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January 17, 2008
The Secret Life Of...
Lately, I have been pondering the idea of having a journal. Since I love to write, I thought a journal would make for the perfect place to express my feelings, new ideas, and overall mushy gushy wishes that I often am too embarrassed to express outwardly. Here is my dilemma- as much as I love the romantic idea of sitting in my room late at night composing whatever comes to mind, I do not want to create a notebook of my most intimate thoughts on paper. I really just want to create it for myself. Now, this is interesting because two of my daughters have been keeping journals/diaries since they were little, and of course I was the one that encouraged this endeavor. At one point, M. and I shared a notebook where we would write to each other, back when I was burning the candle at both ends (working full time and taking 18 credits at Utica College). To date, I cannot remember how many empty pages I have provided for them, and in fact, I still do. What I haven't yet figured out is if creating an anonymous online journal will give me the same satisfaction as treating myself to a prohibitively expensive leather bound journal, lighting some candles at the end of the night, igniting some Nag Champa, and writing in longhand.
Sometimes I think the old fashioned way is the way to go-after all, I am a hopeless romantic. Then again, creating a mysterious blog/journal would be like sending (God knows how) many people a virtual message in a bottle. Stay tuned.
Posted by dvaldesd at January 17, 2008 08:53 PM
Comments
I'm a bit confused - why wouldn't a paper journal be just for you?
As someone who tried the online anonymous journal AND keeps a paper journal, I will say I find the paper journal more honest, more reflective, and more fulfilling. No matter the anonymity, I know that the online journal isn't private, and it changes how I write there, which I don't much anymore.
I have a 1/2 page size spiral bound Flavia journal now - it has four colors of paper, and I specifically avoid writing in sequence. Sometime I write on purple pages, sometimes on the yellow, etc. I have a leather-bound journal, but I've never been willing to actually write in it. I find the less expensive the book, the less pressure I put on myself about what is "good enough" to go in it.
Don't know if and of this helps much, but do try paper - with a really nice pen. It's kind of amazing how nice it is.
Posted by: Chris Geyer at January 17, 2008 10:12 PM
Thanks for the input, Chris!
Posted by: Denise at January 18, 2008 10:29 AM