Some good friends are in Weimar for the weekend, and they sent me this in the mail this morning.

While strolling around the Nationaltheater (national theater), they came across this famous quote by Oscar Wilde, glued onto the cobble stones, and then they thought of me.

Original quote: “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.”

Yes, my friends, well, anybody, always see me carry my journal around. Not only when I’m traveling, but throughout any regular day.

I use it daily. I write first thing in the morning, while the coffee is still brewing. The journal holds my to-do list, any creative ideas, Chinese fortune cookie sayings find a home with a glue stick, and so much more. It’s a great organizer for loose notes as well.

When my children were younger, and dinner service at the restaurant took a bit too long (yes, we are in Germany), I asked them to draw something in it to pass the time. That will be a nice memory to look at someday.

I started journaling in 1992, when I lived in the U.S.A. In the past 24 years, I must have filled about 40 journals or more. The journals look more like a scrap book, because I add more life in form of tickets, photos, etc. to the covers too.

I find writing very soothing. I can have a thoughtful conversation with myself. Sometimes, I’m just happy to be home and ‘visit myself’, while everyone else is out.

Until now, I have used my journals only twice to do some research. One search was for information about Japan, and the other one was looking up a certain date.

So there really isn’t any further usage once I get past the writing. But writing helps me clear my mind, set goals, and stay organized.

Whether you are an expat experiencing a new culture, or a new mom wanting to leave a lasting memory for her child, or your spouse is too bored to listen. Writing is therapeutic.