While I talk and write a lot about how I’m feeling about what I’m thinking while recognizing the difference between those two things, I’m private about many deeply personal things that are not for sharing with a broader audience. I think I put those issues out into the world differently.
I’m often asked, “Why a column vs. a journal or diary?”
That’s simple – privacy and boundaries. I sometimes keep a daily diary, but that tends to be when I’m working on a project or a new diet attempt when recording every element of something; those are essential details to better analyze results.
But publishing what you are thinking, or feeling, is tricky. Sometimes I’m writing about myself – then I set my boundaries, but when I’m working out something that involves other people, I’ve learned not to put those issues on display. While it is true that my feelings are often revealed in my writing, I have no right to tell someone else’s story without permission.