I keep many journals. It started with my keeping a teenage diary, but over the years I journaled more and more to problem-solve, to write out my conflicts, thoughts and options whenever I faced something difficult. This type of journaling was always helpful as a way to vent, and to think more clearly.
Then came the family journal. Who wouldn’t want to keep track of the births, “firsts” and cute sayings of their kiddos? I also tend to be extremely sentimental and to get caught up in the sad side of life. Having children has been bittersweet to me because I love them so, so much, but they’re always changing! We’re always “losing them” as they have been, as they grow up! So I try to capture them on paper!
After some years I got the idea of starting a “joys journal.” This was partly because I thought it would help my depression to write down every good thing I experienced, and then I could look back over it when I was feeling down. Also, I thought that if anyone ever found my regular journal, they would conclude that I was a miserable and pathetic person – so I’d better record the positive side also! I enjoy noticing all the amazing things that happen to me and the wonder of life in general, and writing them in my “joys journal.”
Next was my prayer journal. See the “favorite prayers” section for a description of that.
Next I started project journals. In graduate school I learned of “action research,” which is qualitative research consisting basically of trying something, and writing down what happens. I thought – that’s what I spend my whole life doing already! If I keep separate journals for all my projects, that would make it easier to publish on those topics someday. I never seem to get to the “publish” point – it just never seems like the right use of my energy – but I assume some day it will happen. My student teaching and substitute teaching journals are in the “education” section.
Then I started creating lists of accomplishments (also reading logs) yearly, or whenever the urge struck me. I feel like I work like a dog, and haven’t exactly gotten rich or gotten any medals. So hey, it makes me feel better to at least write it all down.
Lastly, don’t worry; these are journal excerpts. I haven’t put anything horribly embarrassing in here (at least not by my forgiving standards!)
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Daria Doering 
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