We all have passions. Writing is mine.
For many, writing is an activity that immediately stirs up some form of exasperation and lethargy. For me, it stirs up thought, feeling, and action. I know when I laugh or cry reading a specific piece, I often find myself wishing it were one I wrote myself. This is because writing has the capability to stimulate, evoke, and impact, and it is exactly what I hope to elicit from others.
Writing puts me in an entirely separate state of mind. It expresses in ways that a physical being cannot, and I’ll even venture to say that it brings its own sort of liberty. When I think about it, what I write is usually not written on the spot. It takes time and effort, which is a big reason why it works so successfully. It allows me to think, reword, and revise until my message is clear and true to what I am trying to convey. When I can effectively choose every one of my words with precision and purpose, my messages can have an eloquence and structure that isn’t otherwise present. It hashes out what my scattered brain is trying to say, and it organizes the infinite thoughts racing through my head. Unlike when I speak, work, and go about my daily activities, when I write, I am 100 percent able to listen to myself. Do I go back and read my writing and cringe? Most definitely. But it still remains a mode of expression that deciphers my mind and gives me sanity.
Topics that a writer can discuss are infinite, as is true with nearly any form of art. If you decide to spread a positive message, it can illuminate and inspire. If you decide to spread a negative message, it can incite and instigate. It could start a revolution, but it could also not have much of an outwardly effect at all. It could simply serve the purpose of helping you grow and learn more about who you are.
This is why, to you, I suggest taking a moment to write. Even if it is an occasional journalistic scribble or a quick heated rant, take the time to express what’s on your mind. Or, by all means, take the time to write what’s not on your mind. Just sit and let your consciousness do the work. It’s amazing how much you can learn about yourself when you let your thoughts sprawl out in front of you, and it’s possible that your small contribution to the world can stick to another’s mind for the rest of his or her life. I know that other writers have done that for me, and I won't extinguish the torch's fire if I can help it.
So, despite the idea of a readership influencing me, despite my fear of backlash and judgment, and despite the vulnerability involved in sharing what I feel, I choose to write. It is my biggest freedom.
