{"product_id":"ive-been-thinking-the-journal-isbn-9781984878021","title":"I've Been Thinking . . . The Journal","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis inspiring, interactive journal encourages readers to explore what they've been thinking. The perfect gift for those meditative winter days. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking. . . \u003c\/i\u003eis one of my favorite books of all time and this journal is the perfect companion. It's a great way for us all to think about our lives.\" -Hoda Kotb\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn her instant #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestseller \u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking. . . ,\u003c\/i\u003e Maria Shriver shared her own insights, thoughts and prayers, and the ways she has learned to create a deeper, more spiritual and more meaningful life. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNow, Shriver has created a journal that encourages readers to write about their own lives and what really matters to them. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith an inspiring new introduction and creative, thought-provoking prompts, and complete with many of Shriver's own prayers and quotes, it's a perfect companion to \u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking. . . \u003c\/i\u003eand gives readers the space to reflect on what a meaningful life looks like to them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Maria's book was a gift to the world; inspiring, uplifting, and empowering. This journal is yet another gift. It's here to hold our own thoughts, our own stories, our fears and hopes and joys.\" -Martha Beck\"\u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking. . . \u003c\/i\u003eis one of my favorite books of all time and this journal is the perfect companion. It's a great way for us all to think about our lives.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Hoda Kotb\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Maria’s book was a gift to the world; inspiring, uplifting, and empowering. This journal is yet another gift. It’s here to hold our own thoughts, our own stories, our fears and hopes and joys. Every one of us can use it to create something wonderful.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Martha Beck\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaria Shriver\u003c\/b\u003e is the mother of four, a Peabody Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning journalist and producer, the author of seven \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling books and a bestselling coloring book, an NBC News Special Anchor, and founder of The Women's Alzheimer's Movement. When she's not thinking or writing, she can be found hanging with her kids.\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDear Friend,\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs you open this new journal of yours, the first thing I want to do is thank you for having the courage to think about your own life. The fact that you even picked this up should tell you that you're already on the path to a meaningful life. You wouldn't be reading these words if you weren't. So, bravo!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe truth is, no matter our age, no matter our background, we all could use some guidance, wisdom, and inspiration to help us live a life that is uniquely our own. My book \u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking \u003c\/i\u003e. . . was my attempt to share with you my own thoughts about a meaningful life. I hoped in doing so that it would get you thinking about what you value. About what you believe in. About what's really important to you.\u003cbr\u003e The response to the book was incredibly humbling, and along the way, many people asked if I would consider creating a journal where they could write their own thoughts as well. Well, voila! Here it is!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWriting has always been one of my most therapeutic tools. Time and again, it's helped me figure out what I'm thinking and feeling. It's also helped me get centered and get clear. In this journal, I wanted to give you the space and the encouragement to explore your own thoughts and feelings for yourself. I hope it helps you gain clarity and that it centers you on your path forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThroughout this journal, you'll find writing prompts inspired by the essays in \u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking\u003c\/i\u003e . . . . There are inspirations for each week of the year. I've made this a weekly guide, because I myself sit down once a week to gather my thoughts and write.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy hope is that this journal will be a tool to help you make time each week to reflect on your life and write down what you've been thinking. You see, I believe that everyone is a writer, even if they don't think they are good at it. If you can think, then you can write. Your voice deserves to be heard as much as mine or anyone else's, so start using it here on these pages. (And if you need more inspiration, then pick up \u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking\u003c\/i\u003e . . . , which has additional writing on all the topics covered here.)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition to providing space for you to respond to the writing prompts, I've also included additional space for you to reflect midweek and for you to write down your \"yippee! moments\" of the week as well. \"Yippee! moments\" are what I like to call any experience or encounter that made me smile or jump for joy. Sometimes those moments are big. Other times they're small. But trust me, even during our hardest weeks, there is something worth celebrating.