In today’s digital world, do people still write in journals? 

CHS Loving School art teacher Lisa Compton and her husband Allen have started a website and monthly enewsletter called Bound to Journal. From the interest generated and feedback received, they’ll tell you journaling is alive and well.

“Our tag is ‘Never miss the opportunity of the moment. Capture memories one journal entry at a time,’” says Lisa. Bound to Journal encourages people to use journaling and to share ideas.

Journaling offers people many benefits, including:

• Helping clarify the thoughts and feelings instrumental in solving and resolving problems
• Reducing stress and helping people unwind
• Exercising memory and memory retrieval
• Improving one’s mood
• Helping document experiences and important facts

“Bound to Journal has become far more exciting than we could ever have imagined, including all the behind-the-scenes tech work,” says Lisa. “However, if I had to say what reminds us we’re on the right path, it would be the heartfelt comments and related stories we’re receiving from our readers.”

Journaling as Book Art

In addition to teaching at CHS since 2011 (and teaching art this year at Sioux Falls Lutheran), Lisa has been doing adjunct graduate level teaching at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., for many years.

The Mary Letters art correspondence on the Bound to Journal site is a series of mailings Lisa sent to her teacher, mentor and friend, Mary Gotz, a professor emeritus from Hamline who started the school’s book arts program.

Book art is a field of fine art that often uses the form of the book, refers to the concept of books and/or writing and includes physical book elements such as papermaking, letterpress, binding, printmaking and more. The Bound to Journal name combines journaling ideas with Lisa’s love of book binding.

CHS Connections

Lisa incorporates her artistic interests into her work at CHS.

“Even with my youngest students, we make books, write stories, write about our art, discuss words, symbolism, and study authors, illustrators, and artists that write in their work,” Lisa says.

Bound to Journal has other CHS connections, as well. “Each month we send an enewsletter to our subscribers that includes an interview featuring someone who inspires us,” she says. Last year, interviews featured Doug Crane, CHS Cook and creative woodworker, and CHS Events Coordinator Tom Roberts. 

The website includes an On the Road section, featuring guest author CHS Loving School teacher Jordan Hofer.

Lisa and her husband Allen

Lisa and Allen work together on Bound to Journal. “Allen has always been supportive and helped me brainstorm the business and creative ideas,” Lisa says.

“About a year and a half ago, when we decided it was time to bring the site to the public, Allen decided he wanted to join my project. It’s pretty amazing. We’re always together and team up anyway but now it’s at a new level. Allen now takes most of our videos and increasingly more photos. We’re equally involved in the design and layout of our website including writing, planning, uploading, editing, and posting,” she says.

“Bound to Journal has become more than an opportunity for us to share new information and ideas on journaling and book arts,” Lisa says. “It’s our collection of journal entries. Bound to Journal invites readers to engage as they capture and share their own memories and experiences.”

Visit BoundToJournal.com to view the site and sign up for the monthly newsletter.