Journals

I have never been really great about writing in a journal. I really want to write; I know it will be useful and fun for me to look back on in the future, but I feel like I never get around to doing it every day.

Yesterday in Young Women, we talked about keeping a personal record. My Young Women president, Shonna, taught us about how it is important to keep a journal - it will be useful for future generations, such as your kids, as well as yourself. My dad kept a journal starting when he was about eight years old, and when my mom met him, she read his journal - so she basically has known him since he was eight, because he wrote in his journal so often. My dad also said it was a kind of peronal therapy for him to read some of his own entries in his journal when he was feeling upset. I want to be able to do that.

One of the questions that was asked in Young Women was, "Is it more important to write experiences you've had or lessons you've learned?" The answer is that it's important to write about both - lessons you've learned: for you and others in the future to make good decisions, and experiences: doesn't everyone want to remember the fun, the spritual, and other times they've had? I do. But it's so hard for me to write...

Shonna also keeps a "Funny Sayings" book, about all the funny things her kids say. She read us a couple. When I am a mom, I'm going to keep my own funny sayings (and possibly doings) book. I want to remember fun times. When I was talking to my dad about our lesson yesterday, he told me about one time when I was little and my ear was bothering me (I have always been an earwax factory, and it bugs me). He had asked me, "Do you have some earwax?" My answer was (as I was scratching my ear), "No, I think I have just one earwack." I always want to remember things like that - but I would probably forget them if I don't keep a journal.

I know blogging is another kind of journal. But I'm not great at keeping up on that, either. Once in a while I'll sit down and type up a post, but I'm not consistent about it. But I've decided something: on my blog I will write fun experiences that I don't mind the whole world reading about. But in my journal or my diary, I will write more personal things that I would rather not have a lot of people seeing.

This summer I am going to start writing again. If I'm on vacation, I'll probably have to wait until after to write, but I am going to make a habit of writing. I know it's important to keep a journal if I'm going to remember experiences I've had and lessons I've learned - and I do want to remember them.