A recent piece on the Elle magazine website compiles the thoughts of 4 women on how keeping a diary has affected their lives and their writing. Unfortunately there were no photos of any of their diaries, but below are a few excerpts from the article:
Now I record everything, from dialogue I overhear to things I feel and interesting characters I meet. It’s not a daily habit, but if I’m going through something emotional, I’ll always write it out.
Importantly, I’ve realised my notebooks help me understand the seasons of my life. I have a huge fear of death, and I work through that by expressing and reflecting on the passage of time. I think that’s why I’m so nostalgic.
I met the first boy I ever fancied when I was 12 on a family holiday in France; his name was Xavier.
Unfortunately, he didn’t feel the same, so I went to the local supermarket and bought a brown chunky book that French kids used for their school agendas.
I started writing about my unrequited love, beginning each entry with ‘Dear Xav…’ and on the first page, I made a vow to write in my diary every day. I’ve kept my word ever since.
I have a fireproof safe filled with 80 journals. I care less about remembering things; it’s more for mental-health reasons, like keeping myself in check and telling myself I’m OK. Every time I freak out, I’m able to journal myself to a place of sanity. It’s a superpower.
It started at school when I read Harriet the Spy and would write about my classmates and teachers in a notebook.
I feel I’m living in strange, explosive and hard-to-understand times, and writing about it in my diary makes me feel calmer about that.
Read more: The Power Of Journaling: Four Women On Meghan Markle’s Hobby
That is a great article, thank you!
That’s interesting she brought up Harriet The Spy. I remember reading and enjoying the book half a century ago. I don’t remember any of the plots though!