Writing for You - Journaling

I started a diary in the third grade. Someone gave me a denim-covered one with a lock and a key. This was an amazing gift that fed my love for writing. And I made sure to lock it each time I wrote down my innermost secrets.

I’ve kept journals, notes, and scrapbooks through the years. I even started two journals for my nieces when they were born. But I stopped journaling when I started writing novels. Life gets too busy sometimes, and things that were important get ignored or pushed to the side.

Through the years, I’ve received some beautiful journals as gifts. After the Pandemic started, I pulled one out and started recording thoughts about the virus, the shut down, and all the craziness. It helped. I also did a lot of my ranting, so it was cathartic. I hope in the future that it will help me remember what we were all going through during this historic moment in time and how I felt about it.

Then I realized there were good things going on, even in our darkest moments. Mr. Rogers always said to look for the helpers in any tragic or scary situation. And he was right. I saw so many examples of heroes and people helping others. So, I started a “Sudden Glory” journal. I use this to record positive, upbeat stories and examples of kindness. This has definitely helped me realize that there is goodness in the world no matter what is going on. It has also helped me with my outlook during the quarantine and stay-at-home orders. I felt so bad for the Class of 2020, everyone affected by the closings, and everyone who had their life upended. Everyone’s anxious, worried, scared… My journaling has helped me think about what’s going on and how I’ve reacted to it.

Journaling or keeping a diary is a wonderful way for you to write for you, and I think it will be a treasure later when you look back on what you recorded, doodled, drew, or shared.

Who else journals?