Eighteen years ago, when I was psychology supervisor in a state prison, I led a journal writing group. The book we used was George F. Simons’ Keeping Your Personal Journal, Ballantine 1978.  I lent it to a friend without my name written in the flyleaf, and haven’t seen it again and of course don’t recall who I lent it to.

But I do know I haven’t come across another book on journal keeping with so much hard-core encouraging information.  First I got an “out of stock” response from Amazon but kept on persevering and it arrived today and I’m seriously starting anew. I know this will be my final journal, and all the imperfections and embarrassments will still be with me, but hopefully some good insights and attempts at self-forgiveness will materialize.  Except for rare entries, mine will have to be “typewritten” and pasted, due to my deteriorated handwriting. A hardbound journal does better than I do at maintaining sequencing!