A Trustworthy Friend I have a trusted companion, an empathetic friend amidst this unsymphatetic world. This friend cannot speak, cannot see and cannot touch. I call it, my diary. Do you have one too? A diary “allows us to leave a collection of still lifes that records our personal journeys,” says writer Christina Baldwin. Like a photo album that visually chronicles our past, a diary provides us with written “snapshots” that reveal and preserve the passage of our lives. A diary is seemingly appealing to us because it addresses a fundamental human desire - self expression. You can record on it when you have first met your partner, the joy of being able to fulfill a dream, it permits you to keep a record of your significant life events. Now how do you get started? First, find a notebook and pen that you are most comfortable to use with and look for a quiet place. Admittedly, a blank page waiting to be filled out could be quite intimidating. You don't have to be hesitant writinf on your new journal. The key is to be honest, sponataneous and simple. You can start by asking questions to yourself like 'What did I do today? What did I eat? Whom did I see?' You may also want to write something about your goals in life, your dreams, or about the people you care about. You don't need to be critical on your topics, just let the thoughts flow. Write as much or as little as you like. Write as often or as seldom as you like. Be open and candid. Do not worry about grammar or spelling. No one else will see your work. You might try pasting in photographs, newspaper clippings, or anything else that is important to you. It is your book. It can be neat or sloppy, small or large. And you only have to write when you want to. If diary keeping becomes a rigid duty, you will set yourself up for failure and disappointment. Just as a scientist may use a journal to observe and record changes in some organism that he is studying, a diary may help you to observe and study your own behavior patterns and tendencies in your life. Your journal will reveal your joys, your pains, your weaknesses, your strengths. It will improve your ability to express yourself. True, keeping a diary demands commitment, but such commitment can offer rich rewards.

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