What has been your experience keeping a diary or journal? When did you start and has it ever been beneficial for you? Why do you continue to write in one?
What has been your experience keeping a diary or journal? When did you start and has it ever been beneficial for you? Why do you continue to write in one?
I find myself grabbing the metaphorical pencil (keyboards to us of the 21st century!) and writing out my thoughts from time to time. I generally only do this when I feel particularily overwhelmed, or when I feel I'm making an important decision. I think its helpful for a few reasons!
One it helps you sort out whats rambling about in that head! Somtimes things get so confusing but all it takes is a little clarification and some organization and you're back to thinking clearly!
Secondly is the more long term reason. It's not only fascinating, but also potentially useful to look back at earlier times in your life where you were faced with an "important" decision or sitaution and see if your viewpoints have changed. It's particularily obvious to see the things which used to be "important" and very stressful might later in life be trivial, or mean something else altogether. It's fascinating, and helpful in spoting trends in behavior or mood over a longer period of time as well.
Unfortunately I just need a safe place to put them that will still exist in 10 years...paper might be the only choice.
Earl, do you think sketching is your way of keeping a journal? Do the choices of subject, or mood you're capturing, or style of drawing tell you something about yourself? Can you go through them and learn things about yourself?