Diving Into the Sisterhood of the Traveling Journal: A Little Paper, a Lot of Heart
OMG… this is my second blog! I’m not quite a blogger yet (and definitely not consistent), but hey… this is a start, and I’m celebrating it.
So this post is about something I recently discovered. Is it brand new to the world? Probably not. Is it brand new to me? Absolutely. And honestly, that’s usually how the best things enter my life.
I stumbled across something called the
Sisterhood of the Traveling Journal,
and it instantly felt like it belonged in my creative, journaling-loving heart. Picture this: a group of people from all over the country each start a journal, add their own stories, art, doodles, prompts—little pieces of themselves—and then send it off to the next person. By the time it makes its way back home, it’s this beautiful, layered snapshot of shared humanity. Kind of like pen pals… but artsy.
When I first fell in love with the idea, my very next thought was, Okay… but how do I actually do this? How do you find people? How do you organize it?
How do you not make it awkward?
I started digging around and eventually found a Facebook group where the host actually helps people connect and form traveling journal groups. Total game changer. And the best part? My mom was immediately on board to do one with me. So in 2026, my mom and I are officially starting our very first traveling journal together, and we’re ridiculously excited about it. It feels really special to share something this creative and intentional across generations.
Let’s zoom out for a second.
We’re more connected digitally than ever… and yet, a lot of us feel lonelier than ever too.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, young adults who spend the most time on social media are about 30% more likely to feel socially isolated than those who spend less time online.
On top of that, the U.S. Surgeon General has officially called loneliness a public health epidemic, reporting that nearly half of U.S. adults experience measurable levels of loneliness.
That doesn’t mean technology is bad… but it does mean that when most of our connection lives on screens, something human can get lost. Less eye contact. Less slowness. Less depth.
That’s why something as simple as paper, pens, and shared creativity feels so powerful. Writing by hand, touching the pages someone else touched, seeing their handwriting or brush strokes… it hits differently. It creates closeness without algorithms. While going down this rabbit hole, someone also pointed me to a website called Bring Paper Back, and I instantly loved the idea behind it. It’s a whole movement encouraging people to step away from constant digital overload and reconnect with physical paper… letters, journals, notebooks, art.
If you’re curious, you can check it out here: 👉 https://www.bringpaperback.org
Projects like traveling journals feel perfectly aligned with this movement. They’re slow. Intentional. Tangible. And honestly? A little rebellious in a screen-heavy world.
One symbol that really represents this experience for me is a circle… or even a continuous thread.
A circle has no real beginning or end.
Everyone is equal. Everyone contributes. Everyone is held. Each person adds something, and together it becomes stronger and more meaningful. That’s exactly what a traveling journal is: a creative circle of connection, even when we’re miles apart.
So, How Do You Jump In?
Well, you don’t need to be an artist. You don’t need perfect handwriting. You don’t need to know what you’re doing (clearly—I didn’t). You just start. A few pages about you. Some words. Some color. Some honesty. Then you send it on its way and trust the process.
Writing prompt:
What does connection look like in your life right now? Where do you feel it most—and where do you wish you had more of it?
Drawing prompt:
Create a symbol that represents connection to you. It could be a circle, a thread, a bridge, hands, roots, constellations—anything that feels right. There’s no wrong answer.
With Love, Krystal