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs with\u003ci\u003e I've Been Thinking \u003c\/i\u003e. . . , you can use this journal in whatever way suits you best. The essays are organized according to the seasons and holidays of the year, but feel free to jump around and respond to whatever inspires you in that moment. This is your journey and your journal. How you use it is up to you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the weekly inspirations, you'll also find quotes and prayers to inspire you and make you think. In \u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking\u003c\/i\u003e . . . , I wrote about how I use \"Dear God\" to start my prayers because those words reflect my faith and my beliefs. That said, I know that not everyone prays to the same God or uses that word. Some don't pray at all. That's why in this journal I've included my own prayers, and left space for you to write your own. That way you can fill in the blank however you'd like.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI've also included a \"midyear check-in\" within the pages of this journal. That's because I like to make a point of allotting time throughout the year to stop and take stock of how my life is going. Is my year going the way I expected it to go? If not, can I redirect myself to better serve my goals, hopes, and dreams? I like to ask myself these questions every few months so that I can evaluate where I am on the path of my life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI'm so excited for you to start this process. I hope you'll dig deep in this journal, as I did when writing\u003ci\u003e I've Been Thinking\u003c\/i\u003e . . . . And, when you're done with your writing, I hope you'll be brave enough to share some of your words with others. That could just mean sharing an essay with someone you love. Or it could mean sharing it online with a community of other people seeking wisdom and inspiration. If you ever feel ready to share publicly, I invite you to visit my website at www.mariashriver.com\/sundaypaper\/ and submit your essay to my team. We'll consider publishing it in a future edition of The Sunday Paper newsletter, which is where all of the essays in my book \u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking\u003c\/i\u003e . . . originated.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo, off you go. Turn the page now and get started. I wish you all the best on your personal journey to a meaningful life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith love,\u003cbr\u003eMaria\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery morning, I start my day with this version of Saint Teresa's prayer. I included it at the beginning of \u003ci\u003eI've Been Thinking\u003c\/i\u003e . . . , and I wanted to include it again in this journal because I really do believe it's a great way to start things out. I hope it helps you. Enjoy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMay today there be peace within\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMay you trust God that you are exactly\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ewhere you are meant to be\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMay you not forget the infinite\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003epossibilities that are born of faith\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMaybe you use those gifts that you have\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ereceived and pass on the love that has been\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003egiven to you\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMay you be content knowing that\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eyou are a child of God\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLet this presence settle into your bones\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand allow your soul the freedom\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eto sing, dance, praise, and love\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is there for each and every one of us.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e-Saint Teresa of Avila\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWeek 1\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat I'm Carrying with Me into the New Year\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"I keep turning over new leaves, and spoiling them, as I used to spoil my copy-books; and I make so many beginnings there never will be an end.\" -Laurie, in \u003ci\u003eLittle Women\u003c\/i\u003e by Louisa May Alcott\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA new year is always thrilling because we have the chance to make it our best one yet. At the beginning of each year, I like to make a list of all the things I want to leave behind. I also like to make a list of the positive things in my life that I want to carry forward. I encourage you to try this same exercise. As you enter this new year, ask yourself: What do I want to bury from my past, and what do I want to bring with me into the future? Also ask yourself: How do I define a meaningful life, and how do I want it to look for me? What steps do I need to take today to begin this journey?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDear God, living with regret and guilt for my past mistakes is a heavy burden to carry. Free me from the chains of remorse over things I've done that I wish I could do over. Please help me know in my heart that I can make a fresh start whenever I decide to. Free me to look ahead and not keep looking back. Amen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDear                              ,\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMidWeek Reflection\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow are things going for you this week, so far? What more can you do this week to focus your intentions and move forward on your path to a meaningful life?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy Yippee! Moment of the Week . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat brought you joy or made you smile this week?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy Intentions for the New Year . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(A little more space for you to reflect on your goals for this year.)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pamela Dorman Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304406077669,"sku":"NP9781984878021","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781984878021.jpg?v=1767730285","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/ive-been-thinking-the-journal-isbn-9781984878021","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}