Enjoyed this piece and related to it! A lovely empty notebook will tempt me to pick up a favorite pen and start a new journal... Sometimes I'll do an entry or two, but hey -- I seem to find myself boring these days! Up in our attic, there's a plastic bin or to filled with past journals; I do worry about being a Humbert Humbert. I do keep a short hand journal on trips for The Trip Photo Album. And I have kept a dream journal in the same beautiful blank book since 1970. The first entry was from memory (1966, when I was 11). The last entry was this January when I dreamt of my brother, (recently deceased) reaching up from his hospital bed to take a man's hand which turned out to be his own.
I am so envious of people that keep journals. I tried 22 years ago when my daughter was born, and quit after a few entries. A heartbreaking failure! I wish I had been advised as you do here that it did not have to be good writing. I think I was so embarrassed about how mundane and trite it all sounded that I just gave up....
I recently discovered the Panda Journal. It basically keeps me doing tasks, staying focused and practicing gratitude. I used to journal 3 pages a day for 7 years in early sobriety
I think a prime motivation for a journal is to be curious about myself. I don’t write a journal and that may mean I lack curiosity. It is possible though to be introspective even if this form of curiosity is lacking. I enjoyed reading your account but I don’t think it will inspire me to start a journal. I’m probably too lazy to do so.
Love this post! I have no formal training as a writer, and when I finally started publishing some pieces in my early 40s I realized that I'd learned to write by writing in my journals (and by reading, of course!). I've taken some time off from regular journaling because I'm so busy with Womancake Magazine, but your post inspires me to keep writing, even if only sporadically.
Always a pleasure dearest Cathy...
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Enjoyed this piece and related to it! A lovely empty notebook will tempt me to pick up a favorite pen and start a new journal... Sometimes I'll do an entry or two, but hey -- I seem to find myself boring these days! Up in our attic, there's a plastic bin or to filled with past journals; I do worry about being a Humbert Humbert. I do keep a short hand journal on trips for The Trip Photo Album. And I have kept a dream journal in the same beautiful blank book since 1970. The first entry was from memory (1966, when I was 11). The last entry was this January when I dreamt of my brother, (recently deceased) reaching up from his hospital bed to take a man's hand which turned out to be his own.
I am so envious of people that keep journals. I tried 22 years ago when my daughter was born, and quit after a few entries. A heartbreaking failure! I wish I had been advised as you do here that it did not have to be good writing. I think I was so embarrassed about how mundane and trite it all sounded that I just gave up....
I recently discovered the Panda Journal. It basically keeps me doing tasks, staying focused and practicing gratitude. I used to journal 3 pages a day for 7 years in early sobriety
I once kept a trip journal during our honeymoon. I came across it a few years ago, and I was shocked at how much I had forgotten.
I think a prime motivation for a journal is to be curious about myself. I don’t write a journal and that may mean I lack curiosity. It is possible though to be introspective even if this form of curiosity is lacking. I enjoyed reading your account but I don’t think it will inspire me to start a journal. I’m probably too lazy to do so.
Quite inspiring for every reader to compare with their own experience. Thank you.
Love this post! I have no formal training as a writer, and when I finally started publishing some pieces in my early 40s I realized that I'd learned to write by writing in my journals (and by reading, of course!). I've taken some time off from regular journaling because I'm so busy with Womancake Magazine, but your post inspires me to keep writing, even if only sporadically.