Journals, diaries and personal histories
I am not aware of a technical difference between a journal and a diary, so I will just call them "journals". They are an on-going account of personal experiences.
Why bother to keep a journal?
Perhaps the best answer I have heard was by a teenage boy.
"I keep a journal to remind myself that every day I should try to do something worth recording."
My wife Judy kept "Gratitude Journals", where each day she tried to record something she was grateful for, and why she was grateful for it. I am sure her days were brighter and happier because she looked for things that were positive. In her words, these were "Tender mercies from the Lord."
Some people keep a "Journal of Spiritual Experiences". When life becomes difficult it is good to have a life-line to remind us of how God has touched our lives in personal and positive ways.
What about personal histories? And haw are they different from journals?
They can certainly overlap, but I think of a personal history as an outline of the course of a person's life. The journal is there for the details.
A personal history by topics?
This actually breaks both molds but in some ways is the easiest to do and the most interesting to read.
My daily life is highly repetitive, so my journal is very boring if someone wanted to read it.
But a personal history by topics, instead of being a time-line it lists topics that I find interesting and why I enjoy them. So each page or two has a different story. When I have a few minutes, I choose a topic (or create one) and write my thoughts about it than save the document, and go about my other activities.
See http://www.familyhistoryquickstart.com/writing-your-personal-history/
Some Possible Topics
Places you’ve lived
Influential individuals from your childhood
Favorite vacations
Jobs you’ve had
Thoughts on politics
Religious views
Favorite movies
Civic and community service rendered
Things you like to collect
Write about your spouse
Children
Your hopes and dreams and how they have changed over the years
The automobiles you’ve had or transportation you’ve used.
Places that you’ve visited and when visited.
Your favorite hobbies
What do you like to shop for
Your impressions of the times, wars, developments, etc.
Collections of writings or poems that you’ve created
Listing of certificates and accomplishments
Favorite restaurants
Favorite music
Operations you’ve had (not the most fun, but interesting)
The top 3 most difficult things you’ve ever done or had to go through
Memberships in clubs or churches
Write about your siblings and other relatives, (their children may not be as lucky as yours. They may not have written memories of their parents’ youth)
Gardens you’ve grown
Favorite foods
Games you like to play and why they’re fun
Favorite recipes (some families like to hand down recipes). Wouldn’t it be fun if your descendants knew which ones were your favorite and you left the recipes for them?
Your favorite time of year
How Clothing Has Changed
Sports that you’ve played throughout your life
Pets you’ve had
Weather phenomenon you’ve seen or experienced.
Technological advances you’ve seen in your day
Spiritual experiences you’ve had
Favorite toys you’ve had
Thoughts on raising children
Education achieved
Activities you’ve participated in
Favorite books
posted by Bill Buchanan | 3:21 PM
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