Comments on: Burn Them or Cherish Them? What to Do With Old Journals

By: JoJostarbuck

JoJostarbuck — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:25:57 +0000

Funny – I’ve been struggling with this for a few years now. When I met my boyfriend, I stopped writing in my journals entirely. Everything I had written before had been filled with so much pain and so much anger. So many drunken nights and illegible handwriting! And when we got together a few years ago, it all stopped. It all went away. Now I have this (semi-) permanent record of these horrible years that I wouldn’t want anyone to ever read. I wrapped up my journals in layers and layers of packing tape, to discourage the wandering eye, but even still…. I think it’s time for them to go. Maybe soon I’ll have a ceremonial burning. I think psychologically, it’ll erase the nitty gritty details that brought me to where I am today, and I’ll be able to look forward to the much-brighter future.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:11:27 +0000

Thank you so much for this posting. I feel like I could have written it myself. I’ve kept a journal from as far back as I can remember. I have them hidden in boxes, cases and bags in my closet like dirty little secrets. Like many people, I pretty much only write about the negative stuff, the angst and angers, petty jealousies, frustrations, fears, compulsions of whatever is going on in my life at that particular time. Most of my writings are rants. Bitter, angry, kind of scary….as I’ve tried to work things out and move through life. So I too am so afraid of being hit by the proverbial beer truck and my family finding my words. My husband swears he’ll toss them but I fear that his curiosity would get the better of him. I also feel like there’s such history in there, perhaps fodder for my writing that I don’t feel completely ready to let them go. Also, I don’t have a fireplace. I don’t want to be the weirdo neighbor burning pages in my tiny backyard. And so it goes…still trying to work it all out. I am so glad to have found this posting and all of the comments. Oddly enough, I have felt alone in this so-called dilemma so it’s wonderfully comforting to know that others have the same experience. Thank you all for sharing!

By: Writer

Writer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:10:00 +0000

I love that – I would also much rather have my grandkids reading the intimate details of my life rather than my own children. Maybe I won’t burn them all…

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:12:40 +0000

Oh I can really relate to this post! I am 26 this year (2010), and I too am deathly worried that in the event of an untimely death for me, my parents will read my journals (20 volumes over the past 10 years, since I started when I was 16), and I have instructed my best friend to go to my house where I store them and take them away. I haven’t written much NEGATIVE things in there, but I sure have written some TRASHY things, involving various dalliances with certain men and boys in my life. Stuff I’d rather not have my parents know about. BUT, I will never ever burn them or throw them away, because it is my intention someday to pass them onto my grandson or granddaughter when they become of age, maybe in their 20s. I wouldn’t feel comfortable to give them to my children because that relationship is a little too close, but grandchildren are another matter. Just think of how cool it would be if when you reached your mid 20s, your grandmother or grandfather gave you a whole set of books about his/her life, and you got to see what they were like, what they did, and what the world was like when they were your age. Even if your grandmother was slightly trashy… Hell, I’d probably like my grandma more after reading something like that! So that’s my plan. Now I just have to figure out how to survive and help my children survive so I have some grandkids to give these journals to!

By: BCOT

BCOT — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:36:56 +0000

hehehehehehe…funny. Because I was just looking at some old journals and wondering if I should keep or throw away. I’m afraid that when I die…someone might read something I wouldn’t want. Hopefully, I will not die any time in the near future.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:50:51 +0000

Great post Amiee. I too, don’t know what to do with my collection of journals. I’ve been journaling since I was 8. My most prolific journaling period was from the age of 17-22, exactly when I don’t want anyone reading my thoughts, escapades, etc. lol. I like looking back over them to see how far I’ve come in my personal/emotional development, why I am the way I am. They also tend to be intertwined with my travels, so I definitely like to keep those journals. To conclude, I have no idea what I’ll do with them!

By: Candice

Candice — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:00:48 +0000

Funny, my friend JUST posted a blog entry like this. Impressive collection of journals! I’ve been journalling since I was six, actually, and I find it incredibly amusing/humbling to look back on my life over the years.

I actually want people to read mine when (ugh, hate saying this) I pass on…I don’t know why, as like you said, I only journal when I’m unhappy and those entries are never, ever flattering for anyone. But I feel like it’d explain all the ups and downs, y’know?

By: Maya

Maya — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:04:47 +0000

I keep my old diaries stored – some here at my place and the older ones at my parents’ house (I’m past the point of thinking, or caring, that they’ll read the old ones as it’s been a good while since they’ve been able to ground me

I love to look back on these and recall both the highs and lows. It especially helps when I am going through a rough time and think “how will I ever get through this?”. I look back at the times in the past where I wrote similar things and realize, “hey i did get through it and turned out just fine!”.

My dad did something really wonderful for my 21st bday (that didn’t involve alcohol!). He compiled his journal entries for the last 20 years that he’d written on my actual bday and put them together in a booklet. They were all rather reflective about the year and how I’d grown and remembering bdays past. It was one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever received b/c it was something so real and personal. This alone is enough to make me save my journals!

By: JoAnna

JoAnna — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:57:20 +0000

I must have at least 20 journals sitting in a trunk in my garage. Way back in the day I had many an entry like your tator tot note above, but I’ve definitely recorded some intensely personal entries since then. I think I’ll always keep them. If someone reads them someday, I think I’ll feel honored. I don’t mind if my life is an open book.

By: neha

neha — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:21:33 +0000

Great post! I never kept a diary as a kid because I was terrified my parents would find it and read it. Too many of my friends got into too much trouble over diaries.

I especially loved this part of the post – ‘I like to be reminded that at one point my life was simple, like at age 8 my journal entries usually went like this – Dear Diary, Woke up, went to school, had tater tots at lunch – they were good.’