I am often times asked why I love to write. Funny enough, I frequently don’t know how to answer. I follow awesome Pinterest boards with quotes about writing. My favorite as of late is one by Anaïs Nin, “The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.” Lately I’ve given more thought to why I write and this is how it is for me.
The thing about words is how they stick with you for years. Written or spoken, something said can stay with you for a lifetime. I am one of those people who saves every card she has ever received because I think people are most authentic in writing. Through writing we take the time to say things that might, accidentally or intentionally, get left out of normal conversation.
I can express exactly how I feel on paper but when saying it out loud nothing flows out of my mouth quite like it does on paper. And once they’re out on paper, there is no going back. You can’t talk your way out of what’s been put in ink. You’re held accountable. I love the honesty and accountability that comes with writing.
On January 1, 2012 I quoted Neil Gailman saying, “And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” The way I surprised myself this year was coming to a realization about how much vulnerability scares me. Yes, I am an open book. I am a total over-sharer. I have no filter. But despite it all, there is part of me that hates putting myself in vulnerable situations. Long and short of it is I truly believe I am my most honest and vulnerable self through writing. I hope the way I see the world through my aviator sunglasses resonates with people. The most powerful way to relate to people is through unmasked authenticity. And I hope that’s what I do through this blog. So there you have it. That’s why I write.
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