Here’s why you should have one
Photo by Engin Akyurt via Pexels
A few years ago I had a lightbulb moment. Instead of doing the work of searching for a therapist I decided to begin a “burn book”. Pages would fill of my anger, bitterness, resentment, regrets in the most uncensored form. I’d finally call out those closest who had hurt me the most. And their names wouldn’t match their birth certificates. Every heart break. Disappointment. Shame. The lack of forgiveness. My deepest, darkest secrets that I had even forgotten would be written in these books.
I’d write till the tears flowed and dropped on pages. I’d write till feelings of certain situations were reconciled. Meaning they were accepted, understood, then let go.
This form of self therapy taught me grace, love, forgiveness for myself. And it only cost me a $.53 composition notebook.
The pages or book would then catch fire, representing the final release. Most importantly, no one mentioned in the pages would ever know.
One day my sister called to give me the tea. A close family member of her husband’s best friend recently passed. While searching for life insurance papers and the like, they came across the deceased diary amongst other personal items.
An esteemed educator at a university who had received high honors and praise for their work, reputation sullied upon findings of philandering behavior with students, associates, and his wife’s own sister. He’d written about his sexual exploits in graphic detail with photos to match. His family was shocked.
Word spread quickly. The family begun receiving calls from out of town family stating they would no longer make the trip to attend his funeral. An esteemed man in their life was now admonished in death due to what should have been own burn book or lack there of.
We don’t think much about the day or time runs out. We write in diaries, journals, blog, record videos, take pics on some pretty personal things. We’re allowed that. We should have an outlet to do that. But keep in mind one day, surviving family will come across your things and sift through. Would you be cool with what they saw? Or would it not matter that you’re no longer here?
It’s something to consider.
I sure have. Hopefully I won’t go anytime soon, but since death is inevitable I’ll have to end this writing.
I got books to burn.