Do folks still write diaries/journals these days? (wife, older, children)

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by findinghope

i have always wanted to find someone's journal. i mean one where the writer is passed and someone i didnt know. not to be nosy but in order to see maybe what life was like "back then".
i have always wanted to write one and maybe have someone find it someday.

We found a stack of old letters, which all together were like a journal really, from my grandfather when he was stationed in England during WWII to his parents. In with the letters were other letters he received from young ladies he was obviously dating in various places, lol (he was a young widower).

It really is like you said, fascinating to read what life was like for these people at a critical time in our country's history.

[TabulaRasa]

I've kept handwritten journals since I was in the sixth grade. I'm 33, now.

While I'm a big fan of a lot of online stuff, I've never been able to embrace blogging. It's just not something that interests me. I like a nicely bound book with heavy, smooth-finished paper, and a good quality pen for my personal writing.

I love to actually write, as opposed to type. It's more artful. In four years of college, I wrote every paper I ever handed in in longhand, and then typed it. In seven years of print journalism, I wrote every feature story out longhand, and then typed it.

I also write letters. On paper. With ink. I put them in envelopes, and seal them with wax. Sometimes, I even get stamps and mail them. People seem to really enjoy getting them.

[filihok]

Yes

Originally Posted by justthe6ofus

I always think I'm going to remember things and they are soon forgotten.

For this reason. How else will I remember what I was thinking about and what was important to me 10, 15, 20, etc years ago?

[TabulaRasa]

I really like looking back over stuff I wrote when I was a kid, when I was in college, when I was a recent grad, etc. It's neat to see what about my outlook has changed, and what basic parts of my personality have stayed the same.

My grandma kept journals all her life, until she was in her 80s and 90s with Alzheimer's. I have her journals, and they are invaluable to me.

[D217]

I still write. I'm trying not to lose my flair for penmanship. I feel so retarded sometimes getting hand cramps after 2 paragraphs, it's ridiculous, lol. Computers just make things too easy.

I usually bust out the notebooks when I'm dealing with something and need perspective-- When I'm either stressed out or really happy and excited. Looking back over them, they are usually about boyfriends and sex stuff!

But occasionally, I will go on these rather long winded, poetic, inspirational trains of thought; illustrations included.
They are actually quite interesting.

[Trimac20]

I was never one for keeping a regular diary/journal. I think I tried it once in my teens, under the illusion I might one day be famous (well who knows yet!) but kept it up for a week before I plain forgot. When inspiration took me I would produce long, rambling dissertations on the big questions of life.

[Bennie Flowers]

It's sad to say that I cherish the days where email was still very popular. It's like the equivalent to writing a handwritten letter. Most people now just go chat over 'facebook' or some type of instant messenger. Oh, the few years before the millenium.

[temptation001]

I have written in journals all my life. It's how I deal with crap and let out steam. Sometimes its hard to talk to people about my issues and feel better rambling on paper and then rereading what I wrote. I don't write everyday, though. I find that I only write when I am stressed out or anxious or excited about something. I was reading a book a few weeks ago that encouraged writing "letters" to people and telling them exactly what you felt about them or a subject. Then go back and "answer" the letter you wrote to this person, as if you were this person. At which point you would write another letter and so forth, but without sending it, until you came to some conclusion about why the issue was so important. I tried it once and it's very therapeutic.

[dreamoutloud]

I have kept a daily (more or less) journal since 8th grade (I'm now out of university). Although I obviously use it to record fun stuff like trips, or important events, writing even my basic day down in my diary before I go sleep has become a soothing bedtime ritual for me and helps wind me down.

I've always been interested in history and in college I did some work with some 18th century journals. I was always amused by the idea that someone 200 years later might read mine, not because I'd be famous, but just to get a sense of an average teenage/20-something girl's life in late 20th century America. Just think, I could end up as someone's thesis!

[Ivorytickler]

I kept diaries when my girls were young. I started when I found out I was pregnant with them and stopped when they were in elementary school. Most of the entries are in the first three years of their lives. I never kept a personal diary.