My background in journaling began in third grade. A small diary, sandwiched between my
mattress and box springs, kept my secrets and thoughts safe from my nosey little brother. Snippets of thoughts and observations from my childhood days – pets, teachers, best friends, worst enemies – chronicled the drama of my childhood.
Creative people often need solitude in order to focus on their crafts, and as a child nothing made me happier than lying prostrate on my bed, writing with a freshly sharpened pencil while the radio played in the background.
I filled journal after journal in junior high and high school, using my pen to battle the angst and alienation of adolescence, to record adventures of romance and rebellion. In college, I majored in Journalism with an emphasis in creative writing. Facebook, LiveJournal and Xanga changed the rules of publishing and sharing; and my notebooks were replaced with a single blog.
It was in college that I first began reading the work of Joan Didion, whose essay “On Keeping a Notebook,” resonated with me on a personal level.
She writes:
I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind’s door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends. We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. We forget the loves and the betrayals alike, forget what we whispered and what we screamed, forget who we were.
People who fall in love with journaling are, in a way, passionate about talking to themselves. The world has changed since that magical third grade year, where I could sit in my room for hours, exercising my self-expression and imagination. Technology, relationships and eras are never static. The world is never still. Still, I am that girl; and she is still a writer.
She is also a twenty-one-year-old, learning to love. A twenty-three-year-old, learning to smile after heartbreak. She is a twenty-six-year-old grieving over a parent’s death. She is a bride. She is a mother. She is. And that is enough.
I no longer keep a blog because publicizing my deepest, darkest secrets no longer appeals to me. I no longer need to make public confessions or receive feedback. I only need to make notes to myself, so I can remember what it was and is to be me in a constantly changing world.
My background in journaling has strengthened my instincts for note taking, and technology has helped me respond to these instincts even with a busy schedule. Here are some tips for modern journaling:
• Google docs – If you have a desk job, Google docs is perfect for jotting down quick observations and thoughts as they occur throughout your day. You can access them later at home if you want to expound or refine the entry.
• Mobile recording device –I find that this is one of the best ways to clarify my thoughts. I use my smart phone to discuss complex problems while I am driving. This is great for people who don’t consider themselves writers. Often, recordings are more liberating because they aren’t subjected to the automatic censorship of writing.
• Mobile notes application – My smart phone has a notes application that I use when I am struck by inspiration in the moment. This is great for those moments of clarity that strike before falling asleep or in the middle of the night. It can also be therapeutic if you are having trouble sleeping because of an idea or concern.
• A large sketchbook – Handwritten journaling that allows for doodling is more of a recreational hobby than a path for serious introspection. I use large sketchbooks to house creative and philosophical musings. It’s a great exercise, and it’s more fun than traditional journaling.
• A small, personal diary – I have two small diaries that I open when I need to make notes concerning major personal events in my life. One chronicles events and relationships; while the other is more of a spiritual, introspective diary. This distinction evolved subconsciously.
I use all of these methods, but the trick is to find the outlet that works for you.
About the Author
Familiar with personal information screenings and online background checks, Jane Smith regularly writes about these topics in her blogs www.backgroundcheck.org. Feel free to send her comments at janesmith161@gmail.com.
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