# (book) size matters

*Don't think about perfection, think about starting*

By [Bodhilama](https://paragraph.com/@bodhilama) · 2024-08-09

planet108, solarpunk, spirituality, art, storytelling, fiction, justbeink

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* * *

**Birds passed by. The sun fell on the open journal.**

* * *

A Butterfly landed on Bodhilama's journal.

_"The size matters."_

His gaze was fixed on the butterfly.

_"Since I've been writing in my diary for several months,  
I've realised that I can't completely plan what I write.  
There are days when I make plans,  
jot down to-do lists,  
then I write down ideas  
or I write down my emotions  
and thoughts in the form of a real diary."_

His eyes wandered over the book.

_"And the interesting thing is that,_  
_for example, to-do lists_  
_and notes (e.g. mind maps) about various ideas_  
_work well in small A5 journals._  
_These are quickly to hand,_  
_I can carry them everywhere_  
_and their size means that I only write down what is necessary._  
_The size helps me to narrow things down."_

* * *

He looked out into nature for a moment.

_"But when I write down emotions and just let my thoughts run free,_  
_an A5 journal limits me._  
_The thing is that I write very large_  
_and don't want to concentrate on writing neatly and straight in my flow._  
_So, with a small journal,_  
_I'm worried that I'll fill the book within a week,_  
_so I try to keep it short._  
Y_et, for a stream of consciousness,_  
_I want to have as much space as I need._  
_And furthermore,_  
_I have to switch to the next line very quickly_  
_or turn the page every three sentences._  
_That means my flow is interrupted, the stream comes to a standstill._  
_You understand me?"_

_"Not quite, because I don't write journals, but go on.  
I'm listening," replied the butterfly._

* * *

_"Yeah, that's actually it for today. That is my insight.  
The thing is, I used to worry that my journal had to be perfect._  
_It has to be beautiful, I have to write properly.  
And everything has to be organised and structured.  
It's best to plan what to write on which pages._  
_This has already limited me.  
Sometimes I didn't write because_  
_I was afraid the journal wouldn't look good  
and the journals was dedicate for planning,  
but then I preferred to write down my thoughts._

_"Ahha."_

_"Then I started writing everything down_  
_in just one journal._  
_It all went really well._  
_And it was only through the process that I found out,_  
_that I needed two different journals._  
_A big one and a small one._  
_And now I split it up._  
_That means I wanted to do everything perfectly at the beginning,_  
_but the urge for perfection was actually preventing me from starting at all._  
_Then I just started and now the perfection comes over time."_

The butterfly nodded excitedly.

* * *

_"So, that means just start writing_  
_without thinking about it._  
_With the process, you'll find out_  
_what works best for you."_

_"Okay, you've convinced me._  
Because I tell myself that I'm a butterfly  
and I can't write,  
but basically I'm limiting myself.  
I should just start,  
my arms will grow by themselves  
if I just start writing.  
_Thank you very much, good sir._  
_I'll start right away. Goodbye."_

And the butterfly left.

* * *

These are the Letters of Bodhilama, a guy who lives in a time of transformation.  
A guy who felt the urge to write, because nothing else made any sense.  
A guy who is a student, teacher & creator of (wild)Planet108.  
A solar punk finding his way on the game's journey of life.  
Subscribe to become part of the stories he tells.  
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Subscribe for the sake of it.

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This Text was written, only with the mind & hands of one human being.  
Only for refinement [DeepL](https://www.deepl.com/translator) was consulted.  
The artworks are made by [openArt](https://openart.ai/).

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*Originally published on [Bodhilama](https://paragraph.com/@bodhilama/14)*