Basically it’s like comparing the difference between reading a newspaper and reading poetry . . . sort of.
The difference between a journal and a diary can be explained by saying that a journal is writing ones feelings, emotions, fears, and most intimate thoughts; whereas a diary is like a news report about you.
In a diary you write about your days or experiences. It’s more of a disciplined writing. You pick it up at the end of the day and log the events that happened. -Your assessment, your goals, your achievements, your failures, your targets. It’s about life happening everyday as a routine.
But in a journal you write about how you felt, or about a particular person, or just one thing that happened that affected you emotionally. Okay, maybe more like two or twelve things that affected our emotions. No editing, no thinking, just continuous thoughts pouring out on the paper.
So what was mine then, a diary or journal, when I started writing when I was 12 years old? Let’s see what you think. My last post (1*) showed the very first thing I wrote. Here are a few more that followed.
I think you can agree that I started it as a diary.
But as days and weeks and years went by the diary transformed into a journal.
‘I think that…’- ‘Why can’t I . . .’ or ‘I hope some day I’ll . . .’ in and out on every page.
So much more of my thoughts that were soaking inside my twelve year old brain.
Why? I think because I was at a loss for words on how to describe how I felt. But I think mainly because no reminders would be needed . . . ever.
Now, pretend it was the end of your senior year. The last High school concert you would ever be in took place, chairs filled to the brim with the student’s, families and friends. All the instrumental and singing groups performed. Now let’s say the last group preforming was the Jazz band. Time for the last song for the night. You felt honored to be the only one playing those last few notes that entire night. You even got the privilege of standing up as all the others sad to hear those last few pieces of perfectly played notes. My, what a privilege! You were a bit nervous of course because those last few notes of that last song you were to ever play you felt had to be perfect.
So do you think YOU would ever forget that? No.
Do you think you would think ‘oh . . . I better write this down cause I might forget it.’ No.
I’ll tell you. I probably didn’t want to write it down hoping I WOULD forget it and wanted nothing to bring it back to life. Well, that didn’t work. I can still picture it all. Almost too perfectly as you can tell.
I will end my story by saying how that one incident still holds the award for the most embarrassing situation that’s ever happened. I now wish I did write what happened down, wanting to see what my vocabulary would have been like in my writing. But again, maybe it’s best I didn’t.
I’m thankfully laughing right now while typing this, and I think God is giggling right along with me.
What is your most embarrassing experience? Come on. Tell all. I dare ya.
1* – click to read why I think all should keep a journal.
Many ask ‘Why keep a journal?’ My answer – Why NOT keep a journal?
After all, our mind is crowded with a million thoughts every day, and not able to really sort through them. Years ago I thought like might go better if I could just throw my thoughts down on paper, making room for those other thoughts still wrestling around in my head. I started keeping a journal in 1979, when I was only twelve years old. Looking back at the joys, trials, frustrations and excitements I went through has been funny, sad, encouraging, and even a bit embarrassing.
Want to see what my very first writing was?
Sweet and simple. But now let’s see how that changed as years went by: my two favorites. One is the last time I wrote before God opened up my heart, making me one of His.
Well, sorry. It’s been a while since I last wrote. A quick update. I graduate from Highline High school in twenty-nine days. I’m Eighteen years old and no, life is not easier at eighteen. I have my own car, a Capri. Attend Occupational Skills Center course and love being there half of each school day for the Visual Communication class. Work for Doug Fox Travel driving people to and from the airport while also being a ball girl for the Seattle Mariners. I will be going next year to Highline Community College.
Here. Let me stop. All sounds pretty great don’t ya think? Well . . . the next sentences alters that sound just a hair.
But I am now more confused about the love life. — I have spent the last week-end visiting my best friend and her dorm life. Now listen, love is confusing. As the song goes ‘I’m Hooked on a Feeling’ after that one week-end with the guy I met there. UG!
But now, the most important part. Keep reading.
I was right because 1 1/2 years later was my next writing, and I’m ever so thankful my questions were answered.
How to even begin explaining the past year and a half. The best way to explain is that I got the answer to my last journal-writing’s many questions – I am a new creature and will be rocking for Jesus for all eternity! My two best friends aren’t so ‘religious’ to me anymore. We are all Sisters-In-Christ now! Being Nineteen years old, I now can grab a hold of God and leave the world and my hunt for love behind.
Yep – My hunt for love had ended because God showed me that the most important love I could ever find would be from Him. And even then, I didn’t have to hunt for that. He gave it to me. He chose me to finally feel what sin and love truly was.
Man, did it feel heavy all of a sudden, realizing my sin that had built up those eighteen years. I pleaded for forgiveness.
He then had me feel that, hard to describe, feeling of forgiveness. The weight felt lifted off. Man, did that feel good, feeling that I was then one of His adopted children. Many of those questions before totally made sense!
I plan to write a bit how that all happened but for now I just want to share how good it can be to have, on paper, how God carries you through life. I bet He’d grin ear-to-ear looking back with you as you read all about the small, medium, and large blessings He had done for you in the past. What’s also valuable is noticing how you felt about Him years ago vs. how you feel about Him now.
If you have a journal going already, keep it going. So glad I’ve kept mine going now almost 40 years. But what if you haven’t? Well, it’s never too late.