Guest Author - Angela England

A traveling journal is a great way to connect with friends and family who live out of town. It can also be an inspiring way to learn, grown and stretch yourself as you have your life touched by strangers outside your usual circle of friends.

So what exactly is a traveling journal? A traveling journal is just that - a journal or diary book that travels from one person to another. Sometimes the traveling happens in person, but often it takes place via the mail. Each participant in the traveling journal will write one entry, usually limited to about 5 pages or so, before passing the journal on to the next person.

Many traveling journals have themes or set topics that participants should cover such as motherhood, gardening, scary moments, love, most embarrassing moments, bad dates, or almost anything else you can imagine. Other traveling journals are simply blank books that journalists can fill with anything that strikes their fancy, including art work, photos or musings from their normal activities.

If you are taking part in someone else's traveling journal, the rules can be summed up with a simple, "Be respectful." Somebody carefully selected, prepared and is waiting for this journal you are receiving. Try to be respectful of that fact by making time to work in it promptly.

Sometimes these traveling journals are more diary-like, with a focus on writing. This can be creative writing entries, with a short scene or character description. Or participants might write event based entries centered around a memory or specific occasion like a wedding, first date or birth of a child.

Other times the journal is truly "mail art" and an "anything goes" attitude is taken towards the journal entries. Participants paint, sketch, glue and collage their way through the book. The theme might be a particular medium such as paper art, painting or pastels. Or the book may have another theme set that participants are encouraged to use in their journaling.

A traveling journal is a great way to get in touch with other people in surprising and unexpected ways.