Time Machines

Time machines, and I’m not talking about your “Back to the Future” DeLorean time machines that actually transport one backwards or forwards in time, are useful as we seek to grow as individuals. Pictures are a good example of time machines, whisking us back to a specific moment and the feelings we had, whether it was with family, a beautiful sunset, a fuzzy family picture of cousins and siblings lounging by a pool, but they are limited in that they don’t convey what we were feeling or what was happening during those times. I love pictures, and they bring back fond memories for me, especially when I look at ones from my childhood. However, those still aren’t the true time machines I am talking about today. Today I’m talking about journals, or common books as they used to be called hundreds of years ago. These are little books that I personally use to jot down ideas, vent frustrations, explore thoughts and emotions, record events that I want to remember, or simply let the pen go and see what comes out on to the page.

Recently I finally filled two journals that I had for years, one of them dating back about 22 years. As I was coming to the last few empty pages, I took some time over a few days and read through almost everything that I had written in both books. That, to me, was like being in a time machine. I was transported back to events, ideas, and daily emotions that I had forgotten about. I came upon dreams and goals I had written down, some of which have come to pass, others that have fallen by the wayside. I saw frustrations I experienced, as well as those times of joy where my pen wouldn’t stop writing. I found where I wrote about meeting my wife many years ago and how I felt that she was the one even before I proposed to her. I also saw how immature I could be at times and how far I’ve come as an adult. I saw the birth of my children, death of grandparents, plans for things I wanted to build, details of vacations we took. I saw a lot and it re-invigorated me to write more now so I can look back in another 2 decades and see what was occurring with an older set of eyes.

But alas, journals only bring us into the past. I don’t know that I would want to see the future. So I will write down what happens in the present. Journals, as well as being time machines, help us organize our thoughts, work through problems while writing about them, and process our emotions in real time. They also help to re-wire our brain to a slower pace through the simple fact that it takes time to write out our thoughts and once we slow down and commit to writing, we are forcing ourselves to slow down in the process and be more present with who we are and what we are thinking. When we do that, we become more aware of everything around us and our pace becomes more measured and thoughtful. I know not everyone will journal, even if its just a few sentences a day, but it has helped me tremendously and I have found it incredibly enjoyable and enlightening to read back on what I wrote decades ago and see what has changed and what hasn’t.