Why I Write

When I was younger, I was very shy. Like so shy to the point that others had to order at a restaurant for me. I remember the one time I had gotten the courage to order myself, I spoke too softly, and the waitress leaned in, and I recoiled in fear. I’ve grown a lot since that time in my life, and though I still find myself slipping into myself during large events, I have grown from that small trembling girl who was scared to a full-grown adult who is a heck of a lot better at masking their fear and pushing through the initial hesitation. And one of the biggest reasons for this shift came from writing.

I had always loved reading. I was a bus kid and the trip to and from school was a combined two hours and so I would pass my time by reading, and I read A LOT. From a very young age I was exposed to different genres, styles, and voices in literature that transported me to places. Have you ever had those moments where you’re reading but you’re not really reading? Instead, the book is playing in your mind like a movie? It’s magical. And I wanted to be able to do that. It became my dream to become an author from that moment on.

And though I am far from ever accomplishing that goal, I am an author in a different sense. I am still sharing my work, just in a different format then I thought I would be. Funny how life works huh?

The first time I tried to write it was awful. Like…. Really bad. So bad that I ripped it up.
But with enough time and practice… I still sucked. And I would say that my writing is still not that great. But I don’t write to be the next greatest writer, I write because I love to do it. I write for myself. And some of you enjoy it which is all I could ever hope for.

Over time my writing grew and evolved. When life knocked me down and started kicking me in the stomach, I turned to writing to help me navigate what I was experiencing. Writing has been my anchor through life’s ups and downs. To me, it’s not about putting pen to paper; it’s about finding clarity in chaos, healing in vulnerability, and strength in showing others that they are not alone.

I still have a lot to learn, and I look forward to the stories yet to be written and the voices yet to be heard.

How has writing impacted your life? Please share your experiences in the comments below! Let’s continue this conversation and celebrate the transformative power of words together.