Keeping The Journal

If you have ever questioned the keeping of a journal, you have but to look at the diaries of Mary Boykin Chesnut, Mary Chesnut's Civil War. Throughout her life, especially of interest during the Civil War, Mary, like many Southern women, wrote in a diary/journal almost daily (a more private form of the BLOG). Her proximity, via her husband General James Chesnut, to the Civil War allowed her to witness and write of the actual state of affairs. Her writings also capture the essence of daily life during the mid-1800s. During and after the war, you will note in her writings many entries that begin, "Bloomsbury"...yes, the famed Civil War diarist did a significant amount of her writing right here at Bloomsbury in Camden, South Carolina. Today, her work is one of the finest and most often referenced sources of the Civil War. So, you question the keeping of a journal. What you find to be the routine of your day can be very insightful to your future family members, future local historians, local archivist, and many others. In addition, it allows you the opportunity to free yourself of issues that you wish to push away. It allows you to express your opinions and positions without publicly espousing them. You might be amazed at the lack of inhibition when you set pen to paper. It need not be another burden in your series of responsibilities, but a stressless outlet which you can enjoy everyday or once a week or every several weeks. There are very few rules, and only you may set them. So, go ahead, pickup a tablet and begin. You will be pleased with your creativity, and even more amazed as you read your entries just one year later, or even ten years later. Happy journaling.