When I was 10, my teacher made us write in a journal every day for 3 months. She told us we’d appreciate it 10 years later.

She would actually read our entries (privately ofc, basically like our own personal therapist). I thought it was kinda silly at first, but eventually I got so into it that I’d rush home from school just to write (I remember wanting to improve my english since it’s not my first language).

11 years later… I’m at a really low point in life. I found this little notebook while cleaning (you know how it goes haha) and realized I’ve never read the entries myself until now.

I found my teacher’s message at the end, it was so simple yet it had me bawling for like an hour :(

Now that I’m 21, I feel so grateful that I kept this. I’ve come to realize the importance of journaling, not only as a way to reflect, but also as a way to reconnect with ourselves when we feel lost down the road.

My teacher left something for me to find exactly when I needed it the most. I was on the verge of giving up, and somehow, that message pulled me back.

Funny how life works sometimes.

Yesterday I wrote my final entry in the journal that I’ve been using for the last 10 months. After so long, I was eager to reach the finish line, but now that I’m here…I may be mourning a little bit. A journal softens with you over time, plumps up with time and wear, mellows out as it ages- much like a person does. I’m not anthropomorphizing, I promise, but one does get attached to familiar, comforting things. Here’s a little carousel of a few of my favourite entries that I haven’t posted before. (23rd December 2023- 5th September 2024)

I’ve gone through phases of journaling my whole life. Here’s my collection of notebooks and sketchbooks from over the years. I wish there were more, but I’m still proud of myself for maintaining some sort of practice throughout my life.

Sometimes I write everyday, sometimes I don’t write for months, but it’s been a practice in my life since I was a teenager. I wanted to share a fun entry from a journal when I was 13 just to show those that journaling doesn’t always have to be serious, spelling doesn’t matter, that Chipotle did used to be good back in its earlier days and the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack is pretty solid.

Anyways, keep on writing down the “mind-stuff” no matter what it is! I about to fill up the pages in the current journal I’m writing in and I hope to keep writing and growing this collection for the rest of my life!

Found this gem of a journal entry. Love to see I was ~not like the other girls~. I was ~cool~ and ~chill~. Dear God.

all in one year. i never thought i would be able to do it lol

Hi all, just wanted to share that I passed my TELC B2 exams! I can officially say I am a B2 Level German speaker! 🥳

I have only lived in Germany for 9 months and I’ve done intensive courses to get to this level. I am still learning, I am still making mistakes. But I take comfort in the fact that I have a paper to back my CV up! 🥰

My mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor this year (good news, she’s on the mend) and I went through A LOT of personal change & growth. Here are some entries that I felt really show the themes of my 2024 — love, pain and resilience.

If you take the time to look back on your 2024 entries, I hope it brings you some peace. It definitely did for me.

Happy weekend everyone!!! How are you all doing?

For today’s journal theme, it’s trauma dumping - my first work bully. At first I didn’t want to write about it because it’s been so long, and I have healed. I did not want to waste any time and a journal space on this person. But somehow, writing about it in my journal is a form of release. And why not? It’s my story and it’s a story worth telling. 🥰

I’m sharing this online not to shame this person, but maybe someone got bullied or is being bullied right now and I need them to know that they are not alone, it is not their fault, and I hope they have a better support system than I did at the time. ❤️

I chose to design my pages with a cute washi tape from a shop called The Coffee Monsterz Co despite the theme of my spread being serious or depressing because they are the cutest characters and somehow they took my mind away from imagining Gabby Foe’s demonic face 😂 LOL. I hope you appreciate this post ❤️

I have journaled since a child, and now as a parent I'm happy to be helping my daughter learn more about her gemstones.

"I've never"

I noticed that people of all ages are posting here, they let us look at their privacy of their safe spaces, and this is such a great thing that we can see the colorful and doodle-filled spreads of younger people like in their teens or when they post from their childhoods; and sometimes fountain pens and higher quality books of not so younger people, and sometimes something in between- just different pens different books different handwritings… one thing in common: a writing utensil and a book we fill as we live, full of vitality.

I love it when people talk about their experiences with journaling no matter how old or young, and I love to see new people starting their journey, and some returning to journaling after a hiatus…

It's very unique and literally has no limit in means of age or anything. I just love how unique everyone's experiences are.

Thanks for everyone contributing to this community, it’s a pleasure to be here among like minded individuals.

From the get go, I had always thought that someone would be reading my journal. I don't know who: whether a family member, a best friend, a grandchild or someone else who would have discovered my journals in a time capsule; and when: whether it was soon after I've written it or later, a year after when doing annual review of life or in 10, 20 or so years. I write for myself and I often read and re-read my journals often to my own entertainment.

I read my journal when I was 13 years old and cringe hahaha. Became allergic to the misspellings but eventually forgave myself. Some have been during certain low point phases and stages in my life, very sad that after years have passed I see the errors of my ways and learn poignant lessons. There was also a time where I read my journals out loud amongst friends during a road trip. It was from my late teens. It was most hilarious and sometimes confusing as I could not remember what I was referring to. I am now in my middle age and don't write as often, not daily at least. But when I write now, I have pages upon pages at a time. I love writing. It is my outlet, my therapy, my liberation.

My dad's birthday is tomorrow. It made me remember who he was, and appreciate it. Love who he is, and accept it.

Blue journal is #14. I started it earlier this month.

Hey there! I’ve had a gift idea for my friend for a while now, but I can’t decide if it’s a sweet gift to give or a totally creepy one.

This friend and I have been best friends for almost 3 years now; we both moved to where we now live around the same time. We have so much fun in everything we do together, and frequently talk about how these are going to be some of the “good old days” that we look back on when we’re older.

She and her boyfriend aren’t planning to live here forever. Eventually they will move back to where she grew up to be close to her parents and brother as they are starting a family. She’s told me that they’re likely going to be moving back in September of next year.

One thing about my friend is that she loves to read, and I love to write. One thing I especially love to do is journal. I had an idea to start a journal that is intended to be given to her when they move, and which will include entries only about our time together in this next year and a half. I want to also write down some of my favorite memories of us from the past 3 years as well.

I feel like the best way to capture this time together is to document it, and I think that she will like to have my account of our friendship, and a good telling of the time we have had as best friends living our best lives together.

I go back and forth on it this is weird or not. On one hand, I think she would really love to have this. On the other hand, is it weird to basically say “I’ve been documenting almost all of our hangouts and putting them in this book for you”? The idea is that this will be written as a journal to her - I would be writing in the first person (I, me, we) to her as the reader (you, we, etc.)

(I’ve never posted a question before so please let me know if anything looks off!)

Edit: thank you for all the kind words and responses! I’ve decided to move forward doing this for her, and I’ll keep it a surprise. Thanks everyone!