Journal writer?

[Sandy]

I was listening to a book on tape and part of the story was a journal that someone was keeping was found and read by his wife. I have never had a journal until I was on UW and planning my wedding. At that time, it was mostly just to keep myself organized. I continue to have an online journal now, but absent that, I would not keep one.

People like Oprah are apparently life long journal keepers. The written kind. This is just something I don't see myself ever doing, particularly if it was to ask soul searching type of questions. Mine would be pretty much a factual recessitation of my life, I would think.

So, in this context, are you a journal keeper? If so, have you been that way for life? Do you just write down the facts of your day, or do you put pen to paper w/ all your innermost thoughts, fears, concerns?

[Clare]

No, I'm not. I don't even bother saving my online journals. I really don't think it's something that I would ever really go back and read nor that anyone else would find interesting enough to read in years to come :lol:

[MamaGoofy]

I go in spurts. I sometimes like to write down my thoughts and feelings. It helps me to feel more in control of what's going on in my life.

[Nicole]

I don't write in a journal other than online, I've meant to save them but never get around to doing it :dunno: I'm a slacker. I was told by my therapist that journalling would be advantageous but I've still never done it :blush:

[Elisete]

I have a journal for each of my boys. I started each one when I found out I was pregnant. I wrote about how I was feeling during the pregnancy etc. I took it to the hospital when I went into labor and journaled while I was going through labor etc. Then I would write in it every few weeks. Just little things like what new things they were doing etc. When they started talking I kept track of new word and funny things they said. I just wrote a "I'm thankfull for you" page. I'm going to start writing them each a letter on their birthday.

I LOVE reading back! I forget all the cute little things they did, and labor was just a big blur now. I'm so thankfull that I have my journals to look back on. I will give them each their journals when they are older.

[Karin]

Wow, Elisete, what a cool idea.

I did many years ago, while I was in my mid- to late 20s. I was involved with someone, was head over heels, and often poured my heart out onto the pages. Years later, when I read it, I didn't know whether I would throw up or set it on fire. It was way too embarassing to keep, that's for sure. :lol:

[Darcy]

I kept a journal for years starting back in 7th grade. I just came across some of them from high school and was reading when my hs boyfriend dumped me. I thought it was the end of the world. :lol: It's pretty cool to read back about what was going on in my life.

I stopped keeping one for awhile after Phil and I started dating. I kept a spuradic one while planning the wedding at UW, but I never saved it. Then I saved the journals I did for the kids on UB and here. I also kept a written journal for both kids while pregnant--what I thought they were going to be, how the pregnancy was going, what I was feeling, etc.

I wish I could keep a more thorough journal now because I have a lot of feelings/emotions going on that I need to get out. I do write a bit in a journal here, but it's more for 3rd party readers. I'd love to just write for "me" again, but I don't have the time for that!

[Alyssa]

I have a private journal here that I've been really lousy at keeping up with, but I will not give it up, even if I write in it less frequently than I used to. I have saved all of my online journals since being pg with Aidan. :aok:

I used to keep written ones off and on when I was a kid. I think I threw a lot of them out as I was growing up b/c I didn't want them found. (Yeah, since I was so deep! :giggle: ) Sad warning: I remember burning the last one when I was a junior in high school b/c I said something bad about my friend who later committed suicide, and I never wanted to read that again since I felt soooo guilty for that. :sad:

I recently read in a magazine about someone who kept a "journal" but it was more like a collection of lists, quotes, random thoughts, etc. that she wrote in daily...so something that chronicled her life but not in a traditional way. I am seriously thinking of starting that soon. :nod:

[Shel]

I've always been a huge journaler.

I keep a personal one here at home that is merely for venting. I vent, then shred or burn that page, so that no one can find it, and I can't read it again later and get all upset again. It was something a counselor suggested to me a long time ago as a way to get my feelings out when I'm really upset and shouldn't be talking to someone just yet.

[Bonnie]

I had one from 6th or 7th grade until law school... I stopped sometime in or after law school. I haven't looked back on them in a while, and I love that I have them. I did destroy about a year's worth in my early 20s when I was going through a terrible relationship and break up... I just didn't want any memory of it.

When I did keep a written journal, it was what was going on and my feelings. What I love about having it from my adolescent and teen years is I think it will help me remember/relate when I have girls that age.

I have those pregnancy, first year and toddler journals for the girls that I have kept pretty up to date (except Tatum's is a bit blank) and my journal here.

[Alyson]

I kept a journal pretty consistently from junior high through highschool and then on and off afterwards. I still have most of them I think. It's hysterical to read through them now.

I keep a journal on here now and that is it. I plan to keep it though for future reference.

[Lyndee]

I started a journal when I was 10 or 11 and had on and off until I was about 25. I still have all my journals. I pretty much had a gap between age 25 and 30 then I started to write stuff online when I started UB when I was 30. I collect and save my posts from all my online memberships- so I consider those my journals for the last 7 years.

[Bridget]

I did when I was younger (off and on as a kid and then for about five years in my early twenties). On the rare occasion I've looked at them I'm so mortified I can't stand it. Seriously stupid crap in there.

My sister who passed away left a buttload of journals that ended up with me. I naturally had to look at them and saw lots of stuff I'd rather have not seen. I threw them all out... I never wanted to risk my mom might get them. So I guess that's my thought - I figure later I'll either think I was a real bonehead (true) or someone else will think I'm a real bonehead (also true) or someone will just be pissed or embarassed. I doubt I'll ever be famous off of the drivel I wrote as a 20 year old... and I can't imagine that would change as a 38 year old either! :lol:

[Bridget]

Post of boneheadedness compounded by the fact the I'm freaking 37 and not 38. :duh: