i have kept some sort of journal since i was thirteen years old. (the only exception being the four year hiatus i took while i was in college.) so for about 23 years i have been recording my journey through this thing called life. every now and again, i'll go back and read through my journals...sometimes i cringe, sometimes i shake my head, sometimes i feel sad, and sometimes i laugh out loud. if there is one thing this older version would tell my younger self, it would be, "don't worry so much. enjoy life." i suppose i could give myself that same piece of advice today.
one of my favorite pages of all my journals is the one that q-tip (of a tribe called quest) autographed for me. i was living in new york at the time and having lunch with a girlfriend in a nolita cafe, when i heard his all too familiar voice at the next table. i was trembling when i asked him for his autograph, but he was very kind and obliged.
along with the standard journal entries, i have tons of inspirational quotes, poems, and drawings. one of my favorite quotes is by ralph waldo emerson:
Don't be too timid and squemish about your actions.
All life is an experiment.
The more experiments you make the better.
do you keep a journal? do you have wise words for your younger self or a favorite quote? update: i forgot to mention that there is actually a book out right now titled, dear me: a letter to my sixteen-year-old self by james wood (actor), aasif mandvi (comedian), and jodi picoult (writer). it looks really interesting and i bet the book is full of wonderful nuggets of wisdom.
I wish I'd been a better journal-keeper over my life. But then again, I found a journal I kept during my sophomore year of high school when I was obsessed with this one guy and it was totally hot-and-cold, on-again-off-again...and I cringed. I ripped the pages out and shredded them. Still, there are things I wish I'd kept a better record of. I took hundreds and hundreds of pictures, though, throughout my life, so those serve as some type of diary. I'm jealous you have such a strong personal history forever.
ReplyDeleteThat Q-tip autograph is great!
I am not a great journal keeper. Shame on me. I'm not sure I could go back and re-read though, so maybe that's a good thing. I'm totally digging the five year diary that you turned me onto though! Fingers crossed that I don't fail at that!
ReplyDeleteI'm the most inconsistent journal keeper on the planet! Every couple years I'll justify spending too much on a beautiful journal (I've bought many at Kate's in NYC), do it consistently for about a month or two and then fall off. I seriously have about 10 journals from the last 12 years, all about half full. Since I had my daughter, I've been pretty good about writing in the Chronicle Books one-line a day for 5 years journal, but it's really all about her and what we did, played, etc. I def need to get back on track :)
ReplyDeleteI used to keep a journal that I would jot down 5 things that I was grateful right before I would go to bed. .. did it for about 2 years, which I loved looked back at (still have it too). These days, I don't take time to even have cereal in the am ... just today I grabbed 2 tangerines and zooomed out the door for a morning meeting ..... buuuut aiming to change that and take more 'me time' :) THANKS for sharing a glimpse of your journal .. and oh how wonderful taht u had the journal with u the day u spotted Q-Tip in the restaurant :)
ReplyDeleteSO rad you scored that autograph!
ReplyDeletei'm a bit like you. i kept a journal all through high school and up until my late 20's since then it has been sporadic writing.
ReplyDeletemy earlier diaries/journals make me wish i had more confidence and didn't worry over such small stuff! {but at the time that 'small stuff' seemed all encompassing!}
xxx
@ERIN - Ah, that's where you got me. I wish I had taken more pictures. My picture taking was sporadic at best in my early years. Doing a way better job with photo taking now.
ReplyDelete@LAUREN - I know, sometimes I think I'm a glutton for punishment because some of my entries are so sad. Though, it does make me appreciate what I have now. Good luck with the five-year...It's fun.
@JENNIFER - Shh, I didn't confess that some of those journals aren't finished. I think the five-year all about your daughter is great because, as I'm sure you know, they grow fast and we quickly forget.
@ADA - The gratitude journal is a great one! I kept a gratitude journal for the month of January in 2011 and I always went to bed on a positive note. We should definitely restart that...We don't even need to write it down, just think it right before we go to sleep.
@JULIA - I know, right? I usually don't bother celebrities when/if I see them (well, I can't say that anymore ;), but he was an arm's length away. I couldn't resist.
@LEAH - Oh, you're so right about having more confidence and not worrying about the small stuff. Why is hindsight always 20/20? They say when you reach your 40's, you become less and less self-conscious and just live your best life. I'm so ready for that to kick in. ;)
I wish I would have kept a running journal but I guess it's never to late right? That's cool that you have detailed memories to read back on. I think I would tell my younger self that in life there will be set backs but if you stay strong in your faith you will always come out on the other side a stronger person.
ReplyDeleteP.S. that's cool you have Q-tip's autograph!
T,
ReplyDeleteAmong the many wonderful things you have given to me, and that I have picked up because I wanted to be like my big sister was keeping a journal :D I too have been keeping a journal since I was 13 ( somethings to be proud of, and others I'd like to forget). It is an evolution of writing, self, thoughts, and method of journaling. I have just recently tried to combine writing with pictures, souvenirs, memorabilia, etc. (I don't know why that never occurred to me before). So I like your autographs, pictures, etc. I also like your mention of the 5 year journal. That would be cool to compare year to year. I say to my younger self: you can do anything you set your mind and heart to do, so be confident in the choices you make and bring forth the effort to fulfill your goals/dreams.
hi teri, i have always kept a journal, too, but right now it is a bit neglected. it's calling my name. i am calmer and more centered when i have time to think, and writing helps me think. do you find that? so hooray for you! also i love the squeamish quote. i'm experimenting today! happy friday!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you've got all those journals, that's all kinds of amazing. And they look so creative and your lovely handwriting. I'm so envious, I wish I had something like that. I'm seriously impressed T, how wonderful for you.
ReplyDeleteA Q Tip! That is rad (I've never said that word before, am I too old for it?) x
Annie
still having problems with wordpress comments :(
@TORI - So true. Faith and hope will get you through anything life throws at you.
ReplyDelete@MICHELLE - Thank you, sis. It does make me happy to hear that I was good for something ;) Putting everything - quotes, drawings, pictures, momentos, etc - into one journal is fun. It makes the journal a visual scrapbook of your life. Love your advice to your younger self.
@NOREEN - Writing definitely helps me think. If I'm dealing with a particularly difficult issue, I can usually work it out with myself through writing. I can articulate myself better in writing than I can speaking. (My husband has received many a lengthy email from me over the past 13 years together!)
@ANNIE - So sorry about the commenting problems! (I think Tina was experiencing problems too.) Will look into it.
You made me smile. NO, you are not too old to say "rad". A bunch of us have started saying it again over here, so you're on point.
Theresa, am trying again. I love your version of journal/diary keeping. You started far earlier than me and yes, I agree it's fun to look back and ponder..
ReplyDeleteI've heard about James Wood's book. Am sure it's fascinating.
I like being where/who I am today and there is less existential angst in our 40's... Here is to another 25 years of journaling...oh, and now I know who to come to if I need help:)
I wish I had the discipline to keep a journal! I love buying them...but I never use them. I know I will regret it when I'm older. I regret it now, I have a terrible memory. I will have to think about that this week. Maybe this has inspired me to give it another try.
ReplyDelete