Why Journal?

by Nicole Humphrey | More from this Blogger

11 Dec 2008 06:58 AM

A couple of days ago, I was involved in a conversation with a non-scrapbooker about journaling and scrapbooking. While I love having these conversations, there are some that stay with me longer and make me really think about things. This was one of those conversations.

Jennifer is just figuring out that she would like to put her pictures in a pretty album so her children can enjoy looking at them. She doesn't think she's creative enough to make pretty, elaborate pages like many of the traditional scrapbookers, and she really doesn't think she has the time. Those two things I can certainly help her with, it's what I do. But then when we got past the "I can't do this because..." statements, we began talking about journaling.

"What? Why Journal?" Those words have gone through my head time and time again. Sometimes I have a difficult time understanding why people don't want to pass along memories to future generations. The pure joy on my childrens faces as they pour through a scrapbook is enough to make me want to continue doing it. But then I include loads of journaling. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always it tells a story about the pictures or who is in the pictures.

Why Journal? Because someday there will come a time when your stories disappear. Nobody will know them, and they won't remember them. If you take the time to record your memories on your pages through the written word, it means so much more.

If your cousin were to come and visit, would they be able to sit down with your photographs and be able to tell what is happening in every single picture? Can they tell where it was taken? When it was taken? These are reasons to journal.

So if you are ever wondering Why Journal? Hand your scrapbooks to your children and watch them as they remember what happened, as they tell a story of how they remember it, and watch them create more memories for you to commemorate.

Related Articles:

Capturing a Little Personality

Recipes for Great Journaling

Learn more about Nicole Humphrey

Nicole Humphrey is a freelance writer, consultant for CTMH and a Sr. Blogger for families.com. She resides in St. Charles, Missouri with Mike and their five children and two furbabies.

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scrapbookqueenie (20) 21 Dec 2008 12:19 PM

I could not agree more. I think journaling is the most important part of scrapbooking because we cannot always rely on our memories alone. I travel a lot and by looking at the picture alone, I will not remember what happened at that moment but when I read my journal about the picture, it brings me back to my vacation! I am doing the same with my baby's scrapbook. When she's all grown up, she will be able to read my thoughts about what happened and share my memories of her growing daily!

Nicole Humphrey (15757) 31 Dec 2008 11:41 AM

The journaling is the most important part. Period. I don't think a photograph can tell a story like your words can, EVEN if you just put the date and location of where the photograph was taken - that's at least something. A few words about what is happening in a photo is not that hard to do. I'm glad you do it, and I'm sure someday your family will be very grateful to have those memories.