How Are You Expressing Yourself?

How are you expressing yourself right now? How will you remember what this time was like, or share with others your memories?

I am a big fan of journaling in all its many forms. Blogging was, at a particularly difficult time in my life, a safe place. I kept a blog under a pseudonym, and for six years, it was where I could pour out all of my feelings without the need to be brave for those who knew me in real life. And though I wouldn't have thought it at the time, I'm glad I have all those thoughts and experiences written down where I can look back at them.

My grandparents and great-grandparents lived through so many things - the 1918 Pandemic, the Great Depression, WWII ... I would give anything to have even just a few notes they had written about what that was like. No need for poetry -- just the minutiae of everyday life. What did they eat? What were their biggest worries? What did they do for fun or distraction?

And you can just never tell what will happen once you begin expressing yourself. In my case, it led to so many real-life friendships I still have today. It led me to supportive colleagues and even the person who would later become my professional mentor.

Whether you blog, write long letters/emails to your grandchildren or friends, or keep a private journal, writing down what you're observing, experiencing, and feeling is healthy for you. There's something about seeing our words in print that helps us to make sense of the world around us. And right now, most of us need all the help we can get.

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