...That's why the Doctrine & Covenants were written...and more importantly why we should journal - because we're commanded to. Alright, so I'm not the best example of a perfect record keeper, but I'm doing much better. I've taken a (figurative) page out of my roommate Shley's life and decided to be more consistent with my journaling. She writes like no novelist/writer/poet/playwright ever in the history of the world. (She can fill a journal in about 2 1/2-4 weeks). She, as well as K-Girl, have been my examples of journal writers. Anytime they wrote in or mentioned their journals I got a pang of guilt knowing my posterity wouldn't get to delve inside my heart and mind. That's when my goal was born - fill a journal...even just one...with a stream of information/ponderings/happenings
One of my jobs this summer was to do some typing and secretarial/computer work for my ex-bishop. He wanted to have his mother's journals accessible electronically so he can make discs of them for his kids. He reads from them while I just sit and type away. He pulls out the spiritual tidbits as well as weather and important family memories (births, marriages, deaths, etc), whatever he thinks will be of value to his family. What we have compiled is phenomenal - 20 years of her journals. I'm just amazed that someone can be this constant with something that so many people take for granted and don't do. The funnest tidbit was documented today "I don't think anyone will ever read this...." She may have been right, but that's not what's important. Some of her entries were pages and pages while others, mere sentences or phrases but each has its significance. You can definitely see a progression not i=only in her life but those of her family and friends. We covered grandkids' graduations, births, baptisms, temple trips, priesthood to all worthy males, death of Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, EVERYTHING. It's neat to see the past through another's eyes.
In my life I've only fully completed 1 journal of my 7 1/2 weeks of experiences in London, but it set a fire under me to keep going. If I can find time to write when I'm bombarded by travel and fun then I can certainly write when I've just sat and done homework. I'm going to strive to follow her diligent example and write in my journal as often as possible - more than just once every few months or so. I typically shy away from journaling when there's nothing exciting happening in my life - THAT'S WHEN I SHOULD BE WRITING THE MOST. I learn from the insignificant just as much as from the significant. "A goal not written down is merely a wish"...well now it's written down and the whole world are witnesses (well, my blog followers/casual readers at least) to my commitment to journaling. Now, will you follow my example or just wish me luck?!?! Remember "And again, let all the records be had in order, that they may be put in the archives of my holy temple, to be held in remembrance from generation to generation, saith the Lord of Hosts" (D&C 127:8)
What I've come to learn from my own journal writing is that while documenting the events in my life, documenting my feelings and thoughts (about those events or just life in general) is just as, if not more, important. I have one journal I started in my senior year that I should follow better in that I wrote down so many quotes from scriptures and conference talks that I found interesting. My thoughts are what I find more interesting and important later. It's my spiritual growth that I think that is the most important thing to remember as I continue to struggle through and the most important to pass on to my posterity, should they ever read them. But I wouldn't necessarily write with them in mind...at least for me it makes it so I'm less inclined to write certain things for fear of what others will think of me. That's not the point of a journal. Keep it up girly!
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