Does anybody here keep a Journal?
 

I have for a long time now.

I'm not sure why I started but every evening I spend 10 or 15 minutes writing my thoughts down. Sometimes a lot longer.

It feels good and I'm sure it's helped keep me sane during the most difficult times in my life.

They'll never be published or anything like that. In fact I don't even want them to be. My life hasn't been that exciting.
However at some point one of my grand kids may pick them up and read them.

Whatever... It's the exercise of writing that important to me not what other may think and it keeps my hand writing legible.
I've only ever had one rule. No BS in my journals.

Dear Diary;

Today I told everyone about you, but I told them you were a "journal". Please don't hate me.

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(lol... jk)

I kept a journal for almost 20 years. There's something about writing down our thoughts that's therapeutic - 'was suggested by my psychiatrist tennis buddy.
What it did for me was to have "Aha!" experiences down on paper...so much better than just trying to remember them - which was difficult for me at the time because so many were coming fast and furious. At one point in my life I bought a micro cassette recorder and would talk into that at wee hrs. in the morning when thoughts would awaken me. Easier for me than to turn on the light and write.
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I even carried it with me when I was trucking around w/employees and would put it up close to my mouth and utter my insights.
They thought I was goofy.
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Also, I got a lot of value out of going back from time to time and reading what I had written in my journal and as a result witnessed my own growth.
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Most 12-step programs suggest keeping a journal, as I recall.

i use one as a coaster.

No, but I believe the NSA keeps one on all of us.

I thought that's what PPOT is...

Our son kept one during army boot camp. An interesting read.
I've jotted down a few amusing incidents at the pawn shop but nothing like a journal.
Jim

I should. Crazy stuff happens to me constantly.

Well, being a ninja super double secret agent if I were to write my thoughts down the entire free world would be in jeopardy... but if I ever do... I will put it on eBay of one millllion dollars!

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Spilled my drink!


Seriously, I have an investment journal. Records why I bought a stock or why I sold.

Can be useful for reducing feelings to words, tracking moods, evaluating ideas and more. Reading your own writings a day or so after writing them can be a way to get some insight into yourself.