By ADELLE ACOSTA
Staff Writer
I finally did it! I finally got myself to buy a journal. It has been circling my mind to buy a journal ever since the beginning of quarantine. With all of the twists and turns that the year 2020 has made for all individuals, it is nearly impossible to have a moment where my mind is not thinking about something. I’m always thinking about how much I miss school, how much I wish this rough time in life can pass, how much Covid-19 has affected me. I started noticing that my mind began to overfill with emotions and I was desperate to set them free.
I have always heard that journaling is a good technique to express your feelings. Since I was a little girl, I always thought it was best to keep my emotions inside because I never wanted to bother another person. Journaling has been proven to be a healthy way to share what goes through a person’s mind without needing to speak with their voice. It can be challenging to express emotions, but if a person chooses to bottle them up, they can face tough consequences.
I would recommend any person to begin journaling. It took me a long time to start a journal because I always self doubted myself. I felt embarrassed to express how I feel in a diary. It seemed middle school to me. However, I kept trying to push myself to buy a journal and start writing. I often catch myself always having conversations in my head and journaling is a good way to collect those thoughts. Looking around different stores is crucial when starting to begin journaling. I believe if the journal is designed in a way that attracts you, it will motivate you to write in it. I looked around several stores and saw some plain leather journals, some fuzzy journals, and some colorful journals, but none of them spoke to me. I took my time when searching for the right one. When least expected, I found the perfect journal for me! It was pink cheetah print and had hundreds of pages ready to be filled. Take your time when purchasing a journal and put some effort in making it your own. I would even recommend buying some of your favorite pens to have fun while writing.
With all of the different challenges Covid-19 has created for humans, I want to share what I think is a healthy way to maintain sanity. Journaling can provide comfort for a person by always being there when in need of letting their opinions out. It can give back some sense for individuals who may feel lost in these troubling times. If there is one thing that you should try out before 2020 comes to an end, I would suggest starting a journal. I can spend hours sharing how much I think journaling benefits a person, but instead, I think I will continue this conversation in my journal!