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I just finished reading Samara O’Shea’s new book Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits and I have to say that she is brave. Not only does she confidently and easily share her journaling process, she shares much, much more than I would ever feel comfortable. Then again, I am fairly neurotic and she most likely isn’t so that may explain it. She gives the reader a glimpse into her world at varying ages and does so eloquently, even in her younger entries. It was very easy to connect with her different “selves” and see similarities (and differences) between her experience and mine. Her writing style is casual and entertaining, very easy to read.

As a result of reading Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits I have been inspired to journal more. I am one of those “sporadic, dated” journalist/diarists who will often forget about my journal whilst keeping busy with other things (can you tell by my sporadic blogging?). Then something sticks in my craw and I have to hunt it down and have a marathon gripe/processing session, writing until my hand cramps or Tater Tot is begging for my attention, or my coffee has run out. Samara poses several interesting questions as prompts to journaling and I have used them over the past couple of days. It has been freeing to just write whatever comes to mind as she suggests. No judgment, no audience but me. Although her musing over who will read her journals in posterity flies right past me. My journals usually find a blazing end in our attractive fire pit on our patio because I like to keep my crazy to myself (most of the time anyway). A hearty recommendation for the casual or avid journaler.