Old journals and notebooks. Keep or chuck?

My massive pile of old notebooks doesn’t ‘spark joy’. But I couldn’t possibly throw them away. Could I?

Victor photo bombed at the perfect time

You can listen to an audio version here

Hello you.

I’m curious. What do you do with your old diaries, notebooks and journals?

I’m wondering what to do with mine.

I don’t mean old to do lists and notes from work calls. Those ones are easy to cull.

You know the ones;

-          These are my first scribbles and tentative steps into creative writing

-          These are my younger self, sitting down with her writing courses and answering writing prompts

-          These are my diary entries, my hopes and dreams

-          This is the chronological history of my words and how I’ve evolved as a writer

*A few* of my old notebooks

The thing is, though. I never look at them. Like, ever.

They’re just piled up in a bag, ready for some mystical future day when my smile lines are deeper, my hair is streaked with silver and I sit down to write…MY STORY.

We moved house last year and we had a mahoosive clear out. I did not hesitate to keep every single one of those notebooks.

Every book is filled with my words, up to its very last page. But even then, when faced with the pile, I barely opened a front cover. I almost didn’t *want* to. Maybe I was a little afraid of how CRINGE it would be to see my old self there on the pages.

Now, my amazing partner has started the process of building and decorating my new dream office. (I know :’) he’s the best.) So, the notebook pile has been brought out into the light again.

Why am I hoarding them?

It’s me or the notebooks

They feel kind of…important. But the thought of anyone else ever seeing them? NO NO NO with a side of NOPE. That would be like someone looking through my knicker drawer but fifty thousand times worse.

So, should I let them go? A writer friend of mine ceremoniously burned her old journals. She said it was a hugely cathartic process.

Or do I keep holding onto them? Trusting that there will come a day when I’ll realise why I’ve kept them for so long?

I’m pretty sure which one I’ll be doing. For now at least…

Please comment and tell me, what do you do with yours?

Janelle x