WHITTIER LOCAL | MICHELLE, BULLET JOURNALER
We're excited to introduce our friend Michelle, loyal coffee customer and bullet journaler. Michelle works locally as an RN, but in the mornings enjoys a cappuccino, pastry, and some time quiet time on the Local Fixture patio mapping out her months via her beloved (and highly organized + eye catching) journal. Self-proclaimed stationery nerd, Michelle was kind enough to share more about how she got into bullet journaling, what it entails, and her thoughts on Whittier. Here's some highlights from our time on the patio:
HOW DID YOU GET INTO BULLET JOURNALING AND WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
“I’ve always been a pretty avid journaler. Like most people who find bullet journaling you just stumble upon it on the internet and you’re like ‘oh what is this’ and kind of get drawn in. It’s a community.
It’s a way of organizing yourself. It’s very forgiving. You can make it your journal, your diary, a sketchbook. Some people have very different approaches to it. Some people are really minimal and just bullets, which is what it’s based on. Other people make it into this huge elaborate thing with calligraphy, photography, mixed media. I typically like the graphic grid ‘cause it helps me with drawing.
It’s very pleasing to look at. It’s softer tones, white background. It’s calming to look at. And it’s cool to see into somebody’s world. A lot of time bullet journalers are students who are trying to stay organized and get through school. The audience is generally younger. Everyone has a different style, there’s one guy who does really fun cartoons in his. I’ve learned a lot. A lot of the beginning pages were experimental, but now I have a defined style. I’m really into the fish thing. It’s turned into a distinct style.”
“I love Local Fixture. I love the Uptown area, I’m really drawn to the small town feeling where it’s kind of a community, especially around this area. I like the local businesses, that there’s a farmer’s market here on Friday. I primarily sit outside here in the mornings to relax [on the Local Fixture patio].
“It’s my quiet time since I get here so early in the morning. It’s a place for me to be outside, enjoy some sunshine and some breeze with good coffee. Bless this good coffee, bless Anthony. I love the outside space, especially being in the office all day, this is the only time almost that I get to be outside and enjoy doing what I do. The atmosphere of the shop is very welcoming, Vee and Anthony are very welcoming, all the patrons that come in are very welcoming, it’s things like that. It’s got a good community feel to it, which I love. I see some of the same people coming in and out, I see cyclists coming in. I see familiar things here.”
“I think bullet journaling is for everyone. As long as you’re interested in organizing yourself and taking the time to sit down and do it. Most people build their own template, it’s blank pages and then they turn it into something that’s their own. It’s flexible, you can be as creative or minimal as you want. For me personally I would recommend it for anybody. It’s relaxing and has really helped me think through my processes and what I need to do, what to look for and things like that. It’s not exclusive to any particular work field. A lot of people use it to organize their daily lives.”
WHAT IS A POSITIVE OUTCOME YOU'VE EXPERIENCED FROM BULLET JOURNALING?"If you write down your goals you’re more likely to fulfill them. It’s an additional motivation, and it helps gage where you’re at. That’s part of the beauty of writing down your goals."