So, here's how it works. Go to dear-jour.nl, and you'll get a question. Then, think about this question. If it doesn't resonate with what's going through your head today, that's fine, just click "I want another one!"

Then, grab your paper journal and a pen and write down your thoughts. Or, open a file on your computer and write down your thoughts. Or, get together with a circle of friends and discuss your thoughts. Or, write a blog post and put it online so the entire world can see it. Or, go to a cafe, order a cup of matcha latte and a piece of chocolate cake, write a sonnet on a napkin, and then go to the river bank, burn the napkin, and throw the ashes into the water. Or, redirect this question to The Universe and wait for her to give you a sign. Whatever works for you.

You can do it every morning, or every evening, or every Thursday, or every time you feel stressed and confused. Whatever works for you, there are no rules except the ones you invent for your own convenience.

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Writing it down almost feels embarrassing, but we live in embarrassing times, so here it goes.

This piece of software is provided "as is," and by using it you accept all associated risks. If you're under the age of majority where you live, you must have your parent's or guardian's consent before continuing to use it. I don't guarantee whatsoever that this software will function properly, match your expectations or fit your purpose. Also, under no circumstances shall I be liable for any damages caused by or related to usage of this software.

That's why if you've been journaling for some time and then decided to dump your annoying spouse and quit your dreary job to become a yoga teacher in Patagonia, please make sure your in-laws and your colleagues don't knock on my door to tell it's my fault.

Jokes aside, if you're going through a rough patch and you're one funny question away from injuring yourself, committing a crime or taking your own life, I beg you to seek help from your friends, your family, and/or qualified mental health professionals.

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I admit, this isn't how you'd typically imagine a journaling app to look like in 2025. Perhaps you'd expect it to have:

• A clumsy web interface that changes every other week and occasionally erases a paragraph you've just written for no apparent reason.
• A mobile app which is only available for Apple devices and doesn't allow to search the earlier notes.
• Passive-aggressive reminders like "you haven't been journaling for three days, you make our mascot sad" and other tricks to optimise the nonsense KPIs.
• Automation to feed your journal entries into some "AI" so that when you write "Joe is full of crap," Joe gets immediately shelled with toilet paper advertisements... Because he's full of crap... You get it? You get it?!

I wouldn't use such an app. And my primary concern won't even be privacy but ergonomics. I mean, obviously, I wouldn't feel terribly comfortable uploading my deepest secrets to some random online service where they can be sold, stolen, leaked, or misused. However, if usability was superb, I might've given in. And if the whole internet knows that I sometimes regret not taking my high school crush out for a date, that'd be embarrassing, but that's a risk I can accept.

However. I know upfront that it can't possibly be very convenient for me to use. Look, I'm turning forty this year, and I have long-standing habits when it comes to writing. I have two favourite tools. When working on a text that's likely to be developed into something public (like a blog article) or when I feel like typing, I use the editor called Vim. When working on a text that's unlikely to be made public, or when I feel like scribbling, I use fineliner pens and Paperblanks notebooks.

Compared to those, a very finely designed website might be "tolerably bad", but even then, I don't see a reason to settle for "tolerably bad" when I can use what works best for me. Oh, and any mobile app that relies on the screen keyboard is pretty much unusable.

That's why I made a piece of software I would use myself because it solves a problem I have. And the problem I had with journaling and other forms of focused meditation is that the blank page can be very confusing. Some days, not much is happening in my life, so I don't know what to mention. Other days, too much is happening in my life, so I don't even know where to begin. So I can't develop a steady rhythm, and then I end up doing nothing, and that's just sad.

Having a quirky question to focus on helps me a lot, and I genuinely hope it helps you as well.

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Nope, not at all. No functional cookies, no tracking cookies, no "we and our 12345 advertising partners pinky-promise not to leak your information" popups, nothing.

I was just about to build that part, and then I got distracted by things that I find exciting.

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1. If you have quirky questions that would fit the general theme and feel, you can submit them via GitHub or email me at ivan.appel@gmail.com.
2. You can spread the word and tell your friends about this little website.
3. You can email me to tell me I'm awesome.
4. You can donate to a charity of your choice.
5. You can do something nice to a person you like.
6. Oh, and you can also buy me a beer if you want to.

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