Why Keep a Journal

What purpose does keeping a journal serve?

Do you write down your thoughts, your innermost feelings,the joys and the pains embedded deep in your heart ?Does it help for you to "verbalize" in words your plans,your promises and don't forget those forgotten events?

Anne Frank kept a diary. To this day and for many more generations to come, she shares a world , a life at anera where human dignity and freedom for some was a crime.Her diary keeps it fresh in man's memory. Timeless recordof their emotions, their actions and reactions.Explorers charted their days, their travels, the glorious and the gory episodes as they made their way into unknown territories.

Today, journal keeping is growing in popularity, the why and what discussed openly on on-line forums, groups and amongst cyber friends offering one another insightful and encouraging thoughts and discussions .Journal keepers empower themselves, thanks to the speed of the internet, it keeps the "fires"burning among journalkeepers.

Enclosed is a collection of personal entries , personal thoughtsabout journal keeping.

EXCERPTS:Donner party/ Shackleton expedition December 28, 2004 7:29 PM

I am amazed by the story of Shackletons Polar expedition of 'Endurance'.

A ship filled with supplies and plenty of men eager for the expedition, until the disaster strikes with the ship stuck in ice and the long polar winter setting in. Every single person had a journal and always wrote in it.

It was one of many things they did hold dear, and so many emotions were logged in, and so important were these journals that of course they are archived and in safe keeping for the study of this history and the times. Without these journals, so much of the daily life and events would have never been known! Two years out of civilization, and all the records being kept in their journals.

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,,,,, But I know I'm also very nostalgic, and I know I want to preserve some of the days events and moments in my life. Nice to look back on. I know I used the journal as an outlet sometimes too, just to vent anything. ere are some reasons why:

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?. I write in my journals to help to "set the day straight". By writing things down, it helps me to sort through the day. It also helps to let the angry go and remember the good times.Why keep a journal? Because, as a wise man once said: "A life worth living, is a life worth recording." On a more pragmatic note, my journals also serve to jog my memory and inspire me when I am writing a memoir, novel, or screenplay.

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?..Well it looks like I'm not the only one thinking it's about time I really got committed and started really, I mean, really writing a proper journal this year. My last years journal was ...goood...but this year I want to put in 100%. I mean adding drawings, photo's bit's of nature (e.g. unusual leaves etc...) that have true worth in my soul somehow. Inspired poetry is sure to come from this continuous act of self worth.

So, what do you think of keeping a journal?

END

About the writer:

Bonnie Moss writes about spirituality, tools available to allto walk the path. Visit her website , a metaphysical site that offers information on tarot, crystals, aura,angels, journalling and other topics.

http://goldencupcafe.tripod.com