On Writing a Journal

Recently in our Sunday school class we had a discussion about writing a journal.  I think it fit in with the discussion for the reasons for the writing of the Gospels and other New Testament books.  Someone asked about the purpose of writing a journal. Is it meant to be read?  Why would we want it to be read since it's personal?

This has been a question I've asked myself for a long time.  I write a journal for two reasons.  First, I want to sort out my feelings about problems that trouble me.  Writing about it relieves my tension and gives me a peace about dealing with the problem.  And second, I want my grandchildren and great grandchildren to know something about me and how I coped with my problems, my troubles and my happiness.  I know nothing about the attitudes and way of life of my great grandparents. I would love to know, especially about my dad's mother's mother, Carolyn.  I think I have this feeling because when I asked my dad what her name was, he said, "I don't know.  We always called her Grandma."  But Aunt Marge knew her name.

That made me think.  I want my grandchildren to know who I am, what I've thought about, what motivates me, what I thought were my achievements, and of course, my first name.  I try to write for them.

In 1972 I read a Mary Steward novel, Touch Not the Cat.  There is a character in her story who writes diaries which were not kept locked up but were safe enough because she was such a dull woman that no one was interested in reading her dull thoughts.  This brought some concern to me. What if I write all these things so that my family will know more about what made me tick and then they think I've lived such a dull life that they aren't interested in reading them!!

If nothing else, at least my Harriet Books, as I call them, have been a good tool for me to vent about my problems and to evaluate my thoughts in general.  However, I have tried to not be dull, but I know that some days, I'm dull as gray!

Posted by: NJ on 1/21/2004 4:29:02 PM , 8 comments