Life likes to throw curve balls, there's not doubt about it. When I'm in the middle of an intense experience -- loss of family members or some unexpected change of circumstance -- I think there's no way I'm going to forget how I feel. Every detail is so vivid that I say to myself, "I'll always remember this." But of course, that's not always the case.

Pivotal events in our lives deserve to be examined and the details kept. So a few years ago, I started journaling. I find it really helps me focus, to clarify my thoughts and feelings as I careen down the uncertain path that is my life. It also helps me stay clear about what I want to communicate to others. Journaling gives me a certain strength.

How to get started if you're not a natural born writer? Therapist Kathleen Adams, in "Managing Grief Through Journal Writing" has a list of tips for "journaling your way through grief." (Actually, they're good for writing your way through any big life event.) While she's clear there are no rules, her insightful suggestions can provide a framework within which to work. There are simple tips, like setting aside a small chunk of time daily to write, and more advanced suggestions, such as:

•  "When you are aching with longing for your loved one, write 'Captured Moments' --brief vignettes .... like impressionistic sketches, of instants of time. Make them intense with vivid descriptions. Reach for sensory details --the sight, smell, touch, taste, feel of things.... A collection of Captured Moments becomes like a written photo album, preserving precious memories for all time."

• "AlphaPoems are an easy and structured way to get started with poetic expression. Write the alphabet, or the letters of any word or phrase, vertically down the side of your page. Then write a poem in which each successive line begins with the next letter on the page." (She gives an example of this one.)

I like Adams' idea of a "written photo album," don't you? Do you journal, and if so, do you find it beneficial or a chore? Have any special writing techniques to share?