A Journal or a Diary?
So, are you keeping a journal, or a diary? That might be a good place to start.
Let’s discuss what the difference is between a journal and a diary. It has often been said that keeping a diary is to simply transcribe daily events in ones life. So if someone were to read your diary they would get a good idea of what has happened in your life.
Journal writing on the other hand is more than just writing down what happened. Journal writing is not simply transcribing the stories of you life, but it includes your feelings about them, your insights on them. In addition journal writing can encompass thoughts, feelings, and opinions on anything, and they don’t have to be sparked by any particular event.
Some people choose to keep multiple journals. One that describes events of their life, with thoughts and feelings attached. Some have journals simply for thoughts, feelings, philosophy, religion, etc. You can have a journal that is dedicated to one of your passions, or if you don’t think you can fill it up quick enough, you can put it all into one all encompassing journal.
Where to Start?
Picking out your journal should be fun! Find something that suits your personality, and something that you think reflects you and you life. The story of you life should be recorded on something you like. Personally I like leather journals, they are durable.
Once you have your journal, it is time to start writing. Begin every journal entry with the date and time. Sometimes it is important to include you current location. If you were a soldier in WWII, and you kept a daily journal that had detailed entries that started with the date, time and your current location, historians could now use your journal to track troop movements and patterns in the war. The point is that sometimes it is important to put your current location, but if you just write in your bedroom every night it may not carry as much importance.
What should you write? Write the things that are important to you. Writing Journals are often passed on to posterity, so they can get to know their ancestors. Your journal will give them an insight to your life and your mind. Write lessons that you have learned from life, mistakes and good choices, success and failures, loves and hates, happiness and frustration. A journal is your world, you can make it anything you want it to be.
Keep it handy!
Keeping your journal accessible is very important. All too often people think of something that they want to write down and say, “I will do it later.” But when later comes around they have forgotten what it was they wanted to write down. Carry a small journal with you, or keep multiple journals accessible to yourself at all times.One technique I have found helpful is to buy a journal that can also serve as a great decoration. They you put one on your coffee table, on your desk at work, on your nightstand. Then you will have one close whenever you have a thought. It also helps you remember to write in it every time you see it. The other interesting thing that I have found with this technique is that each individual writing journal will carry its own theme. The one on the desk at work will usually have thoughts revolving around business strategy, economy, finances, work related issues, dealing with people, etc. The one on the coffee table at home centers more on family, children, sports, neighborhood gossip, etc. Oh, and keep in mind that if you leave it out, people might read it.
How to Write?
Personal Journals are more personal if they are hand written. I have some stories of my Grandfather from world war two that were re-typed by my Grandmother. I would prefer to read his actual writings, on the paper that he used, with all the dirt, sweat, and blood that stained them. It makes the stories real and personal. I have a journal from the time I spent in the Amazon Jungles of Brazil. It is musty from the intense humidity, and has stains and even remains of bugs that wandered in unnoticed while it was open and not escaping before it was closed.
Digital journals are good because for a few reasons. One, typing is often faster and can save you time. Two, they are very legible, and grammatically correct providing easier reading for those down the road. However they do lack that personal touch that is so important to a personal journal. They don’t bring the history, and the reality of a handwritten journal. My advice would be to keep both, make them both unique and utilize them both for their strengths. Oh, and always remember to back up your digital journal, and print it often.
Write so that it is easy for readers to follow. If you constantly switch between you experiences and your thoughts about those experiences, write the experiences in past tense, and the thoughts in present tense. This will allow readers to distinguish between the experience and what you were thinking at the time, and your afterthoughts and analysis of the event.
Be descriptive. An image created through words is more fully realized in the readers mind if they can imagine the smell, the feel, the sounds, the sights, and the taste of a particular event. Don’t limit your experiences to words spoke and vague locations. Let readers feel what you felt through all five senses.
Write what you would want to know. Ask yourself, is this important or just something to write about. Would I want to read this about myself 30 years from now? Has anyone in your family ever said, “Do you remember when…?” and you vaguely remember something about it but can’t recall any details. Write down the things you know you will want to remember. Funny stories, scary experiences, things that are more than coincidence, crazy things that are merely coincidence, and anything else that you will find amusing, important, or worth reading down the road are worth writing down. If you are struggling with what to write in your journal, then just write anything and everything. As you learn and grown in your journal writing you will get a better feel for what you want your journal to be.
Add pictures to make your stories come to life. Remember, a picture is worth 1000 words. So save yourself some time, and ink… add pictures!
Learn From Your Journal
Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed something about yourself that you had never seen before? A journal is kind of like a mirror that reflects an image of our inside instead of our outside. We can’t really look inside ourselves unless we have our thoughts, habits, personality, beliefs, and other things that make up our person on paper. We can learn a great deal about ourselves by reading our own journals. Learn from yourself, is there any better source from where we can learn about our own weaknesses and strengths?
Take the Time
Writing a journal is more important than most realize. Everyone should take the time to write a journal. We have learned great lessons from the journals of Presidents, Generals, business men, and religious leaders. Your journal can pass on great wisdom and insight to you posterity, and perhaps even all of society. Tell the story of you life, and open up the workings of your mind on paper so that it may be recorded and remembered. It is definitely worth the time.
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