A Personal Journaling Milestone

Over the years, I’ve mentioned journal writing a number of times. Whether it’s keeping a memory journal, improving your spirituality, or just remembering your every day views, keeping a journal can provide many benefits. The never-finished product becomes more and more cherished over the years.

Recently I passed an interesting mark in my own journal keeping. With 7300 journal entries, I have officially documented twenty years worth of days. 

My journal entries actually go back 34 years, beginning in 1988. However, I wasn’t a daily writer the whole time. (I haven’t missed a day in over 8 years so I’m doing better lately.)

Having tried many different ways to journal over the years, I’m still big fan of Day One. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’ve compiled all other journal formats into Day One. Writing from the pre-digital writing have been scanned, added to a backdated entry, and then also transcribed so it’s easy to search. It’s so nice to have everything in the same place. 

As I’ve mentioned before, writing in your journal is a great way to reflect and motivate yourself:

There are only so many days in a row that you can write “woke up, went to school/work, watched netflix, leveled up on doodads of destruction (or whatever game), went to sleep.” When you have a daily reflection on your day, and how you’ve spent your time,  you find a desire to do better and to be more. 

Who have I served?

Have I spent my day on things most important?

How has my love grown?

Am I any better now than I was last year. Am I a better dad? A better disciple?

And if you ever find yourself ungrateful, reading your past journal entries can be a great reminder of how blessed you’ve been in your life. 

Here is to many more years to come.