When I was 8 years old I started my first diary and my very first entry reminds me that I bought my mother a cactus for Mother's Day! I have no doubt that I would have forgotten all about this very momentous day had it not been for the fact I had written it down.
Over the next ten or so years I continued writing down my thoughts and experiences but unfortunately my diary became five or six books worth which over time became scattered and battered! However, I still have them all and occasionally dip in to remind me of my growing up years.
After about the age of 18 I stopped writing everything down and only took it up again during each of my four pregnancies, something which saddens me a little since many memories which should have been recorded in between times weren't and are lost in the ether forever!
However the future beckons and with it comes Journal 10+, an 11 year diary which promises to be my saviour for the next decade of my life. A beautifully bound faux leather book, it is unlike any journal I have ever used before.
Although at first glance Journal 10+ looks a little complex, several pages at the beginning helpfully advise you on how to get the most from it and it's well worth reading this comprerhensive section as it gives you lots of ideas. Next is a long term planner which means you can really think about where you want to be in your life over the next few years. Several pages then follow for you to record your goals and accomplishments as well as a handy 12 year calendar!
A monthly planner at the beginning of each month affords you the opportunity to think about the things you wish to achieve or need to do within that month. Then there are just 4 lines for each day's entry so keeping a diary requires little time or effort to briefly note important memories each day the years ahead. Every page is split into year by year blocks which makes looking back over the same day each year an easy and enjoyable experience. And for those days when 4 lines just isn't enough, there are bonus pages and carry-over pages allowing you to make extended entries where necessary. The top of each page also allows you to record important events, such as birthdays and anniversaries.
In the back of Journal 10+ is an address and phone log and something which I know I will find a tremendous help, a Keeping Track section, where you can note medical and automobile dates of importance as well as other events that require some planning.
Although I've only just started using my Journal 10+, I am finding it incredibly easy to use and to make a few notes each evening before going to bed. As a busy mum to four children, one of whom is a newborn, I don't get much free time for writing a detailed diary anymore. I'm also aware of how acutely time flies by and that memories go with it if not recorded! Journal 10+ means I can briefly jot down the things I really want to remember about each day and that I can keep a track of the busy years ahead. Who knows, my diary might one day become a family heirloom that will be read by my children and perhaps even my grandchildren!
I can't help but think it is a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys writing and memorising. For example, it's the perfect way to note quotes you might come across and wish to keep or to copy newspaper headlines as a way of remembering yesterday's news.
Having spoken to my own family about Journal 10+ the only one thing we would all love to see is a children's version of the diary. The cover is very plain and whilst this is fine for most people, I think something brighter and more colourful would be fantastic for children and younger adults. Since many diary-keepers start their memory-keeping in childhood, wouldn't it be lovely to start at age 8 and see yourself growing up on each page through the years!
Journal 10+, published by Because Time Flies, is available from www.Journal10.com.
