Whenever I’m stepping out of my home, I always know I am entering a more complicated world. I am told by the intricacy of interactions that I have to socialize, and mask myself up when needed. Yet I’ve always had a lot of thoughts because I am scared to be judged by others. Daybook, both an app and the name of my physical journal, is the only one thing that allows me to  feel completely comfortable when expressing myself. Whether my thoughts are positive, quirky, or even evil sometimes, Daybook offers me the quiet, calming notion to speak about them without any judgments. 

I have been journaling for 764 days now. Ranging from the start of isolation during COVID-19 pandemic to everything going back in person, my journal entries have undoubtedly represented every part of my hidden memories. Flipping through both my journal book and the app page, I’ve been provided with insights from the past. They remind me of how much I went through, and genuinely make me feel proud of myself every time I finish reading and reflecting on my past journals. 

I am most thankful for my journal for helping me through my low times, as it also plays a role as a collection of my rants. It is the place where I can relieve stress, as putting thoughts into strands of words allows me to calm down, and sometimes transforms my negative ideas into gratitude. 

In the current world of digital connection, social media is essential for daily communication. However, I’ve always had trouble with it; I feel judged by my own posts, which contributes to my hesitation of sharing my favorite moments online. Within the promotion of the best appearances on social media, I often feel imposed with isolation by various social events others post and even posts of when my friends are hanging out without me. But thankfully, Daybook allows me to share my life with myself. The fact that I am the only audience allows me to have a clearer identification of myself. By noting down my thoughts on surroundings, I am able to define who I am as a person, and acknowledge the fact that it’s okay to be who I am. 

I am thankful that I made the decision to keep a journal at all times, and I want to thank Daybook for enabling me to do so.