Why an open diary might not be the best for you / Nazima Versay Kudus

The journey of written communication spans thousands of years, beginning with the earliest records in Mesopotamia around 3200 B.C. The pictograms, inscribed on clay tablets by city administrators, were used to document business transactions (AGS records management. 2023). Later, the invention of alphabets and tools like paper revolutionised communication, leading to enduring records such as diaries. Historically, diaries served as private reflections, as seen in notable examples like Ibnu Banna's 11th-century writings in the Middle East and The Kagero Diary from Japan, which captured the court life of the Heian period (794-1185). By the 19th century, publishing diaries posthumously became a common practice, providing unique insights into significant individuals' lives (The origins of diary and planner writing, 2014).