While reading On Keeping a Journal by Roy Hoffman I didn’t necessarily understand where he was heading with his point, but as I kept reading I completely understood what he was getting at and agreed with what he was saying 100 percent. In this story Roy talks about how he keeps some kind of notepad and writing utensil with him at all times to capture the wonderful things that happen in life. He describes why keeping a journal can help a person with not only their writing skills, but it can also help figure themselves out and not to mention in the future it’s amusing to read. I can really relate to this story, which is why I chose to write about it. Writing about anything and everything has really helped in many aspects of my life and it can help everyone else too.
There are plenty of books that have been published that were just merely someone’s personal journal, but now the whole world can escape into that person’s private life. Writing journals are a great way to express your feelings so that you and only you can read them. In On Keeping a Journal Roy talks about how if you think about people reading your journal you won’t write with pure honesty. This is one of his points I really agree with. If you think your mom or best friend is going to read what you write you won’t want to write what you really think. When I write I just let my mind flow and let everything out without thinking someone might read it. That’s exactly what Roy was getting at in his story. You can’t dwell on the fact that one day someone could possibly find your journal and read it. You should just write exactly what you want whenever you want to.
Roy also talks about how writing journals can help in your future. In his story he states, “Keeping notebooks and journals is rather like burying time capsules into one’s own life” (15). If you write journals when your young who knows what you’ll find when you unveil them. You’re not only going to read them to get humor, but you will also get to relive all of your enjoyable, unpleasant, and in between moments. You can cry, laugh, and be angry through all those moments again. I am excited to read, in the future, what I had to say in my youthful years. Roy’s story really opened my eyes to writing and why it’s so important. Writing a journal has really benefited me and can definitely benefit anyone. You never know it may even get published as an actual book and help someone who needs it just like many published journals I have read has done for me.
