I agree with you that it takes a lot of work to stick to the few lines available on each page. Like you, I sometimes have way too much to say, and other times I forget. But overall it works for me. I also have a couple of my mother's diaries that have short entries during the time that I was having my first few kids and before she passed away when I was 30. I too like to look back at her words. I wish she had written more.