Journals. Blogs. And the discipline to do it.

My friend John has been encouraging me to keep a journal. Capture the political drama from inside the big stone house at 501 Belleville.

It is good advice.

Unfortunately there are not a few hundred journal entries capturing those early days. But, thankfully journaling can start at any time.

You start writing and commit the discipline to keep writing. Every day. Make it the priority to keep sharing stories of the unfolding world.

My wife Emily has taken up the challenge of writing a poem a day for 30 days and publishing them on social media. Sometimes she will publish deep into the darkness of the night, after falling asleep with her fingers cramping on her keyboard. Every day. Even if that day is already tomorrow.

It would be easy for an MLA to work 26 hours a day.  There are plenty of ready-made excuses to not read for pleasure, or journal.

So, the challenge. With the constant flow of requests, demands and needs, how do you not get lost in the ever-growing pile of problems?

Boundaries. You have to establish reasonable expectations.

Over the coming weeks this blog will become my public journal. Perhaps there will also be a more private one on the go as well, but these musings will be a daily reflection on the constituency work and policy-making in the Legislature.

Follow Emily’s lead. Set the priority and intention to produce something each day. Try to make it valuable.

John’s persistent prodding paid off. And, if these posts are any good, he may just stop by to check them out.