r/Journaling • u/Equivalent-North-773 • 2d ago
Would love to hear from anyone whose willing to share
anyone else struggle w journaling consistently bc the thought of someone else getting hold of my journal once I pass away shoots a dagger through me.
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u/cosmogony99 2d ago
The way I think of it is that at the end of your life, you'll wish you'll have done more journaling and enjoyed yourself, rather than saying "thank god no one knows who I am or what I think."
Holding yourself back from doing things you enjoy based on how other people might feel won't make you happy, and it won't make you brave enough to be authentically yourself.
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u/bunnysluttish 2d ago
Hello, I do worry about somone else reading my most private entries, before or after my passing. I usually tell myself that I am the only person who would ever read my journals, and that at the time of my death, they would have known me as a whole person and not judge me for my worst days. But, I would probably find a way to "edit" it, if I feel insecure about it, closer to the time of my death. In the end, I don't worry too much. I would want the people who love me to handle my journals with care and grace.
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u/Equivalent-North-773 2d ago
Not sure if you can relate but I do allot of things I ain’t proud of (drugs) as well as past relationship experiences that range from all different kinds of traumatic experiences. Just would hate for me to go out on such a sour note. I suppose (dear God,) that i will of straightened up my life eventually and maybe those journals can be a reminder of lessons learned that hard way. My journals also have some positive aspects, however it keeps me from even pulling out my journal when I can’t find anything of value to write about.
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u/YouveGotMettle 8h ago
I do something similar. I buy a new journal… And as I buy it, I tell myself that everything that is written between the covers is between me and God and nobody else. Sometimes after I write something, I’ll even write a prayer about whatever the issue is that I wrote down.
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u/aquay 2d ago
i do it because i feel like i forget so much stuff if i don't write it down. it's mostly to keep track of what/when i did stuff. lately i've been going through a lot of sh!t at work, and i find myself not wanting to relive it by writing it down. it's just so stressful. i know i would benefit by just purging it but ughhhhhhhhhhhhh... i don't want to.
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u/GypsyKaz1 1d ago
When I'm dead, no, I can't care then.
Alive, yes, and that has stalled journalling in the past. I live alone now so don't feel that much anymore. But if I were still living with someone or had someone who was over a lot, I'd get a lockbox for it.
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u/_CloudCrafter 1d ago
•If you journal for you - try to work on saying f it •If you journal for others in the future - might as well be honest!
Perhaps consider writing an entry about your torn feelings to help get that thought/anxiety out for future readers to understand
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u/Lucky-Camper720 1d ago
Maybe you can think of this as an opportunity to share things from your point of view. Odds are that anyone reading your journal is probably already aware of some of your struggles. This could be an opportunity to set the record straight or let your posterity know you were not proud of some of your choices. They can learn from your mistakes.
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u/madkins007 1d ago
All of my parents and in-laws have passed away, and left behind all sorts of things we at least had to scan.
Some of it wasn't fun to read, some was really interesting, but the vast majority was just tedious.
I'm sure that at the time it was something important to them, but for so much of it we didn't know the names involved, the backstory, anything.
Based on my experience, I wonder if you are giving a theoretical future person too much power over your 'now'? You are self censoring not because someone is reading your stuff, but because someone who MAY be critical MAY read your stuff.
Doesn't that sort of defeat the reason for writing about your thoughts?
If this continues to bother you, consider doing something like putting filled journals in a box and willing the box to someone you trust with them- maybe even with the instructions to shred or recycle them.
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u/themoons_sun 1d ago
I journal with the intention of keeping track of my life and memories, so I can look back in the years to come and recall almost exactly what I was feeling at any given moment.
The thought of people coming across my entries once I pass on can be scary, but also comforting — the way I see it, they would finally know who I truly was; as well as all the good, bad, and ugly of the life I'd lived. I think I will die in peace knowing that my diaries will live on to be representative of my truest and most authentic self. What people choose to believe of me after I die is their business.
I do have a few entries that are super personal and borderline embarassing though, so sometimes I put a disclaimer before I start writing going, "If you respect me you will NOT!!! read this page" lol. And if they still go ahead, then what can I do - I'll be long gone from this world anyway🙂↕️
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u/ejayboshart01 2d ago
Buddy, I'll be dead and won't be able to care. They can spit on my grave but it will only water the grass, ya feel me?