I’ve been listening to Emily P. Freeman’s podcast The Next Right Thing and in it she often mentions how at the end of a season, she likes to look back and reflect on the past few months: what went right, what could have been done differently, what to think about for that same season the following year. I really like the idea of reflection – looking back so that you can learn what to do in the future, and I’ve been thinking of ways I can do that.
About a month or so before Christmas, I was shopping in Target for gifts when I came across a lovely little notebook. It has a mint green linen cover with simple gold lettering on the front – classic and pretty. I always buy a new planner for the New Year but I rarely need a new planner because most of my days, weeks, months are roughly the same. I don’t have lots of different clients I need to see, I don’t have tons of activities to schedule, I don’t have oodles of friends requesting lunch dates…so really after I scribble in all the birthdays I need to remember I tend to let my planner gather dust in the back seat of my car for the next 11 months. And also, any appointments or kid’s activities I have to attend are in my phone’s calendar, which sends me reminders, which I need.
But still…I do love a pretty notebook.
So when I saw this Thoughtful Journal by Blue Sky in Target, I knew it would end up under the Christmas tree with my name on it…From Me, To Myself.
I knew I would like this journal immediately because it said on the inside front page “Perfect for the person who is not necessarily looking for a planner, but looking for a reliable place to jot down all of their daily details” and because it has a place to reflect on the previous week as well as the previous month. A notebook for reflection?!? Perfect!
I was going to link to it in case someone else was interested in it, however, I discovered while writing this post that this journal is NOWHERE TO BE FOUND now. It’s not on Target’s website, it’s not at Amazon, it’s not listed on the Blue Sky website. I couldn’t even find a picture of it on Google! How is this possible? What is going on???
I’m really enjoying this little journal so far but what am I going to do NEXT YEAR??? I’m already distressed. And perplexed as to why this journal disappeared so fast.
I feel like Nancy Drew – like I’ve stumbled onto a mystery that is begging to be solved. Seriously, I don’t understand why there is no evidence of this journal anywhere – did it enter witness protection? Was it going to testify against a mobster? Why is it not available anywhere? I wish I had the time and energy to solve this case. Where IS a plucky teenage detective when you need one???
Anyway, I really like this Thoughtful Journal and I wish you all could have one too but it seems I’ve bought the only one in existence. Sorry ’bout that. Next year I’ll reflect on why I didn’t buy 2 of these when I had to chance.
In any case, here are some other lovely journals if you still would like one for this shiny new year (click on the picture for more information):
When I have had weird things like that happen at Target (bought one, wanted more, none available) they have been returns. And sometimes out of state returns. The last time I remember, it was baby clothes. Bought one, I wanted more, no where to be found. It turned out to have only been available in southern Targets. So someone from the south had bought it as a gift, it was returned much later in Indiana. (My local Target manager figured that out for me).
I would email the Blue Sky company, explain, see what they say. My guess is it was manufactured a while ago, bought, returned. The same person might even have returned more than one. I usually buy things like that (on sale, even clearance) in 3-4 for gifts. So sometimes, later, I am returning 1-2-3-4 of something.
People buy me journals on occasion. (I must look like a journal person. Two issues – my handwriting is soooo terrible, it is way too hard on my hands to write anything lengthy.) But I get it, thouse bound journals have massive appeal. So tempting. And I look like someone who writes.
I am totally on line now. Calendar, journal, notes, to do, reminders. If I type it, I can write a lot more. And I can read it.
When I bought this journal it was on a display and this journal wasn’t the only copy – I think there were a couple more in different colors (if I remember correctly). I guess this was just a seasonal thing or a one-off.
Also, I think with my pen. When I write something down I tend to remember it better. However, I could not sit and hand write an actual journal (like this blog) – I just don’t have the time for it.
Yep, I bet you are right, special display seasonal item. Maybe next year they will have them again. Where was it in the store? Office supplies?
No, oddly enough it was near the front of the store in the juniors clothing section, but it was desk supplies. There were some pencils there and some matches in a decorated box that matched the decor of the display. It was coordinated things that you would put in a very feminine office.
I think it was a Christmas item. Next year, right before Christmas, I bet it reappears!
You are probably right! 🙂