Keeper of a Journal

Growing up as a child, I had a diary. It was super cute I promise. It was navy blue with Hello Kitty on the front. Oh, and a lock. Can’t forget about that. I could never imagine my younger siblings stealing it and reading my deepest darkest secrets! You know the usual, which boy I was crushing on in the 5^th grade stuff. 15 years later, here I am spilling it all on the Internet to whomever in the world wants to read.

About this time last year, I made myself a promise to keep a journal and write in it as often as possible. Whether it was a good day or bad day, any strong emotion that I was feeling I attempted to record.

The Church advises to keep a record of your life and experiences. All throughout the Book of Mormon it says, “to remember.” I think that one of the most useful things that I did this past year was to write down the events in my life as they were happening, as I was feeling them. I’m on the verge of 25 and I can already tell my ability to remember the details are going south!

As this past year was coming to a close I began to reflect. January I moved to Utah. March I started working at my current job. May I became engaged. July I became unengaged. August I moved into an apartment with random roommates. September I was given a new calling. November I took a trip to New York. December I was able to spend time at home with my family. A few of those instances were extremely hard, and some were extremely gratifying.

2012 was a rollercoaster and I am grateful that I kept a record of it. As I flip through those hand-written pages I can see exactly where my mind was at and why I was thinking certain thoughts. I can probably see cheetoh marks on the pages as well haha stupid cheesy fingers. Back to what I was talking about. Trials are so vivid and I can clearly make out the blessings that came from them. I am reminded of the spiritual promptings that occurred and the result of me acting upon them or not. I can see Gods hand in my life.

If you really think about it, that is what the Bible and Book of Mormon are. They are records! Those scriptures are here on earth to help guide us in these Latter-days. My personal record keeping is here to help me continue learning as I grow older.

This past Christmas I gave journals to my siblings as gifts. I also threw in a pair of gloves; it’s a poor girl life haha. The ability to remember is one of the greatest blessings.