We all have a story to tell, whether we believe it, or not. What one person may believe is too mundane may be inspirational to another. Preserving our memories by journaling can be a great way to chronicle life’s journey, but it can also be beneficial in many other ways as well.
We may not always recognize the adventure of our own story, or the life lessons others may take from our experiences. It may be hard to adjust to at first, but friends and family may love to hear all about you!
Whether you choose to share your story with others, or simply record thoughts and feelings daily for your own well-being, journaling and writing can be a very therapeutic exercise.
Not everyone excels in their writing abilities, but these days there are many helpful options: writing workshops, online and community resources and even the help of journal and diary apps for computers and phones can help preserve memories while delivering healthy benefits too.
That’s right, recent research has found many physical and mental benefits to writing, including decreasing the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, reducing the effect of stressors on physical health, accessing the analytical and rational left brain, and clarifying thoughts and feelings.
If this is not convincing enough, the advantages of journaling have actually been found to increase longevity. Researchers find that expressive writing has the potential to decrease anxiety and depressive symptoms and reduce worry, and the best part about it: there are no rules!
You can write when you like, where you like and for how long you like. You can choose your own topic and you never have to show another soul, if you so desire. There are many writing tips available to help you get started, and the rewards far outweigh the drawbacks.
Our life’s work – the legacy we will leave – is our own personal story. Preserving it can be beneficial to our health, but could also one day bring comfort to loved ones who will recall your life’s journey.
Recently, The Merion hosted Life, Legend, Legacy by Dan Gelfond, the owner of Personal History Interviews. Mr. Gelfond shared ideas for capturing stories and preserving them for future generations.