Exploring with Journaling
by William H. Darby III
I
’ve never kept a journal. That is, a
single book of entries that progres-
sively details my experiences with the
wider world. That would be impossible,
since I seldom operate in a singular or
progressive fashion. However, I have
been journaling for years. I always grab
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a random notebook or sketchpad to take
along when I travel, and I record ran-
dom things in random fashion.
Most people are reluctant to begin a
journal because they feel that it will be
too much of a burden. They worry that
they won’t add to it regularly enough or
Cenizo
Second Quarter 2013
that it won’t be “good” enough. Most
people mislead themselves. Journaling
isn’t done for others – it’s done for one-
self. A journal should be as chaotic or
crisp, full or sparse, detailed or general,
as its keeper. The glorious volume that
we all wish we could produce, where
every entry is insightful (and quotable)
and every sketch is museum-worthy, is
unrealistic. Journaling isn’t about the
final product, it’s about the process.
I have a terrible memory, so I rely on
journaling primarily to help me remem-
ber things I’ve seen and done. I don’t