Personal Journal Journey- a lifetime of Collected Thoughts
A personal journal is something I carry with me daily and have habitually kept for most of my life (19/30 years to be exact). I don’t know exactly why, but there is just something that I love about journaling.
I would say that I am a compulsive journaler, a hoarder of journals even. Carrying multiple notebooks in my daily bag (one for writing, one for doodling, one for my finances, etc.). I find a strange comfort in always having at least one with me...just incase a brilliant thought strikes. It's like my security blanket of sorts. I honestly feel very lost without a journal with me, like I left the house without my phone or id. 
This all began in 6thgrade when my late grandmother gifted me a journal and told me to write down something, anything- each and every day. Because one day I wouldn’t remember anything and I would be glad that I had captured my thoughts in real time. Now, at 30 years old, even though my memory is still working pretty well, I can say that she is right. I am so thankful to have all of these journals to look back on.
While I hardly ever sit down to look through them, I know that they are there. Sometimes, when reading back through them I cringe at what I wrote. Other times, I cry and want to hug my younger self, offering up words of advice, but mostly words of comfort, that it's all gonna be just fine. Then, there are soo many other small daily things that my memory packed far away that I have forgotten all about.
Maybe it’s a little bit narcissistic to preserve ones self/thoughts in a personal archive, but I mean- what isn’t now in-days. We’re all preserving some sort of pseudo-self on social media, blogs and vlogs. A personal journal is just a more intimate, honest version of self-preservation. The unfiltered kind.
There is no how-to or proper way of keeping a personal journal- you just do it. If you’re having a hard time getting started I suggest start with buying a journal that you really love. This journal is one that you want to invest a little more money into because it will probably last you a while (years even, depending on how much/often you write). You want it to stand the test of time, but you also want it to be something you truly love. A personal journal should be special and reflection of you. Think about the little things…Do you want lines or no lines on the pages? Do you want white or ivory colored pages? What type of closure do you want it to have? What material is it made out of? What size should it be? Should you add personalization to the cover, if so what? Etc., etc.
Next, invest in your favorite type of writing utensils. Setting yourself up with materials you love will make it more likely that you’ll actually use them. If your favorite pens and a specialty selected, personalized journal isn’t enough to inspire you to start writing, turn to Pinterest for daily writing prompt inspiration. Whatever you do, don’t over think it. Remember, there are no hard rules to keeping a personal journal. Some days, the only things I write down are cheesy inspirational quotes I came across in my daily reading. I think the most important part is to just get started. There are many benefits to keeping a personal journal and taking the time for daily reflection. If nothing else, turning to your journal to write when bored and anxious has to be much better than reaching for your phone and mindlessly scrolling.
