What is a journal?
Okay, let’s start with the basics (we’re talking really basic here). A journal is a place where you record your thoughts and activities.
What form can a journal take?
Journals can take many forms or formats. Some people use a journal to simply record a few activities of the day: “had lunch with Bob,” for example.
Some write as “Stream of Consciousness” and let the words flow allowing thoughts to take various paths.
Others take real thought as to what they write down.
Why keep a journal?
Ah, now here is a good question. Why keep a journal? To each person, the answer will be unique, but in a general sense, many keep a journal for themselves and for others. In the sense that the journal is for “self” it can be an incredible resource for reflection on the path that one’s life has taken. Considering the journal for “others” leads one to write almost as it were to a future audience, perhaps for children or grandchildren and so on.
If your reason is strong enough, and you remember it, you’ll write more often and perhaps at a higher thought level than if you have a weak reason.
What should I write in my journal?
The answer to this question will be influenced by the reason you are keeping your journal, but a few thoughts are:
- Thoughts on the events of the day, not just what happened, but what you felt about what happened
- Ideas about political issues (may help you debate with your colleagues a little better)
- Thoughts on spirituality
- Prices of things you buy. This will be interesting to your posterity when they're paying $20/gallon (hopefully we don't use oil by then).
- Interactions with friends
- Details about places you've visited and what you've enjoyed
- Life lessons you've come to realize
- Thoughts about your favorite books
- Events in the news
- Things you like to eat and things you don't like to eat (reasons for these can get pretty funny)
- Things you find funny (these are good to look back on)
- Thoughts on family and family events
An important item if you want your journal to be more interesting to you and to those who may read it in the future if you decide to pass it on is to record your reactions and thoughts about the things that happen and not just what happened throughout the day.
In what format should I keep my journal?
There are many formats that a journal can take.
Video Journal – You can record your journal with a webcam and store video files of your journal.
Audio Journal - You may wish to record your thoughts on tape or digitally by speaking. Works well if you've had a bad hair day since no one will see it.
Typed Journal – You can type your journal on your computer and save the files for posterity. This option makes it handy for passing on your journal to others when you’ve passed on because copies can easily be made. Just make sure to make a backup.
Hand-Written Journal – Although typing a journal on computer is a great choice (spell check being one of the greatest advantages for me), a journal written in your own hand writing carries power and emotion to the reader. Much can be deciphered beyond the words. Were you in a hurry when you wrote the entry. Does it seem like you were having difficulty finding the right words with lots of strikethroughs.
The type of physical journal (if you choose this method) can have an impact upon what you write and how your write it. If you’re writing on the back of napkins (or the front for that matter), you’ll probably have a different tone than if you’re writing on plates of gold. A simple spiral notebook gets the job done but somehow doesn’t lend itself too easily to becoming a family treasure.
A leather journal that is hand-made is a great option if you want something that is going to stick around (make sure it has acid-free pages), and not get lost in any moving shuffle. A leather journal stands out and invites quality thought to be inscribed upon its pages.
Whichever method you chose, and your reason for writing, the important thing is to create and ad to your journal. Life is over in a blink. Will you leave something behind?
