How many of you keep a Journal or Diary?

Question

Do you?

Do you write in it every day...what do you write in it?...Reflections or just summaries of your days?

Happy Holidays!!! Hope all your holday wishes come true =]

Answer 1

A resounding YES. I love this question because the value of keeping a journal doesn't seem to be appreciated by many. When I was about six years old (I still have them!) I wrote routinely "Dear Diary..." & I've gotten delightful insights from them about how I felt as a child. The boyfriend of my mum's friend gave me all her "diaries" when she died. At first I felt I might be "trespassing" but they were filled with "...went to the post office today, had my hair cut.." & so on. I don't write in my journal every day. When I do write, it's a "stream of consciousness" rambling, in which various thoughts, memories, current reflections come to realization of unresolved things in the past, as well as present. I type very fast, (thus the "check spelling" is great when it works--perhaps it tires of my excess verbiage!) but what I've found most awesome--are the things I type automatically; things long forgotten that seem totally out of context, yet make me so AWARE. For me, keeping a journal is as essential to my life as dreams. I've suggested keeping a journal to some "troubled" friends, & it's helped them. When no one is "looking over your shoulder" & you sense no "critical observer" only truths surface. A condition of my Living Trust is that ALL my papers must be destroyed. (I also have every letter that has ever been sent to me.) As for "summaries"--no. An "incident" for which I may later need the date is noted briefly on my calendar. Now then! Didn't I give you more than you asked for? Thank you for the kind wishes--I hope you enjoy your holidays very much! I have no personal wishes; my life is content & I'd only say that idealistically, I'd wish for PEACE in this world.
Best...

***Just read some of the answers. For jim w I'd like to say that, after severe nerve damage from an antibiotic, I can hardly read my shopping list, so I always use my word processor. The damage caused a kind of "dyslexia"..& to kimandchr...that's why I said what I did about my Trust. Not just "incrimiating" but far too personal, with references to others as well! What a bonfire they will make! They can use my paper shredder if it lasts long enough!

Another day & all of that--but in going back, I wondered if your question was "also" motivated by your personal feelings about a journal? If you're just researching "polls & surveys"--there's always a part of you (as objectively as you stated your question) that DOES, HAS, BELIEVES, etc. May I be rather presumptuous to ask what you "truly" wanted to learn from the answers?

Answer 2

I used to from age 10 to 18 years old and I wrote in it religiously, however I have grown out of writing every detail about my life. It made me more creative. I think more than that though it helped me when I needed to voice my thoughts without being overbearing to people in my life. It can be the most impartial therapy for a young girl. It is something you will reflect upon your whole life. I used to write down my experiences through the day be it crazy things I did, or the boy I liked. I knew it was my own experiences and to me that is what made it important.

Answer 3

When I was younger, my mom made me write in a journal every single day, and then she'd read what was in it. Because of that, my early entries were just toneless reports of my days. Now, however, I keep a private diary that nobody but me is able to read and that I write in whenever... it's great for letting out feelings of frustration or anything.

Answer 4

I keep a journal, no I don't write in it daily but things that happen really good or bad I have to write out how i feel, it helps, i date it and put the day on it.

Happy holidays to you too.

Answer 5

I keep a journal but I don't write in that much

Answer 6

i keep one!!! i hardly write in it though because i hardly have any time. i only write important events(adventures) its so much fun keeping a diary because you get to express your thoughts without really telling someone! AWESOME ain't it!

Answer 7

I used to...until I learned the hard way how it can be incriminating evidence towards you!!! Now I just keep it all in my head(and tell some of it here)

:-)

Answer 8

I think that anyone who uses email to converse with friends is actually creating a journal/diary.

So...yes!

Answer 9

Yes I do and I write in it nightly. Whatever is on my mind

Answer 10

I have a journal, and I write in it most days.........:)...Merry Christmas to you to!