The Importance of Journal-Keeping

So I keep a journal. It's a very embarrassing fact about myself which is often met with smirks and snickers. (At least in my head:P). Today I'm going to make a case for myself and other journal writers. The pros (and maybe cons) of journal-keeping. I would say 'having a diary' but that sounds very primary school does it not?

I kept a diary when I was younger and everything about it, including the 'bratz' doll emblazoned front cover and flimsy lock, is so utterly cringeworthy. But I liked having it. There aren't really too many earth-shattering secrets that one can have in grade 3, but it felt good to have an item which was 'for my eyes only', and I liked to pretend that, given the chance, people would die to glimpse into my secret world. Of course, all that 'secret world' really contained was a bunch of agonizingly childish complaints and various reflections on what was had for dinner, but what else can you expect from an 8 year old?

I like to think that the 'journal' (and I feel that the distinction between a diary and a journal is quite important) that I keep now is far more sophisticated than the aforementioned monstrosity, but to be honest, I'll probably look back in about 3 years and want to burn it. However, I did not regret writing into my journal when I was 8 and I think, no matter how cringeworthy, I will not regret my current journal-keeping tendencies.

And here is why.

Having a journal is therapeutic in so many ways. To be able to express your 'inner turmoil' without any filters or worries is a blessing. We all have irrational feelings about people and life in general. A journal is a safe output for those emotions; a way to say what's on our mind without being judged or being forced to acknowledge your shortsightedness on the matter. It's a way to drone on and on about the same problems or annoyances without annoying your friends.

Sleep is a thing which I often have trouble acquiring, and on those late nights, when your brain just will not shut up, a journal is your absolute best friend. Not kidding, I would say about 90% of the words in my journal have been written between 12am and 5am. when you get everything out of your mind and on to paper, your mind is cleared. You feel tired from having bared your soul. The indents in the back of the pages are proof of having accomplished a task. And you can sleep. (Or at least I can. I'm not promising a breakthrough cure for insomnia haha:P ).

Last year, being a very stressful final year of high-achool, I found myself feeling down a lot. My favourite way to pass the time during these mood swings was by sitting inside my wardrbe (Absolutely 100% accurate) blasting depressing music through my headphones and doodling random sketches and song lyrics in the pages at the back of my journal. It was a place to dream. Lists of all the places I would travel to, all the things I would do.

A use which I only recently discovered is self-reflection. At the end of 2014, I read back over my entries and was appalled with their negativity. Using what I saw in my midnight ramblings, I was able to construct goals for myself this year which have all been centered around the overarching theme of positivity. It's going pretty well so far:)

This is her. She is red and squishy with gold edged pages and a bookmark with an eiffel tower hanging off the end. If anyone is interested, I bought her from typo.

So maybe keeping a diary is only for loners or self-obsessed children (It certainly sounds that way from everything I've said). But I like it. Besides, what is a blog if not a public diary?

~Risa~