they are the surest route

to crossing your personal finish line a winner."