As one of the first 'real' posts, I just wasn’t to speak about the background for this idea: I always thought (משחר נעורי) that the idea of writing a journal or a 'diary' was a very positive idea. I even started one as a youngster, but obviously had nothing of import to write. I think mainly the idea is ideal for adults who have many thoughts and life experiences they want to 'put on paper'. And especially for (what Rav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveichick z"l calls) "the lonely man of faith", especially for the 'עובד ה' who has so much on his mind about his real- spiritual life, the idea of a journal, I feel, is almost essential. And especially even more if that spiritual person (I don't want to say "Jew" because I don't think it's limited to that) is a philosopher- a person entrenched constantly in deep thought (I would say even- whether or not he's able to, or does share those thoughts with other people) to have a forum where he's able to express himself, his thoughts and his ideas (or "her" for that matter).
(About " 'her' for that matter"- In our times, in the western world, even female people have a forum where they can express their thoughts, and in public yet! (which borders on two ideas: woman’s and men’s free intellectual expression between each other in the western world. And the idea of how easy it is to publish ones writings now in the western world (i.e. with the internet). Hopefully this will serve as a reminder for future discussion of these matters.
And now, in recent years, came even a new inspiration for people to write- internet blogging. And I always saw how clearly and wonderfully people were able to express themselves through this medium (אפילו אלו שאינם ראוים כ"כ) I always had that will to find out how to, and actually make a blog. And therefore, when I stand (actually- 'sit') before G-d- who is finally allowing me this privilege of the western world, I thank him from the depths of my heart, and it should be His will, that I will be able to accomplish herein that which I set out to- Amen!
אנכי העבד-
6 comments:
"I always thought (משחר נעורי) that the idea of writing a journal or a 'diary' was a very positive idea." -- It definitely is a good idea. First of all, it gives you an outlet for your thoughts. It also helps you organize your thoughts and feelings. Writing about something usually causes you to think more rationally about it, whereas when you just feel or think it, it can be overwhelming. Another thing that I love about journal writing is that it helps you mark your progress. I find it fascinating to read through my old journals and see how far I have come, which notions I have discarded since then, how I have changed, etc. I recently went through about five journals in order to build up some of the characters in the book I'm writing, and it has been very helpful.
"I even started one as a youngster, but obviously had nothing of import to write. I think mainly the idea is ideal for adults who have many thoughts and life experiences they want to 'put on paper'." -- How wrong you are!
"In our times, in the western world, even female people have a forum where they can express their thoughts, and in public yet!" -- Do you know how sexist that came out sounding?
Thank you. I did in fact receive a notice of this comment in my inbox. Yay! : D
Hm. I think this is my first time reading over my post. I see what you're talking about when you say that looking back at earlier writings gives you a peek at your slightly younger self..
"I recently went through about five journals in order to build up some of the characters in the book I'm writing"- Yes, I've actually been meaning to ask you about what the near future hold for your literary endeavors..
"How wrong you are!"- Haha. I think I meant really young (like 12!). Most kids don't have too much floating about their minds. I can attest to that (probably to the same extent that you can attest to the opposite).
"Do you know how sexist that came out sounding?"- Ha! OMG! Well didn't I write the damnedest things then?! (I say, in my famous old Englishman accent).
..but seriously, I was looking at the context, and it seems I meant to give an historical overview of the degrees which women's writings were published in Europe until the past two to three centuries. Things were pretty sexist in that sense in western Europe until relatively recently..
"Yes, I've actually been meaning to ask you about what the near future hold for your literary endeavors.." -- Many things, some of them major and some of them not. I just found some short stories and poems I wrote a couple of months ago, which I had completely forgotten about. As I read them over, I fell in love with them and now want to post or send them somewhere. Then there is also my book, which I also love working on.
"Most kids don't have too much floating about their minds." -- Excuse me, but I think my musings when I was 12 were not as trivial as you would think. I wrote my first serious short story on my 12th birthday, and I still admire my 12-year-old self for it.
"..but seriously, I was looking at the context, and it seems I meant to give an historical overview of the degrees which women's writings were published in Europe until the past two to three centuries." -- Perhaps that was what you meant, but it came out sounding as though you think it is unusual for women to have the ability to express themselves.
The ironic thing is that some of the best literature has come from women in the 19th and 18th centuries.
"As I read them over, I fell in love with them and now want to post or send them somewhere."- "Cheerio" has a poetry club, but I don't know..!
"Then there is also my book, which I also love working on."- Please don't say it's going to be about a living Barbie doll again : P! But seriously, I'm curious as to what it'll be about this time..
"Excuse me, but I think my musings when I was 12 were not as trivial as you would think."- which is precisely why I said "most" kids.
Yeah, I know, that came out sounding VERY Taliban!
(Farsi accent) "Now, in our great sin, even the womans have the right to express themselves! May G-d save us all!"
"Please don't say it's going to be about a living Barbie doll again : P!" -- It wasn't about a living Barbie doll the first time either. It was about the human world and human behavior, just from a different perspective. It was about remembering the past and about escapism.
Either way though, the book I'm working on now is different.
"But seriously, I'm curious as to what it'll be about this time.." -- Lots of fascinating things. :]
"(Farsi accent) "Now, in our great sin, even the womans have the right to express themselves! May G-d save us all!"" -- Haha. A great power has been unleashed.
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