Since Coana loves journaling, we designed all the banners as different journal pages – a sweet revenge for every page Ghina could have written if only she had listened to us!

In creative circles, this is a “wait, what?”-worthy statement. It can easily rival a chef declaring they do not taste their food or a musician who refuses to listen to music. Well-meaning friends have tried to convert me, sharing tips and all the ways journaling helps them make sense of their thoughts and the world. I truly listened as they explained how I could use this practice as a way to catalog my more inspiring ideas for future (professional) use.

And yes, I meant it when I said I’d give it a shot. But no, I never did.

Why bother?

You see, my brain is already an overflowing file cabinet of ideas, observations, and random facts about Japanese teachings, Greek mythology, and the last 200 songs I heard.

You never know when those might come in handy, whether to lock in a campaign or to recharge everyone’s batteries during a brainstorming session. And that’s the magic of it all: having a thought just pop up like a bright balloon when you need it, ready to be caught and given away.

What then?

Don’t get me wrong, I do take time to reflect – too much time, some would say. I like to let my thoughts flow without adding another mandatory task that involves writing to my to-do list. In truth, my resistance to journaling isn’t born from some boundary exercise gone wrong – even though I do enjoy the occasional act of rebellion. 

When inspiration strikes, I don’t take a moment to type it inside my Notes app. I chase it down like an overcaffeinated rabbit, turning it into a story, a tagline, or a play on words before it evaporates.

It stems from understanding that creativity isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor.

How so?

Instead of journaling, I channel my creative energy straight into my work. Those Monday morning thoughts? They become the rationale for the campaign I’m presenting next Thursday. The messages I never sent? They’ve ended up on billboards more than once. My gratitude log? Every time a new client trusts me with the delicate and oh so rewarding task of giving voice to their brainchild. 

I found, with time, that I prefer planting my creative seeds in fertile ground to see what they’ll blossom into.