I've journalled, kept a diary for as long as I can remember- 2nd or 3rd grade. My great gram had gifted me one.

I understand the apprehension factor. My dad and stepmom used mine to "shame" me when I was 15/16 years old- before sending me to live with my mom. I was exploring fantasies at that point in it. Plus I wrote out a memory about some related abuse from years prior-- which to gain my journal back, was requested to destroy that passage by my mom.

I've kept and destroyed through the years. I like them to monitor growth and any patterns in my life that I'd like to change.