Journaling, or keeping a diary, is usually associated with the angst ridden teen years. The practice has actually been going on for well over a millenium. With evidence found in China as early as 56 AD, the practice enjoyed increased popularity in 10th Century Japan. Ladies of the Japanese court would keep books beneath their pillows or in drawers to record their dreams and thoughts. Western world journaling became popular during the Renaissance Period. It was during this time that the concept of self became important to society as a whole.

There are important cultural differences between Eastern and Western journals. Journals from Eastern cultures authors combined poetry with imagery. Western authored journals were more prone to be a statement of fact and a record of organizations and events. It was also during this time that the “Captain’s Log” of trading ships became a tool for not only documenting cargo and trip events, but also to provide nautical navigational information that others could use as well.

A resurgence of journaling occurred in the 1970’s thanks in part to the popularity of The Brady Bunch. One epsiode entitled The Possible Dream deals directly with the loss of Marcia’s personal diary to a used book drive. Journaling also evolved from a female past time to a genderless habit with the movie Cruel Intentions. The male lead Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillipe) keeps a detailed journal of, amongst other things, his sexual conquests.

In the digital age journaling has once again transformed from blank leather books to their electronic counterparts.

The Blog.