Journaling: Writing a Diary of Our Lives
Posted: Sunday, October 12, 2008
by Val Silver
TapInfinity
As a child, I remember it being fashionable to have a diary, a place where we could record our dreams and fears, our observations of the world. Mine was a little white one with a key that I kept hidden safely away. Those words were for my eyes alone. That was the purpose of a diary, after all, and heavens forbid anyone were to read its secrets.
Recording our thoughts helps us nurture a relationship with our Self and inner world. It is like having a personal friend or therapist always there, ready to mirror back an unbiased glimpse of ourselves. We can unload "unfinished business" and it will be our silent witness. Just the act of writing down our experiences and feelings helps us to process them and get a second, neutral look. We may gain a new perspective on the situation.
Rereading our earlier writings helps us get to know different parts of ourselves. It serves as a record of our unfolding lives with all its joys and sorrows. We will notice patters and cycles and how much we have matured, changed and remained the same. It serves as a reminder for the wondrous times we've experienced. For the darker days, rereading makes it evident that this too shall pass and that we can come out of it refined by the fire.
At a friend's home, I was introduced to another type of journaling. For years, her mother has kept a daily record of what many would consider life's most mundane things. She shares what Johnny had for lunch, the weather, her feelings, what she did and talked about that day. There are detailed descriptions of the family dinner and who was there to enjoy it. This book lies open on the kitchen counter for all to see. What caught my attention is that my friend considers these journals a family treasure, a record of their lives together.
If you have would like to explore the benefits of journaling, get yourself a beautiful (or handsome!) blank book that you will enjoy writing in. You may even like to dedicate a special pen for the purpose. Of course you can use your computer, but I do think there is something special about writing in a book with your own hand.
Explore different styles of writing. Allow yourself to write when experiencing different moods. One day write when you are feeling angry, another when you are inspired, perhaps another in a meditative state. You may even want to write a few entries with your non-dominant hand. Write yourself a question with your writing hand and answer with the other. You may be quite surprised by your response! Be real- hold nothing back. Then periodically reread some of your entries. You will be amazed by all you learn about yourself and your life. You may even find that there are a few entries you would like to share with your loved ones or even the world.
This Article has been viewed 1,781 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsWhat a great article idea, thanks for writing it. I'm obsessed with journaling, and also collecting journals, like moleskine, or even just spiral bound notebooks if they're on sale.
Imagine, 500 years from now, an archaeologist digging and finding an internet cable or a server, and reviving the millions of blog journals that exist in the ethernet today? Won't happen, I don't think. Even if they could find a working outlet to plug those computers in, hard drives are volatile, those little metal oxide flakes move around over time. And CDs supposedly last for 200 years...only thing is, will they have a working cd-reader in the year 2508?
The hand-written journal, though, will be there! And I hope you're penmanship is good. Just look at the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi library, if you don't believe me. 2,000 years, and we're still reading them!Hi Gregory,You're so right! Cool collecting idea. How many do you have? VALHow many do I have...A lot of spiral bounds, would have to weigh those in pounds. I recently disposed of about a hundred pounds of notebooks (I'm a reporter, most of it was meetings from small town politics, but I inadvertently threw away same precious documents, as well).
My journal journals, well, about a dozen or so. Different makes and models. Poetry, religion, philosophy, ramblings, adventures.
I really enjoyed this very inspiring article. Several years ago I discovered how comforting writing really can be. You're right, journals are a great place to release even those hurtful things we otherwise might say verbally, and I now recommend it to children who have suffered some type abuse. Thanks Val.Be Blessed.DeborahThanks Deborah,I'm glad you are encouraging children to write about their feelings. VAL
That is a very well written and true thing that you tell here dear Val, I myself write my thoughts since the age of eleven and could record how my thoughts really changed throughout the ages. This is what I always try to tell my friends and as many people as possible.Dear Anna,Thanks for the compliment and comments. That must be interesting to read from childhood on. VAL
This was a very thought provoking article with many good ideas for journal writing. Thank you for sharing!
Good thoughts, Val. I don't remember having a diary, but for several years while the kids were growing up I wrote everything on the calendar. I had forgotten all about that. It served as a reminder for me and going back, I knew what was going on in our lives. In the last few years, I have attempted to keep a journal, but never seem to write unless I am discouraged. Maybe I should just write a weekly synopsis and leave it at that! Thanks for writing this.Hi Lorrie,
Thanks for writing. I like the calendar idea. If you use one of those day planners that give you a little more room it could serve as a calendar and a mini-journal. Sometimes they have blank pages in the back too. VAL
Val,Ahhhhhh, yes, an article after my very own heart. I have been writing for decades and without it would be dead. Literally. When I was young, I went through severe depression. The only solace I found was in writing. It was those cathartic moments of insight and enlightenment that kept me sane and alive. I teach in my writing classes that many a good writer has said, "I don't know what I'm thinking until I write." The tool of writing is more valuable than the value of all commodities combined. Writing is used by people to show appreciation (Oprah's Gratitude Journal), to overcome addiction (AA uses it), to inquire into direction in one's life, to overcome debilitating disease, on and on. I am amazed by the insight and remembering of ideas that come to me when I write, ideas and insight that lead to healing, understanding, and knowledge that goes way beyond mere Jeopardy trivia. Great article.Hi Jeff,
I hear you. I love your quote. Perhaps they are the opening words to your next article?
Thanks for writing. VAL
Val! This is an amazing article...I truly appreciate this 'Writing in the present state of mind'. Great! Keep on impacting. God Bless you...Thank you for your kind words.Val
Hi Val.You present very good arguments for keeping a journal. It's something I've gotten away from in the last few years and may have to take up again. And you are correct, taking a pen or pencil in hand is the best way to do it.I enjoyed your article.DianneThanks Dianne, I'd gotten away from it too. But when I need it, it's there. VAL
Val, I feel as Dianne does. This article has encouraged me to try journaling . . . yet again. I have not been consistent. You've given compelling reasons why I should conquer any reason for not sticking to it this time. I have several handsome (lovely, nice, beautiful) journals about that are empty. I can 'look' the part but that's not enough. Thanks for the inspiration to try again.Hi Avis,
I'm glad to have inspired you. Happy journaling in one of your handsome journals. VAL
Hello Val,Thank you for writing this. I have been a sporadic journaller (sp?) through life but I find that I tend to journal most when I need to sort things out in my head or my life is very busy - when I was a teenager, when my children were small, etc. The writing helped me make sense and sort through the chaos. Very therapeutic!My dad kept journals for years, more of the "almanac" style - weather, small happenings around the house and in his life. I think when he passes away, my siblings and I will probably "fight" over who gets them more than any money or earthly possessions he may leave us.Thanks for your comments. Your dad's writings sound like my friend's mother. Yes, not sure of the spelling either one l or two. They both came up wrong on spell check. Guess journaling journalling is not really a word at all. VAL
More comments
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.