Boxes. So many boxes. They're stacked high in my closet, overflowing with notebooks. These aren't just any notebooks, though. They're my journals, filled with all the jumbled thoughts and feelings from different eras in my life, foster care, immigrating, special needs parenting just to mention a few.
Now what?
Maybe you find yourself in the same situation and wondering what to do with them
Well, we (you and I) don't have to do anything at all with them, they could indeed stay there forever.
But there are some options I am exploring and wanted to share them with you!
- Time Capsule: These journals are a record of everything I've been through, the good, the bad, and the confusing. Keeping them lets me see how far I've come. Maybe someday, I can crack one open and show my kids what it was like.
- Learning From My Past: Sometimes, rereading an old entry is like looking in a mirror. I can see patterns, learn from past mistakes, and figure out what works for me. It's like free therapy, but without the awkward silences.
- Inspiration Station: Running out of journal prompts? No problem! My old entries can be springboards for new ones. It's a way to keep the writing habit going and explore things deeper.
- Sharing My Story: Maybe someone out there needs to hear what I've been through. Sharing my journals could help someone else on their journey.
- Letting Go: If the memories are too painful, it's okay to let go. Shredding or tossing the journals is an option too. Just make sure it's because you're ready to move on, not because of shame or guilt.
- The Big Index: Don't want to get rid of them, but need some space? Indexing! Basically, it's creating a system to find specific entries later. Keywords, topics, anything goes. This way, you can revisit important stuff without sifting through every page.
- From Journal to Memoir: Ever thought about writing a book? I've already done this with one of them - Lennon Steps. Here's the thing, it's a bit of an undertaking and a big decision and it's okay to wait until you're ready.
- Digging Deeper: Some entries might be goldmines. Maybe they hold a thought or experience to explore further. Turning them into separate writing projects could be a cool way to delve deeper into a story.
The bottom line? There's no right or wrong answer. It's all about what feels right. If something in those journals is unhealthy, rewrite it, change it and move on. But if there's something positive that could help others.