Before I even knew how to spell, I knew writing was something that would forever be special to me. I've tried short stories, news, poetry, features; but nothing feels more natural to me than writing straight from my heart. Journaling has been a part of my life forever. From just a few words about my day, to my deepest thoughts and secrets, my pen flows freely.

I've kept journals through every stage of my life. I've written letters to myself, to no one in particular, and to all of my loved ones, at least twice each. I've gone through journals and flagged pages and highlighted lines. I've relived the happiest of days, and my most painful ones too.

I use my journaling as an outlet to express myself without having to worry if I am impressing anyone with my creativity. I use it to let out my frustrations and to yell and scream when I just don't have the physical voice to. I use it to laugh with myself, and relive my days, my most precious moments that I want to be able to remember forever.

There are so many different kinds of journals you can keep, too! There's your classic journal with entries written in sentence/paragraph form. I also have a journal of list writing prompts that I like to fill out, and that I can continue to fill for a long time. There is bullet journaling that I am scared to attempt because it looks so pretty on the internet, and my handwriting isn't that nice. I've kept journals of just positive affirmations and what I call "mini happies" where I just wrote all the little things in my day that made me smile. I have a journal full of things I might want to share one day.

I'm a firm believer that keeping your thoughts and emotions bottled inside is one of the worst things a person could do to themselves, and journaling is a safe, easy way to let your thoughts run wild.

So, go forth! Start journaling, even if you write one line a day, and pretty soon you'll understand it appeal.