I had a cousin that recorded diaries from the age she could write up through adulthood, the last I knew of. You could ask her anything and she could look up the day and tell you about it. In a sense it was kind of cool. In another sense, that's a lot of books full of personal thoughts that you would have to have a secure place to keep. I think we all have those moments in life, we don't want to remember much less have someone else read about it!
However it would have made it much easier to 'write the book', to have the memories in order. . .
Whether it was writing in a diary, a journal or even to have a pen pal; It was a great way to learn to express your thoughts. Explaining your memories and events to yourself or someone else, in a descriptive way that you'll be able to remember the events that took place as if it were yesterday; Or to enable someone else to be able to picture the event as you've told it. Learning to express yourself in a commutative manner. Such a valuable asset to have in life.!
There is something to WRITING, even over TYPING. Yes, while typing to 'write' helps. Actually taking the pen to hand does wonders for the brain! There is something about the transmission from heart, to head, to hand, back to eyes.... that helps us hear what we are saying better and
that enables us to READ BACK and REWRITE - adjusting our thoughts and expressing them in a more productive manner. If you rewrite and rewrite a letter, you often calm down, become less mad, and are more able to express the point your trying to make without insult or injury.
THE TONGUE IS A TWO EDGED SWORD!