Journal Writing among Older Learners
By E. Michael Brady and Harry Z. Sky
Executive Summary
This
research study explored the personal history, current practice, and perceived
benefits of journal (or diary) writing among older learners. Thirteen members of the Osher Lifelong
Learning Institute in
Volunteers for this study responded to a series of announcements in the
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute newsletter.
Fifteen people volunteered to be interviewed –
12 women and three men. The average age of the
research sample was 69.2 years (with a range of 57 - 81 years). Thirteen of the study participants held a
college degree while eight additionally had one or more graduate degrees.
There
was a broad range of starting points among these 15 individuals’ journal
writing histories. Eight people kept a
diary in their youth. However, only
three of these eight managed to maintain their practice with a degree of
consistency across the years into later age.
The more common pattern was to interrupt writing for long periods of
time and occasionally re-enter the practice of maintaining a journal because of
a critical incident occurring in their lives.
Such incidents include marriage, the birth of children, divorce, one's
own or a family members' illness, a significant travel experience, the death of
a parent, and taking a new job. Three
others in the sample began keeping a journal in their 20's or 30's while the
remaining four began after the age of 50.
Once again, a critical event (or multiple events) helped to inspire
these late-onset writers to begin and maintain their journaling practice.
With
regard to current practice, there were few distinct patterns among the 15
subjects. Some people prefer to write on
paper in long hand while others use a computer/wordprocessor. Some principally chronicle experiences while
others are more reflective and interpretive.
Several people maintain specific journals for dedicated purposes
("Travel,"
"Christmas") while most seem to integrate a myriad of life
experiences and reflections into a single body of work. A majority of the subjects (nine) reported a
pattern of linking journaling to other writing practices. These people talked about their interest in
autobiography and memoir and how their regular diary writing serves as grist
for larger narratives. Three subjects
specifically related their journals to the writing of poetry (eg., they use their journal as a forum for working
out ideas for poems or experimenting with phrasing that may eventually be used
in poems).
During
the interview the question of audience was raised. Ten of the 15 interviewees reported being
favorably disposed toward sharing their journals with others or have already
done so in fact. Typically, those with
whom journals are shared include children and grandchildren, other family
members (eg., siblings, nieces, and nephews), and friends. Three people were ambivalent about whether or
not they wanted others to read their personal writing. And two individuals were
vehemently opposed to having anyone read their journals. It is their wish to destroy these documents
before death in order to prevent others from having access to them.
One of
the core questions in the interview related to the perceived benefits of
keeping a journal or diary. Responses
broke out into three general categories that we have labeled
"coping," "the joy of
discovery,” and "nurturing voice and spirit."
"Coping" refers to a number of functions that assist, in a
practical manner, the day to day lives of the journal writers. One of these functions, which was named variously
by the vast majority (13) of the subjects, related to overall idea of self-therapy. "It's almost as though my journal were
my psychiatrist," confided one subject.
“I am able to work out things on paper” reported another. Sorting out relationships with family and
friends appears to be one of the more cogent and practical functions of keeping
a journal or diary. Additionally,
journal writing helps people to process important decisions and are also, in
some cases, a helpful aid to memory.
"The joy of discovery" refers to the sense of pleasure and
pride that often results from observing one's own growth over the years.
The
third category of perceived benefit involved what we have labeled "nurturing
voice and spirit." This refers to
the recognition that, through writing, one actually does have something
important to say and have come, over time, to be able to say it pretty well. Also, the solitude or quiet time required for
journaling provides a contemplative period in the day in which one's spiritual
life may be nurtured. One woman in this research sample spoke of moving from
one "spiritual plateau" to another in her life which has resulted in
a deeper level of consciousness about herself and her world.
In
conclusion, the centuries-old practice of writing down ones thoughts and
feelings into a journal or diary can be and often is an important tool for
older persons in helping to process and make sense of their experiences. Florida Scott-Maxwell once wrote that people
only need to claim the events of their lives to make them their own. “When you truly possess all you have been and
done, which may take some time, you are fierce with reality.” And the contemporary philosopher, Thomas Rentsch,
has expressed the opinion that the primary compensation accruing to older
persons is to genuinely become themselves.
Such self-possession and individuality are indeed a benefit and blessing
accruing, often in abundance, from the practice of journal writing.
For
Further Reading
Baldwin, Christina (1991). Life’s
Companion: Journal Writing as a Spiritual Quest.
Cameron, Julia (1998). The
Right To Write: An Invitation and Initiation into
the Writing Life..
Capacchione, Lucia (1989). The
Creative Journal.
Fulwiler, Toby (Ed.). (1987).
The Journal Book.
Heilbrun, Carolyn (1988). Writing
A Woman’s Life.
Keen, Sam and Valley-Fox, Anne (1989). Your
Mythic Journey: Finding Meaning in
Your Life Through Writing and Storytelling.
Klug, Ronald (1982). How To
Keep a Spiritual Journal.
Mallon, Thomas (1984). A Book of One’s Own. New
York
Progoff, Ira (1975). At a
Journal Workshop.
Rainer, Tristine (1978). The New
Diary.
Rainer, Tristine (1997). Your
Life Story.
Rico, Gabriele (1991). Pain
and Possibility: Writing Your Way
Through
Personal Crisis.
Santa-Maria, Marie (1983). Growth
Through Meditation and Journal Writing.
Storr, Anthony (1988). Solitude:
A Return to the Self.
Solly, Richard and Lloyd, Roseann (1989). Journey
Notes: Writing For Recovery and
Spiritual Growth.
Ueland, Brenda (1938). If You
Want To Write.
Note: This
reference list includes works of scholarship, “self-help”/practice texts,
and philosophical works on journals and other autobiographical writing.