"We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention."
In
case you haven't guessed, those are reasons people give for not
keeping a journal.
Okay,
now that we've covered the obstacles (there will always be
obstacles), let's talk about all the wonderful reasons to keep
a journal.
My
sister and I recently received a copy of the journal written by our
great-grandmother, Henrietta Dell, who was born in England. She wrote
about her life as a young teenager in these words:
At 12 years I went out to
work. Sometimes I would stay all summer, then go home for the winter
part-time to school when I was 13 I worked out all the time. I went
from one place to another. I lived with a family who had 6 children
and a nurse. I did the cooking every night. We had fish and potatoes
for supper. I went to Hastings, a sea port with them for 7 weeks.
After staying there 15 months, I got tired and went nearer home as I
had to take the train every other Sunday. Then I got a place where
there were only two in the family. He was Secretary to Cal Gruro or
Lord Gruro. Her Ladyship came at times in a carriage to visit. She
had a dress with a tail 3 yds long which the page carried for her up
the steps.
How
we treasure these words left by our great-grandmother! I wonder if
she ever imagined that one day her words would be like a window on a
world long gone, and even more, would help her posterity feel a
connection to her. She probably saw her life as commonplace and may
have even wondered if anyone would ever be interested in what she
wrote.
If
you think about it, we have many scriptural accounts because people
like the Apostle Paul, Luke, Nephi, and Alma recorded their
experiences. We've been encouraged by their example, and also by our
leaders, to keep a record of our lives: to record our experiences,
thoughts, and feelings in our journals (see, for example, "The
Angels May Quote from
It,"
by Spencer W. Kimball). You never know what value your words may have
to someone else.
On
the other hand, you may be among those who don't want others to read
what you write, and that's fine too. There are quite a few benefits
to keeping a journal just for yourself (see a creative and thorough
list at 101 Reasons to Write a
Journal).
Often
you discover what you think or feel by expressing it. Journaling
helps you process triumphs and trials. It allows you to identify
problems and think through solutions. It gives you perspective. It
can also be a means of discovery and even personal revelation. And
even if you don't want to share your journal, it can be the basis for
something to share.
Most
importantly, as President
Eyring taught,
a journal can help you see the hand of the Lord in your life. It can
serve as a way to keep your covenant to "always remember him"
(D&C 20:76-79).
And as Brad Wilcox wrote,
"My personal journal is helping me become more like Jesus
Christ."
If
you've always meant to start your journal but haven't yet, or if you
haven't written for a while, there's no better time to get started
than now. Memory is perishable. We lose much of the detail and
richness of our experiences if we don't record them soon after they
happen.
And
keeping a journal doesn't have to be time-consuming. Could you find
just five minutes in your day? I suspect most of us could. It might
mean getting up five minutes earlier, or on some days even cutting
out a few minutes of Twitter or TV or Facebook. It's amazing how just
five minutes of writing a day adds up.
So
here's the challenge for today's column: for the next week, take at
least five minutes each day to write in your journal. It doesn't have
to be fancy: you can hand write in a notebook or type into a word
processor or even a blog. But write something. Chances are that
you'll find it easy, valuable, and worth continuing.
Kathryn Grant is a user assistance professional with a passion
for usability and process
improvement. She also loves family history and enjoys the challenge and
reward of building her family tree.
As a child, she lived outside the United States for four years because of her father's job. This experience fueled her natural love of words and language, and also taught her to appreciate other cultures.
Kathryn values gratitude, teaching, learning, differences, and unity. She loves looking at star-filled skies, reading mind-stretching books, listening to contemporary Christian music, attending the temple, and eating fresh raspberries.
Kathryn teaches Sunday family history classes at the BYU Family History Library, and presents frequently at family history events. For more information, visit her Family History Learning Resources page
