From portugalresident.com
By Isobel Costa
Starting a diary in January enables us to write down New Year resolutions. However, instead of making a list of goals which might be hard to stick to, instead, why not make a new resolution each month and record, in the diary, its success or failure to encourage yourself?
Thousands of years ago, ancient civilizations such as the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Chinese, kept chronicles of events and, for centuries, people have kept personal diaries where they have written down their daily lives, thoughts and feelings.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius’ work Meditations is seen as a diary forerunner for he wrote philosophical reflections about his life during his military campaigns against Germanic tribes. He set himself unattainable goals, reflecting on himself and the world, seeming to motivate himself when confronted with his daunting responsibilities. It is unlikely that his private thoughts were meant for others to read, yet they give us a vital insight into his world.
Many private diaries have become renowned sources of historical data. Anne Frank’s diary, where she recorded her experiences during the war, became a symbol of courage and inspiration for many. Samuel Pepys’ 17th century diary, written over 10 years, provides invaluable detailed accounts of daily life in London as well as his experiences of the Great Fire of London and the plague. His diary has become one of the greatest inspiring works of English literature. It too was never meant for publication as it was written in Shelton’s Tachygraphy shorthand. However, this was decoded and published in the 19th century and is now hailed as the first modern diary, inspiring many diarists.
Did you know that, in Victorian Britain, keeping a diary was a popular, socially acceptable pastime among wealthy women who used them to document emotions, family life and societal observations? Equally, many World War I and II soldiers’ diaries detailed the brutality of war and the emotional toll it took on lives.
We have a fascinating journal written by my children’s great great grandfather and reading it allows us to connect through time to a family member’s life for that is what diaries do; they provide us with an historical first-hand life account.
Even modern diaries are popular. Renowned Portuguese writer José Saramago, who received the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature, chose to publish his diaries called Cadernos de Lanzarote, although diarists generally never expect their private thoughts to become public for they are generally written for oneself.
Would you feel totally free to express yourself if you knew someone else was going to read your diary? Probably not.
There are no hard and fast rules to keeping a diary. In today’s technological world, you could say that people are publishing their diaries all over social media as daily lives are recounted through blogs, photographs and videos. Will these become renown diaries of the future?
There is no reason why your diary has to be in written form, although I believe writing facilitates the process of expressing emotions. Diaries can also be illustrated with poetry or drawings adding to the text.
Whatever form it takes, a diary is a private space where you can express yourself freely in ways you might not otherwise be able to do, without holding back, for the act of writing can be a therapeutic way to deal with feelings. It can improve mental health, help you problem-solve, gain perspective and come to terms with your emotions. It provides mental clarity, fosters self-discovery, and can be a powerful stress reliever. Research has even shown that writing can also alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Personally, I have always found it a release to write my feelings in an exercise book rather than a formal diary. I tend to write more when I am upset or angry, rather than when I am happy, as this allows me to unburden myself or rant about my frustrations and anxieties.
Why do I never write down how I feel when I am enjoying myself? Perhaps it is because no catalyst is needed in those moments, as writing often serves as a release for pent-up emotions to flow freely, and they do!
I always feel better after pouring my emotions onto paper. It is an act of self-care allowing me to navigate life’s complexities with greater understanding. Re-reading my entries helps me work through my feelings, giving me a better understanding of them and paving the way for me to improve things and move forward.
Over the years, I have started many diaries but never kept them up, which is a shame, as it is so interesting to read them years later to see how far I have come in life and also as a lovely log of the joyful times, detailing memories I had forgotten. I kept a diary for a little while when my son was a toddler and it is lovely to read about his development and what we did together.
A diary is typically written in chronological order, usually free flowing, whereas a journal is more goal orientated and organized, but either is a tool for emotional processing and both capture who you were at the time of writing. You do not have to write a whole page each day, but it can become a relaxing routine to write just before bedtime.
A few meaningful daily or weekly sentences can be a good way to start and, at the end of the year, you can see if you achieved your goals, if you have changed and become the person you wanted to be.
Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, wrote, in his diary on December 31, 1868, how he had not lived up to his own expectations or achieved what he had intended. He ended the log with, “Now I have a fresh year before me: once more let me set myself to do something worthy of life before ‘I go hence and be no more seen’…”
We should take his advice. So, buy a nice book or diary and start writing. What are your hopes for the year ahead? Describe a small joy you experienced today or what you soon want to achieve. The secret is to just let it flow …
Happy New Year and happy writing!
So now you know!
https://www.portugalresident.com/did-you-know-keeping-a-diary/
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