Writing is a lost art. Sure, we all write papers for school but writing for the sake of writing is dying in the age of technology. As a journalism major, this couldn't be any more evident. Recently, I finished a journal. It took me two years to complete it but I made it my goal to write as much as I could. I wrote about my goals, fears, funny things that happened to me and things that weren't so great. After I finished, I re-read everything and I learned that I am not the same person that I was two years ago--I started the journal going into my freshman year of college and I'm now a junior. Without writing, I would never have known how much I've grown.

Most people don't like to write. If it's not going to be published then what's the point? Well, for one, it's extremely therapeutic to get all your thoughts and ideas down on paper--not a computer document--actual paper with an actual pen. For another thing, seeing your past writings and comparing to them now just shows you how much you've grown and how events in your life shaped who you are today. It clears up things that you may have been confused about because you read, re-read and re-read again until it all makes sense.

So my question for you is why don't you write?

Even if it's a little every day. I would write every few days and when major things happened to me. It's like a novel about your life starring you as the main character! Just let it all out. The best part is that nobody has to read it but you (unless you want to share it). Peoples' minds are blown at the fact that writings, books, and documents from hundreds of years ago are still around and in good condition. I don't know about you, but looking at the old, worn pages and faded ink of writings such as the Declaration of Independence makes me feel small and makes me wonder if maybe, my journals will be in a museum long after I'm gone and people will look at them and get a sense of who I was and what the time we live in was like.

Words are important and I don't think anyone would disagree. You may not think it but YOUR words are important and if you can't speak them, write them down. You'll find out more about yourself, who you were and who you're going to be. Even if it doesn't bring you some kind of clarity, at least you're expressing yourself.

So write. Write in journals, in diaries, in notebooks even on random scraps of paper! Don't let the world of technology suck you in completely. Take time for yourself, log off, grab a pen and paper and just write.