avatarMarta Henriques

Summary

The author, Marta Henriques, has transitioned from writing in a personal diary to using Medium as a digital diary, valuing its ability to share feelings and creativity publicly while acknowledging the convenience and nostalgia for traditional journaling.

Abstract

Marta Henriques began journaling during a difficult period in her life as a means of coping with severe depression, following her psychiatrist's advice. She maintained this practice diligently for a year until she discovered Medium. The platform provided her with a new outlet for her writing, allowing her to express her feelings and exercise her creativity in a more public and expansive way. While she occasionally misses the tactile experience of pen and paper, the convenience of digital writing and the community on Medium have made it her preferred medium for expression. Despite past experiences with privacy breaches, such as her mother reading her diary, Marta now embraces Medium as her go-to platform for writing, although she remains open to returning to her physical diary in the future.

Opinions

  • Marta values the therapeutic benefits of writing, whether in a diary or on Medium.
  • She finds Medium to be a versatile platform that satisfies her need for creative expression and public sharing of her experiences.
  • There is a sense of nostalgia and intimacy associated with writing in a physical diary that is not fully replicated on Medium.
  • The author acknowledges the role of laziness and time constraints in her shift from physical to digital journaling.
  • Trust and privacy concerns, stemming from childhood experiences, have influenced her writing habits and choice of platform.
  • Marta appreciates the community aspect of Medium, which allows her to connect with readers and other writers.
  • She is open to the possibility of returning to traditional journaling at some point in the future.

I gave up Journaling and it’s due to Medium

Medium gives me the feeling of writing needed

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

When I started writing in my diary I was at a very bad time in my life.

I was suffering from severe depression and one of the things my psychiatrist told me at the time was to start writing a diary and put in there all my feelings and everything I wanted to explain myself.

And that’s what I did for a whole year until I discovered Medium. When I discovered Medium, I used it as if it were my diary, also to expose my feelings but to give wings to my creativity and to write what I wanted, just like I did with my diary but in a different way.

Basically Medium is my digital diary in a certain way.

Of course I miss having the pen touching the paper in my journal and the feeling of having a physical diary, however, I also have to admit that sometimes laziness and lack of time con me consume a little.

Maybe one day later I will write again in my physical diary and I’m sure that will happen, but not for now and maybe not anytime soon.

When I was little, my mother had a bad habit of reading my diary.

Nowadays, as an adult and living with my husband, I keep putting a lock on my diary, but that’s not because I don’t trust in my husband but maybe it’s because of fear and because I remember that as a child they would read my diary. At that time I ended up giving up writing in my journal.

Anyway, I now use Medium all the time to write whatever I feel like and this is really wonderful!

If you like this article, don’t forget to read the other ones:

Writing
Medium
New Writer Welcome
Journal
Writer
Recommended from ReadMedium