The Simultaneous Beauty and Difficulty of Keeping a Journal in One's Old Age

Journaling is a freeing practice, and it’s something that should be encouraged to be taken up by people of all ages, regardless of their profession or pre-existing hobbies. Journaling is the act of taking the time to sit down to write, and that can be through writing by hand or coming to the computer. Journaling is beautiful because it holds the key to the self. When anyone sits down to simply write freely, they’re allowed to explore the depths of their own heart, the extent of their dreams, and the history of the person they’ve become. Once that ink is put to a white sheet, or once those fingers begin to clack on a keyboard, there are no limits, and the possibilities of where the brain might go with words is endless. 

Journaling requires a decent amount of effort, energy, and time on the part of the writer (the storyteller) which may come as a challenge to some people, especially those in their old age. When one’s dealing with some of the most challenging times of their lives, some of the most unbeatable-feeling hardships they’ve ever experienced, the will to write will likely be very low. Nevertheless, there are always two sides to every coin, pros and cons of any activity. 

Here are the common pros of journaling:

  • Journaling allows one to process everything around them in a healthy way. Regardless of one’s current condition or state in life, sitting down to journal opens up grand opportunities for exploration and reflection. If one’s feeling stuck in their thoughts, for example, journaling may be the escape they need in order to get away from the often-destructive constructs of their creative brain. 

  • Journaling betters one’s communication skills. When any language is constantly being worked on either orally or through writing, it’s bound to improve, becoming stronger and more effective. Since journaling is more or less all about writing, anyone who makes a habit out of writing on a consistent basis will have their command over words blossom, which will help them communicate more clearly and specifically. 

  • Journaling invites one to remember and recount their personal experiences and history. Perhaps the best part about journaling is the chance to use the brain’s centers of creativity. In a way, journaling is artistic, and the artistry of it presents the opportunity for anyone who decides to write to possibly enjoy writing creative retellings of their lives, allowing them to look back on everything, no matter where they’re currently at in life, with satisfaction. In that case, if one in their old age suddenly decides to keep a journal, reflecting on the past and present soon will easily become a treat. 

  • As time goes by, memories fade. Memories have the tendency to escape the mind, even if they are about those whom people love the most, especially family members. If journaling is to be taken up by one whose health is deteriorating, then the likelihood of a personally written legacy being left behind goes up astronomically. For anyone’s descendants, journaling can become a link to the person who decided to keep it in the first place, establishing a connection between the past and present for generations to come. 

With anything, even journaling, there are certain advantages and disadvantages. Here are the cons—

  • The tendency to forget. In this world, all people are wrapped up in the happenings and workings of their individual lives, the good and bad of it all. And while dedicating and finding time to journal might be hard as is, most people also have the tendency to forget to indulge in the pleasure of their hobbies from time to time. For instance, if one is in the grips of a harsh, happiness-threatening disease, their mind will likely not be focused on getting their thoughts down. In that way, forgetfulness is a factor that should be taken into consideration if one desires to make journaling an everyday part of their lives. Rather than having to remind themselves all the time, it might be a good idea for whoever is deciding to journal on a consistent basis to have someone whom they trust and love to do the writing for them, as that someone could be there to remind them about simply making an effort, too.  

  • Eventually, it might get hard to write or type. As one ages, the ease with which they’ve been moving their bodies for years will deteriorate and get worse. Unless it’s a journal that’s kept orally through the recording of one’s voice, journaling usually requires the use of the hands. To type or to write, one’s hands should be pain-free while writing so that the act of journaling may be able to be fulfilled with ease. With that being said, however, any physical illness that profoundly affects the body will consequently impact the effect of keeping a journal. 

  • Reflection and meditation could collectively cause heartache. Dwelling in the mind has the chance to become harmful. Wandering through the depths of the brain is not the best idea if one is trying to make sense of whatever might be happening to them at any given time. Even if one is having no difficulty managing a journal, the mass heartbreak possible because of a problematic situation can make anything feel like a chore. If journaling is to be given the green light under any circumstances, one’s continual mindfulness of their personal capacity for reflection is wholly necessary for them to see how their emotional limits are affected by whatever they may write. 

In the face of disheartening circumstances of any sort, it’s important to hang on to happiness and hopefulness by any means necessary. If that be by journaling, then it’s important that the activity be taken up as frequently as possible. But a practice like that comes with patience and action, which gets harder as one gets older. Notwithstanding, in order to maintain a specific level of strength, it may come as something that helps one navigate through the life around them, the one they’re living, regardless of their current state.

Zach Blair