A friend of mine just received her mother's journals and has spent the past several days reading them. I asked her if she read anything interesting and she said her mom only wrote about which garage sale they went to and which restaurant they ate in. Rarely there would be an entry about someone coming to visit.
My mother, like me, has used her journals as a way of saying what she couldn't say to others; a way of working out problems and frustrations especially when dealing with others. My mother told me recently that she has burned many of those writings as she didn't want her kids to read them 'when she's gone'.
I respect her decision. They are her writings after all, and maybe I just don't want to read about how I disappointed her when, or how I made her angry. On the other hand, I'm hoping there may have been good writings and memories that are now gone - although I tend to write only when I'm upset so if you picked up my diary/journal I'm sure you'd think I was miserable and hated everyone always - and perhaps she wrote that way as well.
Some people use their journals for ideas - for writing or creating with little sketches and swatches and all sorts of things. Some use it to keep track of their lives.
I'm curious, do you keep a journal or diary and how do you use it?
2 comments:
Another interesting subject. I like this new blog of yours.
For years and years I kept a journal, writing about the ups and downs of my daily life. Nothing earth shattering. Never thinking it would be of interest to anyone. Then some tumultuous times came along. I stopped writing for fear that someone WOULD read my innermost thoughts. Later, I started again and did write down those feelings and then hid the journals really well. Sometimes I think I should burn them, but just can't do it. I don't write anymore, but still keep those old ones.....securely hidden away.
Over this past year I have been heavily doing genealogy research and have learned that journals or diaries are important and valued items.
Thanks for the compliment about my new blog - I'm glad you've been reading it.
I'm trying to write daily, so a little bit of everything gets worked in there. For years, as I mentioned, I'd only write when I was upset and then I'd hide it so my husband wouldn't see it but then I'd lose it and not be able to write in it for months. Now I write more frequently and have learned to trust him. If he reads it, then I'll deal with it. But really I don't think he could be bothered - I think I tell him practically everything anyway!
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