WHEN was the last time you chronicled your life on paper? Blogs are big and so are writing notes on Facebook, but having a personal journal in the form of a notebook or scrapbook still delivers a different joy. I count it as a more personal kind of joy.
Scribbling on paper makes me feel I’m putting more heart into what I’m writing. And I love the sound of pencil on paper, especially if it’s a freshly sharpened Mongol #2. I also enjoy attaching items that carry a special memory with them — ticket stubs, receipts, stickers. Another thing I enjoy about having an actual journal is that whenever I need to revisit an experience, all I have to do is take it out and flip through the pages. The memories become tangible, and the texture of a pressed rose takes me back to the day when those flowers came.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to blog. But for me, the charm of writing memories on paper trumps anything electronic. It looks like I’ll be passing on a bunch of scrapbooks and journals to the next generation. 
12 Feedbacks on "The charm of keeping a diary"
Arianne
I really agree with this. Keeping a journal makes me appreciate life more. Works for me.
Wendy
I love what you wrote. True, nothing compares to writing on pen and paper. Seeing lines transform into letters, letters into words and words into complete thoughts is an experience all its own. Seeing your life immortalized on pages is the best way of honoring yourself.
tes12h
yeah…i agree with you. there’s nothing more charming than having the hard copy that one can leaf through. (more economical, too, in the sense that one doesn’t need to open an electronic device/equipment to be able to browse through yesterday’s memories.
i guess, i’m just old-fashioned when it comes to journals and scrapbooks. i hope that the practice of putting words on actual paper won’t die..just like love letters.
Keilah
I recently re-discovered the art of writing on paper after a bad break up. I realized that by venting on paper (a small notebook in my case) it became so much easier to define and control my emotions. Besides, the freedom to write anywhere at any time was such a cathartic experience.
Toto Battung
Love to journal……
here’s a portion of a poetry I’ve written long ago…..
Writings written in receipts, business cards, notebooks,calendar,prescription pads, work schedule…. they may look worthless
but the writings in them give me encouragement in my present state of mind.
Blaire Waldorf
i totally agree..=), i too have a journal since i was in gradeschool.. i love it, even now that i’m working , i still write on my journal.. and whenever i want to bring back those old mem’ries, i just read them.. and it all goes back to me.. the fun times, the sorrows.. all of it, and i also have clip ons on it, like the first rose i received from someone in college.. or a piece of napkin filled with sweet nothings from my gal pals jema n net.. i love it!
jen
i do and feel the same thing as you
mysticmhe
i agree..writing on a journal is worth all the reminiscing…i always go through some nostalgic moments whenever i go over my journal..it’s always good to have one…the basic is still more exciting than what the technology gives us…=D
Mai
Writing allows us to express ourselves. No limits. No rules. Freedom to write our thoughts = ]
Its also nice to read what we have written years back… reminisce and smile.
Cha Belotindos
Keeping track of memories is one of the hobbies. You can’t make things happen at the same time. You can’t bring back old times, so I seize it through writings with description to describe particular feelings and emotions at that period of time. You can remember and imagine a clear picture. What is before is not the present, keeping a journal will make you think what has been. Everyday is always a new day, yesterday is gone. Looking back through write ups and flipping of the pages of your own piece of art is really relaxing.
beverly
I strongly agree
Though blog is the fad today, I still prefer to do the scribbling work in my diary. It amazes me to see the pages of old journals turned yellow :)…and of course the memories.
Ailegan nasreeh
Im 100% agree for what your article wriiten..Coz me myself i have accustomed of doing this kind of stuff en makes me realx after i put in writing what i feel…
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