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Original poster

Should I use the beautiful diary?

68 replies

BenoitBlanc · 05/01/2023 06:28

For Christmas, a friend game me a diary. It's a beautiful linen-bound thing with thick, cream pages and lots of lovely art and habit-tracking doodles and reminders to meditate and achieve my goals etc. It was an especially thoughtful gift as I'm going back to university this year and will have a lot to keep track of.

Here's the problem:

  1. I am paralysed by the idea of scrawling my kids orthodontist appointments into this beautiful book.
  2. Also, I have enough to do without having to remember to track my mood, achieve my goals and colour-code my healthy habits.
  3. But if I don't, it will go to waste. It's a 2023 diary.
  4. So I should give it to a charity shop ASAP and someone who will enjoy it can have it!
  5. But I'm spending a week with my friend in February and she'll see that I'm not using it.

Help me make this inconsequential decision. What should I do with the beautiful diary?

OP posts:
Everydaywheniwakeup · 05/01/2023 06:30

Use the diary. It's the diary's destiny.

Thighlengthboots · 05/01/2023 06:31

Its a diary, not a faberge egg- its meant to be written in. I'd be really upset if I bought someone a thoughtful expensive gift and they gave it to charity. TBH, it sounds like you want to get rid of it.

AluckyEllie · 05/01/2023 06:31

You should use it! That’s all the person at the charity shop would do and you should use and enjoy it. Your friend bought it for you. It’s the same as saving things for best, after helping clear out my nans house and finding so many lovely things unused (for best) I’m not doing the same and neither should you. Enjoy it 😃

carben · 05/01/2023 06:33

Thighlengthboots · 05/01/2023 06:31

Its a diary, not a faberge egg- its meant to be written in. I'd be really upset if I bought someone a thoughtful expensive gift and they gave it to charity. TBH, it sounds like you want to get rid of it.

Exactly what I was thinking. The language about it does not match your thoughts!

Brenna24 · 05/01/2023 06:34

Absolutely use it. You don't have to do the mood things if you don't want but use it daily and enjoy it guilt free. Someone needs to use it, it might as well be you.

Moomoola · 05/01/2023 06:34

Please use it! Get a nice pen and write your name in. Then it’s no longer too perfect! Then enjoy it’s smooth linenyness with a special tea in a special cup and enjoy a daily treat.
maybe put kids stuff in a cheapo diary and use this for reflection ,
nice friend!

Grabbing2023ByTheBalls · 05/01/2023 06:35

I'm a firm believer in using 'nice' things.

Every day I use my (also brand new and wonderful!) diary, I wear my nicest perfumes and use my nicest handbag etc. I believe in using the things that bring us pleasure, especially when someone else has thoughtfully given them to us.

Use the diary and enjoy it!

Judgyjudgy · 05/01/2023 06:36

Use it! Live wild and free! Throw caution to the wind!

stillsmilingtoday · 05/01/2023 06:36

Use it and enjoy it. It doesn’t matter if you don’t use the colour coded bits etc, let yourself feel free of any pressure. The Use it in whatever way it fits into your life. It sounds lovely and so does your friend:-)

MarshaMelrose · 05/01/2023 06:37

Use it and give some thought to the more well-being bits. Try it and you might find eminding yourself to spend some time on you is actually useful and beneficial.

Tuillyod · 05/01/2023 06:48

I'd be exactly the same to be honest. Paralysed by overthinking.

Is it to good for me/to use? What's the right way to use it? What if I make an error? I'm not neat enough. Etc etc etc. It's ridiculous but I totally get it it. Overthinking, procrastination, perfectionism. As a bystander though, it's yours, it was bought for you with thought and you should use it. Enjoy using it and don't worry if you don't use all the aspects of it.

Original poster
BenoitBlanc · 05/01/2023 07:06

Hmm. Okay. I'll use it.

OP posts:
RockyOfTheRovers · 05/01/2023 07:28

I understand how you feel. My brain doesn’t cope well with paper diaries/calendars because I know I’ll fail to keep up with them and then feel a huge heap of guilt at the waste.
It might help to think of it as the chance to work out which features of a diary/journal are right for you, so you can try it out and enjoy the beauty of it, but if the layout is wrong for you, then it’s played a useful role in showing you what you do need.

faffadoodledo · 05/01/2023 07:30

Use it! In a decade or so you'll love looking back at those seemingly banal appointments. I've just dragged my (work freebie) diaries out from 20 years ago or more, and am staggered at how busy I was! Think of it as a figure historic artefact

watchfulwishes · 05/01/2023 07:31

Just use the bloody diary. Stop angsting about an inanimate object!!

Your friend wanted to gift you a nice present, you want to send it to the charity shop even though you like it? Honestly, you're being weirdly self-depriving. You don't have to track your moods, just stick appts in and enjoy the artwork..

pigwood · 05/01/2023 07:33

Use the diary !! ( and tell me what brand it is- it sounds lovely )

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 05/01/2023 07:37

Spoil the diary. Straight away, without thinking about it. Do it now. Turn to a page and write/draw/scribble something somewhere, defacing its imposing perfection.

Now you can do what you like.

LeakyLoftHatch · 05/01/2023 07:45

If you don't want to use it then ditch the guilt over your third point about it going to waste. It's bought now so it makes no material difference whether you use it, bin it or pass it on. The joy was of the moment, exchanging thoughtful gifts with a close friend. You didn't choose the diary so don't let it rule you. Put it in a cupboard out of sight until December. You'll still own it so wont worry about what your friend thinks, then it can go in the bin in December without guilt.

DeadBod · 05/01/2023 07:48

Use the diary.
There was a thread on here once encouraging people to use their nice things as lovely presents were going unused, clothes not getting worn, candles not being lit etc. Such a waste of thoughtful gifts.

LifesNotEnidBlyton · 05/01/2023 07:54

Pencil? Then if you'd like you can erase it all afterwards?

Zonder · 05/01/2023 08:03

Use it. You are worth it! And your friend clearly thought that too.

Enjoy it - let it encourage you to write and think and decorate if you fancy that.

crispsandnuts · 05/01/2023 08:09

Use it! It'll make you smile every time you open it.
Life is short...buy the dress, eat the cake, use the diary!...go wild and buy a fancy pen

DillDanding · 05/01/2023 08:14

Use it and enjoy it.

I was bought a Smythson leather notebook for Christmas. I can’t imagine not using it because I’m not worthy of it 😂

Covetthee · 05/01/2023 08:17

Use it. Why would you give it to a charity job for someone else to have the joy instead of yourself?

my New Year’s resolution is to use all my good stuff and not wait for ‘special’ occasions.

i am now lighting my expensive candles. I am wearing my ‘nicer’ clothes that i save for special occasions and using my expensive perfumes.

life is too short, I could drop dead tomorrow and not got the change to enjoy the little things in life.

FurryDandelionSeekingMissile · 05/01/2023 08:20

Anyway, if you give it to a charity shop the person who buys it might have horrible scratchy handwriting and put all their colonic irrigation appointments in it. In pink felt tip. Don't condemn an innocent diary to such horrors.