For me it is not about documenting my life at all. It is about processing very strong emotions (negative, positive, neutral?) that I can’t move on from.
Note the names are abbreviated with just a letter in the entry itself too. In the moment it is often too hard for me to write the actual name.
I have removed the exact date but I don’t think the titles are too sensitve.
I review my entries like once a year and it is still very hard to read some of them. I think remembering the past is very importnat. It also shows growth, improvement and development.
Older ones are sadly lost to time. I think it really helped me improve myself a lot.
I never force myself to write them. I write them when I feel I have to. It also keeps the number low and the impact high ideal for a yearly review.
Some have blocks of dated commentary at the end. I never edit existing writing though. Once it is written it is frozen.
I could never articulate it this well, but this also applies to me. Except I don’t usually title my entries. The few I have are:
FUCK THIS
I’m not in love
Real shit
Real shit pt. 2
Oh, and “Dear Ben”. It’s things I’ve had the urge to share with my brother since he died back in 2020. Couldn’t go back and read that one for a long time, but I can now (for the most part). Like you said, helps demonstrate to myself how much I’ve grown.
For me it is not about documenting my life at all. It is about processing very strong emotions (negative, positive, neutral?) that I can’t move on from.
Here are all entries in my diary:
2025-07 The Pornhub Hoody 2025-01 Debating K 2024-10 The criteria 2024-10 No Encounter 2024-10 A Pawn in their game 2024-08 What a Wash 2024-03 S The Aftermath 2021-06 T admirationNote the names are abbreviated with just a letter in the entry itself too. In the moment it is often too hard for me to write the actual name. I have removed the exact date but I don’t think the titles are too sensitve.
I review my entries like once a year and it is still very hard to read some of them. I think remembering the past is very importnat. It also shows growth, improvement and development.
Older ones are sadly lost to time. I think it really helped me improve myself a lot.
I never force myself to write them. I write them when I feel I have to. It also keeps the number low and the impact high ideal for a yearly review.
Some have blocks of dated commentary at the end. I never edit existing writing though. Once it is written it is frozen.
I could never articulate it this well, but this also applies to me. Except I don’t usually title my entries. The few I have are:
Oh, and “Dear Ben”. It’s things I’ve had the urge to share with my brother since he died back in 2020. Couldn’t go back and read that one for a long time, but I can now (for the most part). Like you said, helps demonstrate to myself how much I’ve grown.
Anyways, thanks for sharing.
I add the titles after I am done writing the initial entry usually.
Thanks for sharing too!
Can’t tell if these entries sound like a standup set or an album drop. 🤔
I guess if I wanted (and had the skills), I could see a way to turn it into either. 😅
But alas I would rather not. Maybe in 20 years or something.