Keeping a Journal

A journal has been defined as "A daily record of happenings." William Clark and Meriwether Lewis both kept extensive journals on their expedition West --drawing pictures of unusual sights, charting the course of streams, etc., as well as recording the events of the day. Ralph Waldo Emerson kept journals, which I have seen on a revolving stand in his former home in Concord, MA. Among other things, he recorded his thoughts that would be useful in preparing speeches. I find that a journal is a great place to make notes about things where there is no other logical place to record. I like to record important and historical events; names of people that I meet; titles of interesting books and movies; and places and remedies that I hear about. I keep a separate medical journal, recording visits to physicians, results of tests, unusual pains, and pills that I'm taking. This info can be very useful in evaluating a new problem and in giving your medical history to a new physician.