Does anyone keep a journal?

If so, do you find it to be a great help? Does it relieve stress? And how long have you been keeping a journal?

I wonder if I should. I always thought it was pointless but now I wonder if I am wrong. I've got a lot on my mind lately and I think it needs to go somewhere!!!

Tell me your thoughts!

I have kept a journal for many, many years.

I started keeping a journal when I was in my mid teens (I'm 50 now), thuogh one day in my early twenties I was reading through them and they were full of what I now know was the usual teenage angst, so I burned them all. And yes, I regret it terribly.

So now my journals date back from 1981, quite a few years.

It does help to write things down, happy or sad. It is very theraputic when things are not going well.

Sometimes when I'd had a bad day, back when the boys were young and driving me up the wall, I would write down my feelings in a note book, then I would throw it away. I figured my boys wouldn't want to read one day in the future how I wished I'd never had them, which I did feel now and again when things were really hard.

Diana!! There are a lot of beautiful ones out there!!! I see them all the time! Now I know what to get you for Xmas!!   LOL!!!

Sue, I use to do it when I was really young too. I still remember what I wrote!! But I lost them along the way!! I guess I just wonder if it is worth the effort and if would help me but I guess I won't know until I try!!

Sue, I think I need to borrow your mop! lol thanks for your comment.

I agree with your thoughts and feelings on keeping a journal, I think writing stuff down, as it happens and is fresh in the mind, has lots of theraputic value.

Ray.

Oh, yes, various ones,some not worth keeping, others I have to turn in to the doctor, but they say the one you should be keeping is an "dream" journal. It might give insight to what lies ahead for you. I use to keep the photography book for our Scout troop many years and then they went to an video camera instead. They use to like my "captions" under the pictures. It became cumbersome to keep so many albums. We haul enough as it is most the time from camp to camp.  

A dream journal. Some of my dreams are very good but definitely not something I would write down. And then some are so stupid I can't figure where they came from. I have the occasional bad dream where I wake up with my heart beating in my mouth, don't want to write them down either.

Still interesting idea. 

Krissy, I used to think it was pointless too, but now I regret not keeping one, especially as I get older and more forgetful.  I keep my planners from year to year, and that sometimes will jog remembrance.  The bad thing about  journal is finding the time to write in it.  My mother in law has kept a diary since the early 50's. If you have a lot on your mind, yes, a journal is a god place to dump it.