I kept lots of spiral notebooks full of journals - all the way into college. I've looked at them, especially as I've sought to learn from the past and heal, and they help. It's also a nice reminder that I knew what I was doing, where I was going - recapturing that has been a blessing. A bit overwrought though they were, my notes helped my mind work things out. Now, I've learned to turn my thoughts into actions - that writing is only PART of the process of being.