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Sep. 5th, 2002 11:07 pmI have always been somewhat sporadic in keeping journals. I never felt comfortable putting lots of energy into writing something that wasn't meant to be read by others. It seem like such a waste of effort. I always felt that way about papers for school too. I like writing things for publication, it feels more real.
When I was eleven or twelve, I wrote a nasty letter to a boy who had hurt my feelings. My mother warned me to be careful. She said that once written the words have their own life. Never put in writing anything that you don't want to be read by others. In fact, it is best to assume that anything you write may be read or even published.
I remember reading the Diary of Anne Frank and realizing how mortified she would have been to know that so many people would be reading her journal.
When I was thirteen, my dad died. My mother wanted to throw everything away. I was the one who carefully went through everything he owned to decide what to save and what to throw away. I know there were things in there he would have been upset to know his child read or saw. (Like the nude photos of an old girlfriend.)
Recently I spent four months taking care of my mother in the hospital. At one point the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong and mom was definitely dying. My sisters and I wanted to have as much information as possible about what led to the illness. So I read the previous six months of my mom's journal. Her keeping a journal helped us figure out some of what had happened. It also embarrassed her when she was awake again.
So a journal that is open to others to read makes a lot more sense to me. I am looking forward to sharing with my friends and family.
Dawn
When I was eleven or twelve, I wrote a nasty letter to a boy who had hurt my feelings. My mother warned me to be careful. She said that once written the words have their own life. Never put in writing anything that you don't want to be read by others. In fact, it is best to assume that anything you write may be read or even published.
I remember reading the Diary of Anne Frank and realizing how mortified she would have been to know that so many people would be reading her journal.
When I was thirteen, my dad died. My mother wanted to throw everything away. I was the one who carefully went through everything he owned to decide what to save and what to throw away. I know there were things in there he would have been upset to know his child read or saw. (Like the nude photos of an old girlfriend.)
Recently I spent four months taking care of my mother in the hospital. At one point the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong and mom was definitely dying. My sisters and I wanted to have as much information as possible about what led to the illness. So I read the previous six months of my mom's journal. Her keeping a journal helped us figure out some of what had happened. It also embarrassed her when she was awake again.
So a journal that is open to others to read makes a lot more sense to me. I am looking forward to sharing with my friends and family.
Dawn
