Returning to OpenDiary for 2024, 2025, and Perhaps Beyond

I started this journal many years ago, when the web was young and exploring “the internet” meant using AOL, AltaVista, and IRC. Times have changed, and after OpenDiary went down I started keeping paper journals. It was good for me, and I appreciate having those artifacts from different periods in my life when I was going through difficult times or traveling to new and exciting places. I have been through a lot since the year 2000, and have had many adventures I could never have imagined back when I was in high school. I taught English for three years in Japan, moved to Hawaii to get a PhD, crushed frozen flowers for audiences at the Maryland Science Center, and made some incredible friends along the way.

Of course, there were rough periods. Breakups that hit me really hard and left me lost and angry. There were times I broke up with people and made a mess of things, too. Family passed away, and at other times I lost friends, some of them young. I’m grateful to still be here, to have cats and a loving partner, and the ability to keep a journal going.

So I’m back here again. Why? Because one thing that has stuck with me is my ability to write. Of course, I like to use paper and pen, but the words flow more easily for me when I’m at a keyboard. Plus, this is my original diary. Previously, when I was in grad school,  I scoffed at the idea of paying the subscription here. After all, OpenDiary used to be free, and I’m an old school user. That said, the cost isn’t high, and I have a real job now. $4 a month is nothing for me, or for most people honestly… we easily spend more on other trivial things. Me? I have been getting weekly donuts for years… thankfully only once or twice a week. So why not pay for a journaling platform? It’s cheaper than many apps. I have my own website, and could journal there, but then I lost my anonymity. I think this is a good option, and will help me keep my entries digitized and organized.

So here’s to a new plan and a new year ahead, with many more adventures to come. Happy new year all!