5 Thanksgiving Reasons to Keep a Journal of Your Summer Cabin or Cottage Stays

BISMARCK, N.D., Nov. 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- "The problem with making mental notes is that the ink fades very rapidly," says Rolf Smith, who is best known as the author of The 7 Levels of Change.

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If you're used to spending summer weekends at a cabin or cottage, you probably write down lots of things rather than trusting your "mental notes." You've got checklists for closing the cabin for the winter and opening it up again for the summer.

But do you keep a cabin or cottage journal?  With Thanksgiving on the way, we're all in a grateful frame of mind. Here are 5 reasons why a cabin journal might just be the most valuable record of all.

1. Give thanks that you had the money, time, energy, or skill to update your property this year. Whether you added a gazebo or just cleared some brush, keep track of exactly what you did, and when. It will come in handy for insurance purposes and budgeting. And it's undeniable proof of your industriousness, even on vacation.
2. Give thanks that you were having so much fun you neglected some needed updates. Journaling about them will force you to think them through completely and prioritize them appropriately next year.
3. Give thanks for your garden. Document what you planted, how well it did, and what you plan for next year. If you're thinking of trying something exotic or difficult, your journal entry will remind you to research it over the winter.
4. Give thanks for memories with family and friends—and write them down to make them permanent. Your youngest daughter got up on the skis. Your mother joined you for coffee at sunrise every morning. Your favorite neighbors announced their pregnancy. These are the memories that will keep you warm in February—if you write them down.
5. Give thanks for relaxation and inspiration. People get their best ideas and find solutions to their hardest problems when they're relaxed and happy. You're the best you possibly can be when you're at your cottage or cabin. Write down your epiphanies and brainstorms; they show your mind and heart at the very best.

Kari Warberg-Block is founder and CEO of Earth-Kind, Inc., manufacturer of Fresh Cab™, the only EPA-registered natural rodent repellent. She writes about earth-friendly solutions to everyday problems, including rodent infestations.

SOURCE Earth-Kind, Inc.