{a small part of our group project . . . it makes me smile}
Maybe it's because I studied history in college or maybe I chose history because of it, but either way, I love reading the words that others have written. I've been working on a group project studying the information behaviors of scholars in the humanities and social sciences (how they use information sources, how things have changed with the digital age, what libraries/archives can do to help this group, etc.) and I realized that I fit the historian mold perfectly. I love technology and I use it every day, but nothing will ever beat a "real" book in my mind. Or the handwritten journal entry.
For the last 13 months I've been keeping a journal regularly. Sometimes it's been the only thing that has kept me sane. As I've been going through mama's stuff lately I've come across two journals and a lot of handwritten notes, cards, etc. and I keep thinking that if she hadn't written those things down, I wouldn't have them now. So, keep a journal. Write stuff down. Even if you don't write much, write something. Your kids or whoever gets left behind when you die will care. And they will love seeing your familiar handwriting and crazy scribbles, I promise.
I think the written word is powerful in a way that nothing else is (that is very historian-ish of me . . . ). Think about it. Heavenly Father made sure the scriptures were written down even though it was a daunting task back then to write anything. The conference talks are reprinted in the Ensign to be read and reread. Even professors making students write papers to show their grasp of concepts and express their thoughts on a subject. Writing makes you think. I love it.
And maybe, if we get a good grade on our project, I'll share it with you . . . I think it's pretty neat (and kind of funny too).