I received my first journal as a Christmas present in 1990. I was nine years old. I have kept a journal off and on since then. I didn't write consistently until the mid-2000's though. I've never kept a journal with the purpose of writing my deep thoughts or anything like that. I've always just kept it more as a log of my day to day life. Needless to say, all 9 of my journals so far have been quite dull. I don't really mind though. I'm not much of a writer....to say the least. For the past year, I've been keeping a "line a day" journal. My husband and I were just laughing about my entries because they are all so similar - "Henry slept in today. He didn't want to nap. Lazy day. Went to Costco. Took a bath. Watched Drunk History." No, I am not joking. That's seriously what my current journal looks like. I think many people would find this odd but obviously I don't really care. One of the main reasons I keep a blog these days is because my memory is awful. I wish I'd kept a journal like my 'line a day' one for my entire life.

I get a little freaked out thinking about my past because so much of it seems to be a blur now. It makes me quite sad. I can vividly remember some things but others have almost completely disappeared. I get worried when I think that some day, days like today will just be completely forgotten. I suppose it's not that important in the big scheme of things since today is just a regular day. But that doesn't mean I want it to be erased from my memory. How much of my son's life, for example, will be a blur when I am older? As it is, I have a hard time really remembering what he was like as a baby....and he's only 2 now!

Recently I was thinking about college. I did write in a journal a bit during that time. Though I have to say, most of it is about the crush I had at the time (well, 2 of them.) I wish I'd written more of the day to day stuff because again, it's a bit of a blur. And then sometimes I'll get little glimmer of a memory. But it will be incomplete. Example - I remember being at a party. I remember a dark-ish basement. There were Christmas lights strung up on a wall. Loud music. But where was I? Who was I with? It's not like I was black out drunk or something. It's just that I apparently didn't commit that night to memory or something. It's bizarre. It makes me feel uneasy.

So because of that...I've been trying to write in a journal often. Even if it's just mundane, day to day things...like what I watched on t.v. I am also so thankful for digital cameras. I think if I'd had one in college (and when I was even younger,) I wouldn't have such a hard time remembering things. I probably have less than 100 photos from my college years. Quite different from now. I take literally thousands and thousands of snapshots every year.

Anyway...I just can't believe that come December 25th, it will be exactly 25 years since I started writing in a journal.

Here's a photo of all of my journals from over the years (because why not?)....

Here are my first two entries back in 1990. Yep.....

First one says - "I had Megan over to spend the night. We played Guess Who about 10,000,000 times." 

Second one days - "I played Guess Who with my sister after my sister, my mom, and me went shopping. I got rock candy and earrings."

Here's another random entry....this one from 1992....it really showcases how super exciting my journals have always been...haha!

It says - "Last night I got sick so I didn't have to go to school, but it doesn't matter because school got canceled. It was too icy." (Side note, I am pretty sure that was the last time I ever vomited. Seriously.)