I started keeping a journal (diary) when I was in 4th or 5th grade. I remember seeing pages in the kids magazine “Трамвай” (published in USSR in 1990-1995). Pages that told me (and thank you internet for scanned pages of the magazine):

And that’s how my need to keep a journal started.

More than 30 years later – I still keep a journal. More than one. Right now I have quite a few in use – for different purposes.

1. Morning Pages – Letter size(?) TruRed journal in grid I got from Staples. This has been housing my morning pages (Julia Cameron “The Artist Way” school) journal for almost a year. Some days/weeks I write more than one page. Others are just a line or paragraph if at all
2. Bullet Journal (Leuchtturm1917 notebook and Travelers Notebook 1/2 year weekly insert) – for writing to do lists, plans for the week, events recap if I am too lazy to write long form in my Journal #3
3. Actual Journal (also Leuchtturm1917). This for freewriting, analyzing, recap of events if I feel up to it(frankly wish I was doing recap of actual events on my pages more instead of theorizing on ideas and thoughts)
4. 5 Year Hobonichi. Initially (in 2025) I thought it would be my short recap of the day with record of only positive events. Then life happened and it got neglected. This year I am using it as occasional quotes journal
5. EDC = EveryDayCarry. Travelers Notebook passport size – with inserts that keep changing. Small enough to put in any purse that wouldn’t fit my regular journal (#4) to take with me outside the house. Sometimes I would take insert out, put it in the pocket of pants and jacket and carry with me on a walk or hike. In case I want to write something down or make a quick sketch
6. Hobonichi Cousin Avec – this one is hard to keep but also hard to let go (and not to buy for the year). I love sticking pictures, receipts, ephemera from the trip or just a grocery store to the pages. I love Tomoe River paper, feel of it, how pages are so thin, but also how much ink and watercolor they can hold. I initially started buying Hobonichi after being disappointed with Moleskin daily planner paper. Now I am so attached. I try to fill out daily pages with recap of events every few days, but not always happen. But man, it is soooo fun to look back and flip through the pages with various tidbits taped in after a year.
7. Notebook for day job. When I was going to the office I used to see co-workers with piles of yellow legal pads on their desks. I love the look of those, but it feels so good to have my daily notes, lists of tasks, remarkes from meetings all in one place and in a nicely bound hardcover notebooks instead of yellow legal pad (or wire bound notebook – idk – wire for me cheapens the look and “substance” of what is inside those pages)
8. Regular size Travelers notebook. Don’t use if often. Usually take it to day trips and fill with inserts based on what I think I will want. Bigger space than TN passport size (#5), and I can have sketchbook insert, one for writing and add watercolor insert if I think I need a variety on a trip. Wish I was using it more. I am still not in love with the “cropped” size ,but I love the leather cover collection I have acquired so far (PanAm and Moomin covers and inserts are on my wishlist)

---