Journals vs. Diaries

Do you keep a journal or a diary? Let me begin by saying that this is not a competition between journals and diaries, you shan't see any hard blows, sucker punches, or surprising left-field shots to be parried, redirected, or otherwise negated, but rather a civil discourse regarding the major differences I have observed between the two, and of which I am solidly convinced as to their authenticity; some may find these observations to be foul, repulsive, untrue, and to their utter distaste and reject them outright, and that is completely within their rights to do so: however, that doesn't necessarily mean they're right or I'm wrong but at any rate, let's crack on.

Journals are compilations of neat things that have happened to you or those around you, things that are noteworthy and worthy to make a note of. They are filled with days and what happened in them, memories, stories, the occasional sketch if you're the artistic type, and maybe even some interesting conversations you've had with people through the spoken word, text, email, or whatever other form of communication. All these notes, writings, and so forth can be stored on a computer, a good ole fashioned notebook, or just be a collection of loose papers; it's really flexible and the only thing that really matters is you have it kept somewhere. Journals are normally left in a place where others can access them when you die, so as to let your loved ones have a glimpse into how you saw your life and what you thought was worthwhile to record. Sometimes you can even share your journal with other people while you're still alive, and use it as a way of keeping up with them, in lieu of direct communication. Journals are meant to be read, to be enjoyed by other people, and passed along from friend to friend to share in the joy of seeing the author's creation of real-world experiences.

Diaries, on the other hand, are a little different. This is a place where you still write about real things, but they are of a different nature entirely. In it are written mostly thoughts, ranging from everyday thoughts to more serious and grave ones, thoughts that are deep, dark, and secret. A diary is the place you pour out your soul to a lifeless notebook, describing in detail your sore afflictions or greatest desires. It's a place that's almost therapeutic, that somehow makes you feel better just to have written it someplace, somewhere. These thoughts are yours, and yours alone. They are not meant to be seen by anyone who draws breath, except perhaps your greatest confidant, and are always kept with the utmost care and protection. This is why diaries are rarely found on computers, where someone could potentially stumble across it or 'happen' to download it somewhere else, but are rather mostly kept in a notebook, written upon with pen or pencil, and hidden in a good spot where no-one will ever find it.

Now, not everyone accepts this definition of how things are, or is even aware that there is a difference between journals and diaries at all. This is why lots of people use these words interchangeably, to the confusion of those who know the distinction between the two. If I sat down next to someone and saw they had a notebook of sorts next to them and I asked what it was and they replied that is was a diary, I would leave it at that, change the conversation, and never dare, or even entertain the thought, of looking inside. If, on the other hand, they said it was a journal, I might ask to look inside, or ask what their favorite thing inside was. In a perfect world, at least, that's how it'd go. But since so many people are unaware of the differences, I'd probably, upon hearing it was a diary or a journal, just leave it at that and not look inside.

And now you have the information you need to answer the question: do you keep a journal or a diary?