The pen is .....

mightier than the sword! I've looked that up online and cannot get a definitive answer from wiki as to the source of the quote. But we've all heard it, and understand its meaning. My angle is, of course, about the pen. How many of you readers keep a journal? scrapbook? or blog? When someone mentions the journals of famous people, Anne Frank for example, do you think to yourself "great, but look at the history they were living through?" I know that I do from time to time.

If you think about it, "history never looks like history when you're living through it. It always looks confusing and messy, and it always feels uncomfortable." However, some day someone may want to know your thoughts: what it was like to live through 9/11. Or the recession of 2008/2009. Or how it felt when the US elected its first black president. Important moments are remembered like this: Where were you when JFK was shot? Where were you when you heard Elvis died? Where were you when you heard Michael Jackson died?

There is nothing more precious, more sacred, than words from a past generation passed on down for someone to read. A phone call is in the moment, and greatly treasured, certainly faster than something written. But something written is for all time, to be enjoyed over and over again, or to pass down to generations to come. If you watch Antique Roadshow, you know the value of the written word at the time; it can enhance the value of an item by dimes or dollars ... the use the word provenance for that. But even more so, it increases the sentimental value ten-fold with words from a relative that make it personal.

One woman declared to type 10 minutes a day, random thoughts, silly notes, song lyrics, whatever came to mind. Just for 10 minutes. But, it all adds up, and she had an impressive stack of notes to be handed down. Just imagine if that was yours from a grandmother, or great grandmother, with thoughts of the times she was living in!!

So I'm here to encourage you to get started, put your stamp on life, your thoughts on paper, your words on a blog! Just... write it!! You can do it! Generations to come may thank you one day :)

Journal'd {{hugs}} to everyone!!

PS: August is "Journal Month" for me
watch for topics and sample questions to get started :)