October: Gezellig

Hello, journaling friends!

In 2025, our monthly Cafe Analog’s friendly journaling challenge, #caprojectme25, will draw its prompts from beautiful words/phrases from various languages around the world. We think it will be a fun way to start the year while also allowing you to design a spread based on the essence of a word/phrase, making it very personal to you! We will also have three journaling prompts for you to choose from, allowing you to connect more deeply with the month’s word/phrase selection. The word for October comes from the Dutch word “gezellig”.

It captures a feeling English can only circle around but never quite touch. It describes everything that encompasses a sense of warmth, coziness, and togetherness—sort of a deep contentment that comes from simple pleasures like soft candlelight, the company of loved ones, or a quiet evening spent with a good cup of tea. More than comfort, gezellig is a philosophy of being present, of finding joy in the moment and connection in the ordinary.

In autumn, when the air turns crisp and the world slows down, this feeling becomes especially vivid as our senses are heightened: noticing the rustle of leaves, the glow of amber light, the gentle invitation to turn inward. It’s the perfect season (and gezellig the perfect mood!) for journaling and creativity:  curling up with your thoughts, wrapping words around your feelings, and making something beautiful out of stillness.

This month, create a spread using your stationery supplies or other materials to capture the essence of the word ‘gezellig’ for you. If the word is a journal spread, what would it look like? Here are some creative journaling prompts for you to choose from:

1.

COMFORTING SPACES

Describe a specific place in your home that feels cozy and inviting to you. What elements make it feel “gezellig”? How do you think you can bring more of that feeling with you as you step into other places—places of work, public spaces you sometimes frequent, your city?

2.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Write about a recent or past gathering with friends or family that felt particularly warm and joyful. What made it special? Which aspects do you think make you remember this gathering or moment fondly?

3.

THE RUSTLE OF MOMENTS

Write about a time or setting in your day where you felt deeply at ease and connected—maybe a cozy evening indoors, a slow morning ritual, or a gathering with loved ones. What sights, sounds, scents, and textures made it feel so comforting? How did that moment nurture your sense of belonging or inner calm?

While working on these prompts, light a candle, wrap yourself in a soft blanket, make a warm drink, and let your journal be your cozy companion. Stay present to notice what feels good this month and keep those memories close. Let your pages fill up with the gezellig spirit of the season!

Feel free to share your pages and spreads with the hashtag #caprojectme25 if you’d like others who join the project to find yours, and you can also see how others translate GEZELLIG into their journal pages! We hope these prompts will inspire you to create a cozy transition into autumn and winter! Stay warm and comfortable!

love, H.