Why Do You Blog?

I write. I used to keep a hand-written journal. I need to edit it. I started a blog to help me write things that matter. I wanted to say more than…. this was a crappy day, the kids are sick, I am sick, this is too hard, gripe, gripe.

My journal seems too depressing when I look back over it. I wouldn’t want anyone to read a portion of what I wrote. Dates are important, some of my feelings, but I want to be remembered for more than difficult days on end.

In my old journals, I do have some  gospel insights and pondering, which I will keep — fun things about the kids and noteworthy happenings. The rest gets an edit.

With my big fat red pen.

I think I will type it up, otherwise someone down-the-line will definitely try to read what’s under the big red pen marks.

Yes, I believe in editing my journal. Everyone needs an editor, and I will be  my own for my old journals. I am not sure when I will have time for this little project, but it is on the back-burner, simmering, for me to fix.

I began blogging with the idea that I would write better, write things worthy to keep, read and pass on to my kids. This is why I chose the Benjamin Franklin quote:

“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write something worth reading or do things worth the writing.”

Mormons are journal keepers. It’s part of what we do, what we are encouraged to do. I started one when I was a teenager. (I didn’t write every day, though, but I did have a dumb boyfriend, hence the need for that big edit.)

Mormons are encouraged to keep journals, and now with the internet, we are encouraged to use that form, as well.(Elder M. Russell Ballard) Yea, we are obedient souls, most of the time and many of us.

But blogs can be specific for subjects. I keep asking myself, who am I writing to? I try not to be too personal, but not too removed. No airing the dirty laundry kind of thing. Only record some gripe days, to keep it real.

I use an application for Mac called Mac Journal. I have several journals — one locked, one for the recording of  my tender mercies from the Lord, one on quotes, one for writing assignments, one for books and blogs. Some things stay there — for my kids, but not the internet.

I love it.

But I do kind-of miss the hard-copy journals, especially the really nice leather ones. But digital is easier to read and edit.

Wilford Woodruff kept a journal for 63 years. I used to have a copy of the volumes of his writings (we had to sell it for money when we were broke, a long time ago–boo hoo, gripe.)

Before I sold it I took one last look at some of his entries. Some days he just wrote down, “shucked corn.”  Some days I feel like all I did was shuck corn:

He began his journal in 1835, and without it we would not have as good a history of the church.  He wrote at the beginning:

“believing it to be beneficial to review our past life and not only our privilege but duty to keep an accurate account of our proceedings. It is to this intent that I shall endeavour henceforth to keep a journal of my travels, that when required I may give an account of my stewardship.”

Why write?

Why keep a journal?

Why did you start to blog?