Would you have guessed that this layout, “New Schedules,” tells two stories? The first is through the journaling, the second through the visuals.
The journaling reads:
For me, the beginning of summer means a new schedule. I love when school starts or ends and I get to work a new schedule that ensures I exercise and get some creative time. I don’t know why the ritualistic reworking of my schedule became such a huge motivator for me. I do know that it creates a sense of order that I like. It is a sort of “insurance” that I use my time the way I really want to. Call it OCD. At least it works. For me.
As I thought about the design of this layout, my initial idea was to use a clean, organized style to represent the orderly nature of planning a schedule.
But there is a truth that I didn’t include in the journaling; the story behind the story.
The fact is, my love for creating a weekly schedule is compensation for my having Attention Deficit Disorder. Because of my coping strategies, certain parts of my life are ridiculously organized; but inside, my brain is spinning in a million directions and I can be quite scattered, forgetful, and I love to jump from one action to the next before I’ve completed anything.
My schedule-creating habit began in high school because of my insightful parents. I use that skill to reel in my flighty tendencies. Since then I have found that this system of “imposed order” actually allows me to release my creativity in functional ways so I can finish the projects I was so excited to start!
Now you know the story behind the story and the reason for the messy style which I chose for this layout. I added the hand-stitched circle as the one element of self-created order (the orderly calendars are not self-created) that keeps me centered.
The butterfly, which is the symbol I use to represent my creativity, releases itself from the circle.
Next time you work on a layout, think about the story behind the story; the characteristics of the person about whom you are scrapbooking; the emotions of the event; or any other details that you just didn’t want to include in the journaling. How can you express them visually?
Will it be obvious to others what you are trying to say? No. And it doesn’t need to be. Keen observers might get a sense for it. Most importantly, you expressed your version of your world. And while others may not get it, you do.
