Book Notes
Book Notes from: The New Diary by Tristine Rainer
Rules to grow by:
First and foremost, Avoid feeling sorry for yourself. This manifests itself in many ways. Be on the lookout for them, for they are best controlled if recognized early. Some typical minifestations are:
- Setting yourself up to be hurt.
- Comparing yourself to others.
- Living in the beauty of the past.
- Blaming others. Very rarely does one person intentionally hurt another.
- Making others feel guilty for holding you back. It's you who holds you back.
- Not wanting to be honest for fear of hurting someone. The indirect hostilities are much more painful, and time and growth won't really nurt another.
- Thinking that growing is more painful than not growing.
People tend to record what is still unresolved and troublesome in their lives. This should be an extremely valuable tool for the writer, a necessary step toward understanding oneself and one's friends and relative. (Personal note: Although I do this and find it a valuable tool, I also record lots of interesting things I notice as well as things I'd like to be sure to remember and things I might like my family to know about me some day.)
Remember that a diary represents process, not product.
You may wish to save a few pages at the end of the diary so that you can write your observations when you reread your work. This can give you a sense of direction for the path you wish to take.
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