Resident of the USA, Amanda Close, has been keeping a diary every day for 42 years, collecting dozens of notebooks filled with her thoughts and observations. While rereading her entries, she unexpectedly realized how much her views on life, values, and attitudes towards people have changed over the years.
This is reported by Finway
Unique Experience: How the Diary Has Influenced Amanda’s Life
Amanda’s video blog, where she shares her personal diary-keeping experience, quickly gained popularity — within two months, her video amassed over 600,000 views across various platforms. According to Ms. Close, she started this habit back in 1985 while working in the publishing industry, and has not stopped writing since. She notes that in the age of digital technology, endless scrolling, and the rise of artificial intelligence, people are increasingly seeking “analog habits that pull us out of our daily routines.”
“When I write, I feel calmer, more centered. I think people resonate with my years of practice, feeling that I have some authority on this subject,” Ms. Close said in a comment to Newsweek.
Amanda shares that keeping a diary has helped her navigate through challenging life trials: important decisions, relationship breakups, and losses. She states that written reflection is calming, clarifies thoughts, and gives ordinary moments special meaning. She particularly values the “magic of preserving memories,” which allows her to revisit significant stages of life. Amanda fondly recalls rereading her late grandmother’s diaries and feeling as if she were communicating with her again.
The woman also documented key events in world history in her diary, including September 11, 2001, when she was living in Europe. Writing helped her cope with shock and grief, even though she was far from the epicenter of the events. While reviewing old entries, Amanda has often been surprised at how differently she perceived various situations back then.
Tips for Beginners: How to Start Keeping a Personal Diary
Ms. Close advises anyone interested not to be afraid to start, even if it seems that life is not particularly eventful. She emphasizes that a diary is not about expensive paper or perfect aesthetics, but about capturing moments and developing mindfulness to details. To get started, it’s enough to write down simple things: what you see out the window, a conversation with a friend, or feelings from the day you lived.
She recommends buying two diaries — one for writing and another for drawing — and not to worry about rules or structure. “One of the best things about keeping a written diary is that you are never alone. You have a companion through every stage of life,” Amanda emphasizes.
The popularity of her story has been a pleasant surprise for the 54-year-old American. She believes that the widespread interest in diary-keeping practices reflects people’s fatigue from digital overload. Amanda is confident that it’s never too late to start writing, regardless of age — there are always “blank pages ahead and plenty of space for curiosity,” which can inspire a more creative life.
It is worth noting that stories about diary-keeping are becoming increasingly popular. For instance, recently, social media users were amazed by a video of an American man from Florida demonstrating microscopic handwriting in his personal diary. It is also known that Queen Elizabeth II kept a diary until her last days, as confirmed in King Charles’s biography by Robert Hardman.