Those of you who have read my blog over the years know that I have written about the journals I have kept for many years. On several occasions I have considered that it might be time to let them go—to the shredder! Up until now I have deferred doing that. For some reason this New Year seems to be the time to finally let go of my past. Only someone who keeps or has kept a journal will understand the emotional impact such a separation might bring about.
When I think of the years of dream records, daily thoughts about the challenges and joys of some event, or the records of many hours of altered state transcripts enjoyed with select friends, it is sobering to think of letting them go. Then, I realized that I am only letting go of the paper and the tapes. The experiences and the friendships with those who participated in those years of my life are forever with me. I finally have come to believe that the paper record does not represent my real life.
Well, at least that is how I felt a month ago before I actually started going through these records. I had hardly begun with one of the last hand written journals for 1982-85 when suddenly a word or a person’s name would jump off the page to my sight. That led to reading in both directions, backward and forward, to take in the context. It doesn’t take a genius to realize this was not going to be the easy task I first thought.
Would it really make a difference if I just trashed the journals without scanning any of the pages? Probably not. But the fact that my attention was caught and I found the reading rewarding tells me it may be important to have those last looks back before continuing my journey forward.
After I began using a computer regularly, somewhere around 1991, my journals were in electronic word files. When it comes to deleting these, highlight, hit delete, and it’s all over! I can get rid of ten years of near daily journals in seconds! And I did! That is simply too much reading. Besides, I bought two huge historical books I wanted to read and that seemed a more important use of my time.
Now it is the New Year and I have once again pulled the box of journals out of the closet and will try again to let go of the past. One lingering thought about the past: At my age the past is subject to “selective” memory; that is I may remember it differently than it actually was. In that case, if it were important I could compare what I remember with what I wrote. But then, who else beside me could possibly care? I don’t expect to be conversing with anyone about things that happened forty years ago.
In the final analysis the reason I considered trashing the journals in the first place was because I felt finished with those past years. As I finally got through the last notebooks there were some things I really felt I wanted to review in greater detail. These were the transcripts of over 100 altered state sessions I had done with a small group of associates. While most of the sessions were rather ordinary, there were some that I felt at the time may be important. In the end I have three notebooks covering several years of sessions that I have put aside for further review.
One note from a friend that I came across I want to share with you. It was important to me at the time and I found it still carried a warm message.
When we get
bogged down
and upset with
all the everyday problems,
we don’t have the
energy left
to enjoy the truly
important things—
such as our
friendship.
You have made me
realize that things
are not nearly as
devastating as they
may appear at
the moment.
You have given
me the power
to love.
--Susan Polis Schutz
The dreams and the diaries have been released. My friends, I am moving on. The past is past, but the love lasts forever!
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