"Your journal is your autobiography so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life. there may be a flash of illumination here and a story of faithfulness there. ... Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available. ... What could you do better for your children and your children's children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity. ... Get a notebook, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity. Begin today and write in it your going and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. Remember, the Savior chastised those who failed to record important events. ... This is what the Lord has commanded and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives." - President Spencer W. Kimball
I've probably been the worst person ever at keeping a journal. I cannot count the journals/diaries I've begun with the best intentions and by the end of the first week, it becomes a coaster for a drink or the brace for the wonky desk chair in my room. Bottom line, I suck at journal keeping. That's all there is to it.
For a long time now, I've procrastinated keeping a journal because well, it has been discouraging concept. It actually causes me a lot of anxiety to think about keeping a journal. One of my biggest issues is that my thoughts race and it is difficult for me to keep one train of thought and get onto paper what I want to. And once you fail so many times at something, it becomes difficult to be positive about that something ever being something you can succeed in.
Even typing this is causing some definite anxiety (does not help that it is almost 1 am) but I want to overcome that anxiety and to do what I've been asked to do which is keeping a daily journal of things that happen in my life. Whether they be good, bad, mediocre, boring, totally pointless, or super fantastic, I need to record my memories and there have been so many moments in my life that I've not written down that I know I should have.
So starting now, I'm changing that. I've wiped this ENTIRE blog clean of old entries (I've had this thing since 07...) and have decided to begin again. I know it won't be easy and I feel a lot of anxiety thinking about trying to keep to this, but I'm going to give it a go. Not just for my own good, but like President Kimball said above,
"What could you do better for your children and your children's children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?"
The reality is that I don't know if I'll ever have children, but if I do, I want to do this for them...for the very reasons President Kimball gave.
So how will this work? I've already stated that I hate trying to write down what is in my head, but typing is another thing for me. My Papa taught me how to type on a typewriter when I was about 5, so by the time computers came along, I was a seasoned pro. Seriously. So I've decided that typing is the best way for me to make this really happen and to keep me with it. Here are the other guidelines I've set for myself:
Every entry will be typed in a word document and saved to my computer.
Most, but not all entries, will be posted on the blog.
Posts will happen at least once a week.
I will post photos as I go along (if you know me, it will be impossible for me to not
post a photo or two with each entry.)
So that's that. If you read this blog every so often or decide to follow it regularly, that's cool. But I'm not out for avid readers, a massive following or to be the next most popular bloggerista on the web. Nope. Not what I want. What I want is to have a place to fulfill my want and attempt to keep a journal of the events that transpire in my life. It won't always be sunshine, unicorns, and buttered popcorn, but it will be real.
And I owe it to myself to be as real as possible.
So thanks for reading. There will be more where this garble came from.
Till next time.
