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by junko 3618 days ago
I can most definitely relate to that :)

I also kept a small journal (which I was very ashamed of!) when I was depressed, and like you I found that it was helpful as it was at least a small but very free outlet to express what would definitely be difficult to talk about.

And I've also recovered :) And like you too, I don't keep a journal so much now, in fact very rarely I'd write in it and come to think of it, it was usually when I was very grumpy that I turned to it.

So I can't help but be glad that I don't have much of a journal now. I also feel your conundrum with happy memories, but one thing depression has taught me is to count every "now" moment as a blessing. I've a goldfish memory but I'm very precious about remembering the good emotions, like happiness, peace etc, and that for me is enough. And enough to carry me forward and whack the occasional blues. And anyway, I always find that we inadvertently store memories, be it random phone captures, spontaneous scribbling, reminders of cringey moments by friends and family ... as corny as it sounds, we're all made of our past and we all love to share things. So no need for fomo!

1 comments

Actually I have consistently been updating my journal over the past month after a long hiatus. Things are heater than ever, but keeping a journal helps me keep on track with other things. It's like making your bed and brushing your teeth every morning: if you're consistent with those things, you'll likely make a consistent effort to do more than just coast from day to day.
You definitely have more discipline than I have, I could never consider writing as something as consistent as brushing my teeth! Most of the time I'm just stuck, or feel bored with myself. Did I mention that I don't like journals! I think that I will regret it though, just as I sometimes now wish that I've been less photophobic when I was a teen.
Can I email you? I'm working on interesting software that does something like this and it'd be great if you could try it.
Yes please! I tried something along those lines but gave up after a while when I got tired of making the app and just stuck with Evernote.

Here's the repo for the abandoned project:

https://github.com/nikkoschaff/Sumer