Keep a diary, in pen, pencil, whatever ... long after the bytes are lost...

Keep a diary, in pen, pencil, whatever ... long after the bytes are lost, you'll find it easy and amazing to look through, and not technology platform dependent. Guaranteed in 25 years you won't believe the amount of things you crammed into a week when you were 27.

 

And some useful info will turn up.

 

The handwriting and the ink, pencil, whatever, will reveal a lot more than dull Web fonts. Even a few words several times a week ... you might not remember what 5 % of the notations were about, but the other 95% will come back.

 

That's all

 

(Sure I keep a blog too, it's useful, but it's not the same ?*you may just find the old technology has a place)

This is a great idea!

I forgot how to write

I don't have the patience to do it, or the desire to ever go back and read the shit I'd probably write.

I've been wanting to do this for awhile now but don't have the patience. I've tried doing an e-diary, but that I didn't see a use for it.

 

I believe it can improve your writing for sure, which is probably the onl reason I'd do it.

Keep a diary, in pen, pencil, whatever ... long after the bytes are lost, you'll find it easy and amazing to look through, and not technology platform dependent. Guaranteed in 25 years you won't believe the amount of things you crammed into a week when you were 27.

 

And some useful info will turn up.

 

The handwriting and the ink, pencil, whatever, will reveal a lot more than dull Web fonts. Even a few words several times a week ... you might not remember what 5 % of the notations were about, but the other 95% will come back.

 

That's all

 

(Sure I keep a blog too, it's useful, but it's not the same —*you may just find the old technology has a place)

Pretty inspiring post, Phil. I happen to agree. The way your wrote something down, your handwriting, your words, can certainly bring back memories of how you really felt when you wrote it.

 

It's a great idea, if you can be honest with yourself in your writing.

I used to do this back when I was a teenage girl.

My gf keeps a journal of all the trips we've been on. At the end of an eventful day or at the end of the trip, we sit down and talk about the day/trip and our favorite stuff. We want to keep it so we can look back and see what we've done.

 

We actually looked back at it the other day, which was pretty fun.

I had a journal that I used to write in as a teenager, but I lost it when I moved into my house, I wish I knew where it was. I do want to start up writing again though. I need to find a good journal to write in.

Every entry for the last five years would be exactly the same--"today the kids really broke my balls. I hope it gets better soon"

2006: "Wish I made more money."

2007: "Why can't I make more money?"

2008: "Sure would be nice to have more money."

2009: "Need more money."

2010: "More money would be nice."

2011: "I wonder how much I could sell a kidney for?"

2012: "What other doubled-up organs can I sell?"

2013: "Wish I made more money."

2014: "Being a prostitute is awesome... But this burning sensation when I pee is not..."

2006: "Wish I made more money."

2007: "Why can't I make more money?"

2008: "Sure would be nice to have more money."

2009: "Need more money."

2010: "More money would be nice."

2011: "I wonder how much I could sell a kidney for?"

2012: "What other doubled-up organs can I sell?"

2013: "Wish I made more money."

2006: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2007: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2008: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2009: Applied to one place.

2010: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2011: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2012: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2013: Wish Pete got me that job...

2014: "Being a prostitute is awesome... But this burning sensation when I pee is not..."

 

:rofl:

 

2006: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2007: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2008: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2009: Applied to one place.

2010: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2011: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2012: Hasn't applied elsewhere.

2013: Wish Pete got me that job...

 

:rofl:

Keep a diary, in pen, pencil, whatever ... long after the bytes are lost, you'll find it easy and amazing to look through, and not technology platform dependent. Guaranteed in 25 years you won't believe the amount of things you crammed into a week when you were 27.

 

And some useful info will turn up.

 

The handwriting and the ink, pencil, whatever, will reveal a lot more than dull Web fonts. Even a few words several times a week ... you might not remember what 5 % of the notations were about, but the other 95% will come back.

 

That's all

 

(Sure I keep a blog too, it's useful, but it's not the same ?*you may just find the old technology has a place)

 

:clap:

You recommend writing something every day? Or when something interesting happens? Yes, I am saying that there are days where there is nothing interesting going on.

Reminds me of the stash of cards (birthday's, thinking of you's, etc.) my wife and I both have since we started dating. We've both kept them all. Sometime we'll bust out some old ones and read them out loud. Pretty interesting some of stuff that was hand written to each other over the years.

My gf keeps a journal of all the trips we've been on. At the end of an eventful day or at the end of the trip, we sit down and talk about the day/trip and our favorite stuff. We want to keep it so we can look back and see what we've done.

 

We actually looked back at it the other day, which was pretty fun.

 

That's cute

You recommend writing something every day? Or when something interesting happens? Yes, I am saying that there are days where there is nothing interesting going on.

 

I used to do it whenever something affected me, good or bad. I dont think you can write everyday, because like you said, something doesnt happen everyday thats worth writing about.

Reminds me of the stash of cards (birthday's, thinking of you's, etc.) my wife and I both have since we started dating. We've both kept them all. Sometime we'll bust out some old ones and read them out loud. Pretty interesting some of stuff that was hand written to each other over the years.

 

My wife and I do this as well.

My girlfriend and myself as well.

Pretty inspiring post, Phil. I happen to agree. The way your wrote something down, your handwriting, your words, can certainly bring back memories of how you really felt when you wrote it.

 

It's a great idea, if you can be honest with yourself in your writing.

 

Yeah, then honest wasn't a real issue, just used to make notations here and there. Could not believe some of the handwriting. Who was that person?

Ditto some college manuscripts the folks were about to throw in the trash.

 

 

It can be kinda interesting 25-30 years later. I mean I have no idea off the top of my head where I lived when, but some of this brings a lot of lost details back. Hard to hack, too. Well sorta.

 

And of course there is a massive gap of no recorded nothing except photos and a few videos after I got re-married and had kids, job, etc... [hmmm what does that mean?]

... until erm, where are all those lost computer word files damnit, damn technology changes.

You recommend writing something every day? Or when something interesting happens? Yes, I am saying that there are days where there is nothing interesting going on.

 

Whenever the mood grabs you, I guess. Just short notes ... met So and So at such an such a club / restaurant, ended up in Brooklyn, did I really see Sonic Youth or was it the Mekons? You'll remember a lot from a few small details, except maybe that one Mekons concert where things went Hunter S. Thompson a bit.

 

I wouldn't force it, but some folk find the discipline of doing it most days pays off.

 

I am lapsed, these days, aside from a watersports/cycling blog, and some miscellaneous notes here and there. No discipline on it. But the discovery of those old diaries was eye-opening.

I kind of wanna start writing down my dreams, it would be cool to write them down as soon as I wake up while they're fresh. It's strange how we have these crazy adventures every night but forget about them so easily.

Yea, I feel the same way. And what they say about not being able to control dreams or read in dreams is total BS.