A Daily Record of Any Kind is a Journal

When I was eighteen, I started a journal.

I faithfully wrote entries every day for five years. At the time, I didn’t consider it a journal.

I was in college. With my tuition paid, my life savings was $1800. This was my spending money. I didn’t qualify for work-study. I planned to make my money last as long as I could.

My ‘journal’ was a ledger.

I recorded every penny I spent. Countless $.25 Dr. Peppers, laundry, pizza, bus and trolley fares, an occasional special event were all recorded. Deposits were rare. They came from working over breaks and gifts from relatives.

When I looked back through my records, the details were scant. The memories were vivid.

The real value in my ledger was that I created a journal of my five years in college. 

The word 'journal' implies a personal diary. It sounds overwhelming. A different perspective shows it can be much easier.

If you’re interested in keeping a journal, keep a record that interests you—exercise, walking, what you eat, or what you read.

The important part is to record consistently.

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