I began keeping a journal my freshman year in college. I wrote almost every single day. When I arrived in Poland in 1996, I kept the journal daily for two straight years.

One night — though “early morning” might be a better description — I realized, as I lay me down to sleep, that I hadn’t written anything that day. I picked up my pen, scribbled the date, and quickly wrote, “I’m writing this to keep my streak going.” I’m not sure if that really counted, but it did give me a sense of closure as I drifted off to sleep.

I don’t write in my journal as much these days: much of what I would write, I write in here. I try to write dream of writing daily, but sometimes, I just have difficulty motivating myself.

Like this evening.