by Shirley Scurlock

Created on: July 16, 2008   Last Updated: July 18, 2008

Long before I decided to become a writer I took the time to write everything. I wrote about my children needing shots. I wrote about wrecking the car and always how I felt about it all. Every argument with my husband and what made me angry was journaled and the next day I wrote how much I loved him! I found putting my deepest thoughts on paper almost as satisfying and healing as sharing them with a friend.

There have been times my heart was breaking over some misunderstanding; and writing it allowed me to see it in a whole new light! Like a novel building on a mystery, writing my feelings and what led up to them, have proven to be a release money can't buy.

Today as a writer, journaling is indispensable. My memory doesn't retain the ideas, insights and story lines like it use to. I have written a story, and came back to finish it years later. I go to my journals when I'm suffering from writers block, and nothing is moving upstairs! I find so many memories and story lines to work with - most of the time I'm writing again in no time.

I also go back through my journals to relive special moments with friends, family and life in general. Reminding myself of the feelings inside when my son got married or the birth of my grandchildren making every journal all too precious to me. In the latter years of my life, when my memory is not what it use to be; I treasure the handwritten moments I can hold in my hand. Just to know I can revisit them when ever I need to, gives me a sense of tranquility! I know my memories will never be lost and when I'm gone, those I love will know how much I truly loved them. Oh yes, they'll also know I was angry at times, but I also forgave! They will know I was real and alive and one of a kind.

In this technical age we live in there are so many new ways to journal. I have found many online blog spots that can be utilized for just that purpose. I know some people have written their thoughts on the computer and saved it to a CD. Using a rewritable CD is an ingenious way of making more space at home. When you write - put the CD in - open your file - write what you want to and save it. There's no mountain of books in your book shelf, yet all your thoughts and memories are saved on that disk.

There's nothing more cleansing than to unburden ourselves at the end of the day and journaling could meet that need; as well as being a priceless gift to those we leave behind. So take my advice: join a blog role, buy a journal, or get a rewriteable CD but start journaling today.

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