Hobbies are one of the cornerstones of society; they’re essential to keeping a balance between responsibilities and pleasure. There's something so empowering about taking the time to hone your skills for no other reason than that you enjoy it. You may feel that your job, family, or schoolwork is controlling your life, but as soon as you take the time to sit and learn a new skill solely for yourself, you have reclaimed that time as your own. In my case, I keep a balance of many hobbies, dabbling in whichever will feel most healing that day. I tend to jump around and try out new hobbies constantly, ranging from tennis to cross-stitching, content creating to baking. However, when my father returned from serving overseas, he gifted me a small leather-bound journal from Italy. On days when my life feels out of my control, I like to document in this journal the little things I've done to remind myself that it is, indeed, my life. Writing my activities down is how I take control of my time. I write every day in Japanese to help strengthen my language knowledge as I am pursuing a career in Japan. I accompany my writing each day with a miniature doodle, photo, or keepsake from that day. I especially enjoy drawing as I can put things exactly into my own cute, cartoonish view. My journal also helps me feel more connected with those around me; when I write about a person in my journal, it's an official connection I will be able to look back on forever. I am happy to write about my nieces, siblings, and new friends. Many of my classmates have spotted me with my polaroid camera and, if I especially enjoy their company, may have even been asked by me if I could have their photo for my journal. In my broken, imperfect newfound language, I attempt to describe what each person and interaction means to me. Since I began journaling, I have felt grateful for every day. As someone that has struggled with depression for the majority of my life, this had been difficult to maintain previously. After writing down mundane chores and everyday social interactions, they began to take on a sort of romanticized view. I began to cherish these moments much more than I had been able to before. I treasure each day entirely and always look forward to when I take the time every night to cuddle up in my favorite chair with a cup of warm tea and my calligraphy pen gifted to me by my father as I begin to document my extraordinary average life.