Do you keep a Diary?
By Barb
@abbey19 (3106)
Gold Coast, Australia
April 8, 2007 7:11am CST
Do you keep a diary, and if so, do you put your most personal thoughts in it? Or do you just keep a day to day journal of what's generally going on in your life. I kept a diary for years and found that it helped me if I had any problems, just by writing them down. What about you?
2 people like this
7 responses
@rx4life (1930)
• United States
9 Apr 07
I have journaled off and on for years..kept a secretive little diary when I was a teenager ( that never had a secret in it I don't think!!)..In my journals I have both very personal thoughts and also day to day happenings..I find it helpful when I am trying to pin down a time frame in which some event took place..but mostly I use it as you said...to sort of put things in print and look at them ...giving them more "weight"...and in many cases things I am trying to work through seem to have apparent answers when looking at them in black and white!!! Sometimes I go back and read from older journals and it keeps things in perspective...especially the journaling I've done during highly stressful times...I really love to do it and the funny thing is..I'll do it faithfully for 6-8 months..and then I'll just stop for a couple of months..then I get the "bug' again and go back to it...I recently "shredded some of my journals..thinking that they had things in them that I really didn't need to burden others with when I'm gone...but I keep the ones I'd like my children and grandchildren to read someday...In fact sometimes I journal to them directly..things I am feeling and thinking after being with them that I would love to not only tell them today..but leave them that thought for the future!!! Good question, Abbey...
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
9 Apr 07
Wow rx, my thoughts precisely - you must have been reading my mind because you have written it exactly as I wanted to say it. I like the idea of writing things in a journal to be read one day by your children and grandchildren, that is a wonderful thing to do, especially directing things to each one in particular.What a precious thing to leave them - it would be treasured by your family forever. I am going to start doing that too, so thanks for the idea!
You are getting BR from me for your comment, thanks.
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
•
15 Apr 07
Yes my friend I used to keep a diary , I did it for years , one day I was going through it and I realized I was writing down exactly how I felt about a relation of mine ( not a blood relation) but I was so worried that person might be able to read it some day , this person is not really nice to say the least but I would still hate to hurt anyone , even from the grave lol , so I stopped writing it all down , xx
1 person likes this
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
16 Apr 07
Ha ha, you are funny weemam! It's good to write our feelings down on paper - it makes me feel better for doing it anyway, very therapeutic. When I make an entry I don't want others to read, I write it in shorthand, so that solves thr problem you had!
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
11 Apr 07
Yes, I've always kept a diary from school right up to present day, I find it helps to write down stuff, so I can look back at it for future reference and to remember the good times and how I have changed over the years, I do write both negative and positive things in my diary, my diary reflects me and the way I am feeling. I did burn my old diaries in the end for fear of them falling into the wrong hands, that's what I always fear.
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
12 Apr 07
You are very diligent keeping a diary all that time wolfie. I agree, it does help to write stuff down, to get it off your chest so to speak. Sometimes as you are writing it down the problem you might be writing about becomes clearer the more you write! What a shame you burnt your old diaries.
@spiritwolf52 (2300)
•
8 Apr 07
I don't keep a diary per se, I do write in a journal. I tend to write my poems in it. I will also write some day to day stuff that I want to remember. I always write in the journal if we went anywhere, places that we went to, things we saw. Don't have a clue who will read it in the future as we don't have any kids. It's good for me though, gets things off my chest.
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
9 Apr 07
You are the same as me spiritwolf, because I don't keep a regular day to day diary anymore, but I do make entries of stuff I want to remember, and reminders of things I have to do, etc. I like to get stuff off my chest and writing it down seems to help - then I can get on with other stuff. Very therapeutic.
@cockadoodledoo (337)
• Australia
8 Apr 07
I dont keep a diary/journal with my thoughts in it, but I do keep one for appointments and another one that tells me where I spent my money.
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@tommy408 (361)
• Malaysia
8 Apr 07
I would not call it a diary for the of it might somehow effect my "many macho image" LOL.
But I do keep a Journal. I don't write in it on daily basis. But, whenever I am in need of some venting place, I take out my Journal and vent in it. I don't exactly record events in my day. I rather tell them in (bad) poetry or (equally bad) short story style. Tell no one, but I sometimes imagine myself as a melancholic writer of some sort. Laugh if you must.
It is somewhat therapeutic too, I must say.
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
9 Apr 07
You shouldn't let keeping a diary worry your "macho image" Tommy. I think it's great that you keep a journal, even if it's only to do your venting in! I'm not laughing - you may be a budding author and not realize it! I always feel better when I write my feelings down on paper - it clears the mind so I can go on and do other stuff. Good on ya! Keep it up mate.
@lonely_f16 (2146)
• Philippines
8 Apr 07
No i don't...actually i don't have time to even write anything on my blog or what...well i wish i could try your way ^_~
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
8 Apr 07
Sounds like you should try and slow down a bit lonely. It's very therapeautic to write stuff down - and it gives you a break from your busy life. Take some time out for yourself!
