Yet another piece that tore through my stomach and went straight to my gut!
About choosing social media over journaling...Yes, we look for needed connection, and sometimes it happens. But when you make a post that is so meaningful to yourself...so very important, and do not receive the response...not a good thing. Can cause some nasty feelings. I recently deleted such a post on Substack. I knew I would not get the response from who I wanted to respond.
So, that is where Journaling comes in. The ability to write the meaningful thoughts...feeling...without the anger and upset of not getting a response. To respond only to yourself, for YOU being the one who understands, and to provide growth from the insight.
Thank you once again for your insight and the phrasing of your thoughts!
I told you earlier that I may have shared too much. But your posts elicit my responses. More important...Who knows whose reading...Maybe my sharing can help another! Yours does!
Everytime I write something on social media I have anxiety. Not because I think I will lose friends but because I try to move it from my head on the page and it never comes out how I am thinking, so frustrating!
I can’t get out of my own way sometimes, just put up roadblocks.
I’m no writer.
Short comments I can do ok but do you think my brain will let it go at that! No, I always have to add more and then it goes awry.
I had a grateful journal once. I only allowed myself 5 things I was grateful for that day.
It became an eye opener for me because it was hard to only include 5 things I was grateful for.
Thank you, Jayne - and for the record, I love your Instagram posts. Yes, it takes writing down things you are grateful for to realize how fortunate you are:)
Lee, I thought I'd get to this yesterday - but having a time keeping up. "Writing gives meaning time to catch up." I'll ditto Robin on that. I've kept journals over the decades and still have them. My
concerns now are do I burn or bury them before I leave. I'm bothered by the mere thought of someone reading those entries written by my 20 year old self. Do I think I'll be embarrassed in the
after life? I digress...You have captured the quandary we face with social media in general, imo.
That apparent need for immediate gratification, or a need for any kind of interaction at the same time whole new worlds are open to us at a click, and then we're hooked. The more time online means less time with my head in a book or a pen in my hand. Yes, keeping a journal is more important now since "it resists the speed of the modern world." Are we talking "turtle & hare"? Each of us at our own pace. I'm told resistance is futile. I don't think so. I wouldn't be
living in the "holler" if I did. There is so much in this piece that rings true, and especially
Suzi, yes, yes, and yes! I had the same thing as a teenager - all those little books with writing crammed into the tiny spaces allocated for each day. Mine at that time were very food and exercise-focused - I was crippled with anorexia for over two decades. I got to the stage that I destroyed them all, years of them, as I did not want ANYONE reading them. I wonder the same for the journals I have started in the past year.
Suzi...Your comment on burning journals!!! I long ago told my next of kin that if I do not have the chance to destroy my journals before my death (still writing) DO NOT READ AND DESTROY!
Here is a thought from my personal life....my best friend's last boyfriend was horribly addicted to heroin. We fought constantly over him, and I fought constantly with him. He died by suicide at age 27, and I found a diary of his with a few pages filled in. It gave me such insight into his struggle and made me wish I had tried harder to get through to him. I still look at these pages every now and again. He may be gone, but his thoughts were of value to me in truly understanding his plight, though too late.
That bon fire sounds great! Would be fun if we could do it together. Who knows...Some loved ones may want to read, or just to keep (without fully reading) for a keepsake. We cannot know.
But I would never want anyone to read mine. They are only for me!
Yet another piece that tore through my stomach and went straight to my gut!
About choosing social media over journaling...Yes, we look for needed connection, and sometimes it happens. But when you make a post that is so meaningful to yourself...so very important, and do not receive the response...not a good thing. Can cause some nasty feelings. I recently deleted such a post on Substack. I knew I would not get the response from who I wanted to respond.
So, that is where Journaling comes in. The ability to write the meaningful thoughts...feeling...without the anger and upset of not getting a response. To respond only to yourself, for YOU being the one who understands, and to provide growth from the insight.
Thank you once again for your insight and the phrasing of your thoughts!
Thank you Mindy:)
I told you earlier that I may have shared too much. But your posts elicit my responses. More important...Who knows whose reading...Maybe my sharing can help another! Yours does!
Such interesting reflections. I especially love: “Writing gives meaning time to catch up.” A beautiful, philosophical insight. Thank you, Lee.
Thank you, Robin:)
Ditto, Robin. That was the first thing I wrote down.
Wow Lee you have done it again!
Everytime I write something on social media I have anxiety. Not because I think I will lose friends but because I try to move it from my head on the page and it never comes out how I am thinking, so frustrating!
I can’t get out of my own way sometimes, just put up roadblocks.
I’m no writer.
Short comments I can do ok but do you think my brain will let it go at that! No, I always have to add more and then it goes awry.
I had a grateful journal once. I only allowed myself 5 things I was grateful for that day.
It became an eye opener for me because it was hard to only include 5 things I was grateful for.
I realised I was a very lucky person indeed!
Thanks for this Jayne!
Thank you, Jayne - and for the record, I love your Instagram posts. Yes, it takes writing down things you are grateful for to realize how fortunate you are:)
Lee, I thought I'd get to this yesterday - but having a time keeping up. "Writing gives meaning time to catch up." I'll ditto Robin on that. I've kept journals over the decades and still have them. My
concerns now are do I burn or bury them before I leave. I'm bothered by the mere thought of someone reading those entries written by my 20 year old self. Do I think I'll be embarrassed in the
after life? I digress...You have captured the quandary we face with social media in general, imo.
That apparent need for immediate gratification, or a need for any kind of interaction at the same time whole new worlds are open to us at a click, and then we're hooked. The more time online means less time with my head in a book or a pen in my hand. Yes, keeping a journal is more important now since "it resists the speed of the modern world." Are we talking "turtle & hare"? Each of us at our own pace. I'm told resistance is futile. I don't think so. I wouldn't be
living in the "holler" if I did. There is so much in this piece that rings true, and especially
important today.
Thanks Lee.
Suzi, yes, yes, and yes! I had the same thing as a teenager - all those little books with writing crammed into the tiny spaces allocated for each day. Mine at that time were very food and exercise-focused - I was crippled with anorexia for over two decades. I got to the stage that I destroyed them all, years of them, as I did not want ANYONE reading them. I wonder the same for the journals I have started in the past year.
Suzi...Your comment on burning journals!!! I long ago told my next of kin that if I do not have the chance to destroy my journals before my death (still writing) DO NOT READ AND DESTROY!
Mindy, maybe it's presumptuous of me to think that anyone would care - curiosity
could get the better of them, though. A great big bon fire sounds good, and just
let them go.
Here is a thought from my personal life....my best friend's last boyfriend was horribly addicted to heroin. We fought constantly over him, and I fought constantly with him. He died by suicide at age 27, and I found a diary of his with a few pages filled in. It gave me such insight into his struggle and made me wish I had tried harder to get through to him. I still look at these pages every now and again. He may be gone, but his thoughts were of value to me in truly understanding his plight, though too late.
I remember you writing about that. The story would be different had you
not found those pages - but you did find them. The insights given in hindsight? Wait, is that correct? A gift of understanding, it seems.
I'll hold on to my pages, and I even may forget I have them at some point -
by then it won't matter. The decision remains up in the air.
That bon fire sounds great! Would be fun if we could do it together. Who knows...Some loved ones may want to read, or just to keep (without fully reading) for a keepsake. We cannot know.
But I would never want anyone to read mine. They are only for me!