Some thoughts on Journaling

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about journaling.  Probably for a couple of reasons... 

For one, I've been going through some of my dad's journals pulling out quotes and thoughts for the Leadership Journal article that I've been working on.  We will forever treasure these journals.

And then tonight, I spent some time thumbing through a journal of mine from about five years ago - which was a season in my life when I journaled with a fair amount of regularity.  It was interesting, to say the least, reading my thoughts from that period of my life.  Things certainly seemed much different back then...

I need to get back into the habit of journaling.  And blogging doesn't count. 

So tomorrow I'm going to go buy a journal and start writing again.  Not only is this probably very healthy for me, but it's quite a gift to pass on to my children after I'm long gone from this earth. 

Here's 100 benefits to journaling. 

Comments

[Rachel Maciaszek]

I couldn't agree more. I think journaling is an invaluable thing that is much more appreciated when we are gone. My mother kept a journal her whole life and I could probably write a book with all the information I have from those. I just may be inspired once again to start one up b/c I would love for my kids to also have something to read after I am gone and see into my life from another perspective.

[steve-o]

I resonate with everything you wrote except for the "blogging doesn't count" part. I've always struggled with journaling. I own several beautifully bound journals that each have about two pages filled in them. No matter how hard I've tried, I have never been able to get myself into the habit. But I've been able to blog consistently. Perhaps I'm consistent because I know other people will know others will read what I write.

Blogging is the way I journal. True, it's a public forum so I'm not 100% forthcoming in my introspection but, then again, who is? If I know someone will ever read my thoughts I'll be somewhat guarded.

I still tend to be brutally honest in what I write online about myself. And I've begun printing out my posts in order to save them for the future.

Best of luck in returning to the scripted form, though. I hope it works out.

[Betsy]

steve-o, you can do even better: BlogBinders

I kept a diary when I was younger, and the entries are both humiliating and funny. But I'm usually so brutal in my honesty that I'd never want anyone to read it.

Plus, for some reason, I get too self-centered when I'm writing in a journal. It's all about me, me, me. So I don't.

[Matt]

Betsy - thanks for the link. I used to journal pretty regularly, but then quit when I started blogging. I think I even journaled about blogging more and realized I wouldn't journal as much.
And Scott - blogging sure does count... especially now that I can have it bound on paper

[Todd Ruth]

Scott,

I know what you mean when you say blogging doesn't count for you. Doesn't for me either. I've journaled before and the content is so much different... and so much more work. But well worth it. I need to start back up again.