Essay Sample on History of Journaling

📌Category: History, Life, Traditions
📌Words: 605
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 14 February 2022

The liberating feeling of unleashing day-to-day stress onto a sheet of paper is the most famous form of journaling. This ancient tradition dates back over millennia but is still commonly practiced. After transcribing in my journal every day during quarantine, I did not realize the significance and deeply rooted history of this act. Journals are a crucial part of history that has adapted and evolved while maintaining their original purpose. 

Merriam-Webster defines a journal as “a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections.” Journals have allowed everybody from great nobles to the common man to capture their individual experiences for thousands of years. Similar to Michitsuna no Haha in 974 A.D., who documented her “loneliness, her abyssal grief at the loss of her beloved mother, and the sheer joy she felt when celebrating the success of her son” (Swensen). Unlike most bodies of work, journals allow the understanding of the first-person perspective on key life experiences. Samuel Pepys documented his life in 17th century England from 1659 to 1669 A.D. Through his journal, “we get to experience the Great Fire of London, the effects of the plague, and the glorious coronation of King Charles II” (Swenson). Similar to Michitsuana no Haha and Pepys, I documented my experiences of pivotal protests, the effects of the pandemic, and the inauguration of the first female, first Asian, and first Black Vice President of the United States. Journals have progressed from intimate stories to key primary sources.

Journals are still used today, despite their invention thousands of years ago. Everybody from authors, journalists, teachers, and more indulge in the art of journaling. Dr. Ira Progoff revolutionized journals by using it to improve mental health. His method helped his clients with “life exploration and psychological healing” (Adams). Many psychologists now employ journal therapy in counseling their patients and helping them with their self-development. The New York Times states, “The journal is and has been throughout history, a tool for self-understanding.” Journal therapy is a popular form of treatment because it incorporates introspection and provides a cathartic effect for the author. Over time, personal journals have evolved to become aids in improving mental health.

The presentation of journals has varied over the years. Materials such as “stone, clay, or on papyrus...paper or silk” (Swensen) were the first mediums for journals. As journals evolved and grew in popularity, Italian artisans began designing fine leather journals for wealthy Italians during the Renaissance. As time progresses, access to quality journals is much more readily available. With the invention of technology, journals have evolved from stone and dirt to digital records. As the medium of a journal has evolved, the act of recording one’s life has not changed.

The introduction of technology revolutionized the mediums of journals. Blogs are online journals that present the blogger’s ideas on a public platform. According to Notre Dame of Maryland University, “blogging dates back to 1994”. Social media outlets like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are all also considered journals. A popular genre on Youtube is vlogs, which is where the author records their daily life in the form of a video. Social media gives space for all kinds of people to share and document their experiences, ideas, and opinions. Not only has technology changed the medium for journals, but the content posted on these platforms also changed the stigmas behind mental health. The journal entries found on social media are similar to published works as they can be very educational. Journals have evolved from private writings on scrap materials to easily accessible social media posts. 

In conclusion, journaling is an ancient tradition that continues to evolve and adapt to our society. Although journals are ever-changing, they remain as an outlet to capture memories, experiences, and thoughts. Journals themselves have transformed from scrap fabrics to fine leather to social media posts. The content inside of journals is constantly changing and very individualized. Journals can act as time capsules for milestone events or reading about the progression of yourself.

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