Keeping a journal

[Rick336]

In January 1967 for some reason that I can't explain, I felt the need to record important events in my life. I was just 15 years old then.

Now I'm 57, and I have a written record of significant life events from the past 42 years. It's not a daily or even a weekly record. But whenever inspiration moved me, I've grabbed a ballpoint pen to capture a particular moment in time.

Many counselors and therapists encourage their patients to keep a journal. I think I understand why. It gives perspective to one's life because it's written proof that life is like a roller coaster ride. It has its good moments and bad moments, its ecstasy and its tragedy. Because that's just the way life is.

Life also has its moments of historical significance when one can say, "I was there."

Here's an entry from my journal that I wrote exactly forty years ago today about one of those historical moments:

Today is Monday July 21st, 1969. Yesterday was an historic date. Man landed on the moon. Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the Eagle spacecraft yesterday about 4:00. Last night at 10:56 Neal Armstrong made the first step on the moon. He said, “That’s a small step for a man and a giant step for mankind.” Mike Collins was the commander of the Columbia which orbited the moon while Neal and Buzz were collecting moon samples. Right now at this very second they are on their way home. I’m watching it on television.


Rick

[Daniel]

I found myself reading the journal I kept last year this morning. I recorded details and experiences that I'd forgotten about. Reading what I wrote was an interesting experience. It not only brought back those experiences, but also gave me a sense of perspective about them.

[BruceChris]

is kinda like having a diary. Going back, and reading them brings back emotional memories. These memories have a value that a self-reflecting journal would not have. They are mostly records of interactions with people, that record things that I would probably not have put in a diary.

Namaste', Bruce Chris

[Alecto]

I think it's interesting you mentioned the forum, Bruce. I admit I do NOT have the patience to sift through the old threads, not all of which I took part in. But I do keep a blog, with some generic passing-on/commentary on news stuff, but also protected and private entries about what's going on in my life, and dreams I've had (those can be a hoot to go back and read), and what direction I think I want my life to take, and I try to make a point to go back and read through that about once a year.

Arguably, not as permanent as a hard-copy, but my writing's always been atrocious and I have a propensity to lose things, so that works out better for me.

[Poetic Awakening]

I always seem to start one, with a few different goals in mind, and then lose interest in it. I then proceed to lose the journal or tear out the entries to use it for something else. I am a little OCD when it comes to notebooks, in that I almost always prefer a single notebook to be used for a single purpose. When that purpose changes, I must adapt.lol

It's actually a great idea, and I think I might just start one tonight. I think it will help blow off some steam, and in a few weeks/months/year(s), it will give me something to laugh about.