I am not a person who typically writes personal, relatable articles, the ones that express the author’s feelings through a story or experience. My heart cannot be found on my sleeve and my feelings are not blatantly obvious. Current events and listicles make up the majority of my Odyssey articles. Every once and awhile, I write a letter to one person or another, but for the most part, I do not write about my personal life or emotions.

That is why I want to thank every writer, yes writer, that publishes their personal experiences for others to read. Often the heavy, personal or dark articles are criticized. The people writing them are seeking attention, the articles seem similar in content, etcetera. I disagree, though.

No, I do not like to read about a person’s sufferings or past that is full of unpleasant memories, nor do I really want to read about a person’s accomplishments or recognitions. There are more to these articles, though, and that is why I choose to read them and why I enjoy reading them. These articles that intrigue me, the ones that I truly appreciate, all have two things in common.

One, they are honest.

The writer reveals every emotion they felt in a particular circumstance and specifies the point at which they felt it. I do not have to guess how or why they felt the way they did. Their story was not written to be judged or edited. It simply is their story, and they are reliving and sharing it through the article because, why shouldn’t they? It is their story to do with as they please.

Two, they reveal a person’s will.

I commend the articles that tell me how a person came to be triumphant, their process and struggle. The writers learned something and have now taken the time to share their wisdom. If I can decipher the thoughts and insights of a person through their story, then I consider the piece a good-read and the writer a person of courage.

Not everybody is comfortable with expressing their feelings or telling their stories. I definitely am not, but I respect and appreciate those who do. The people that share their life are the ones that help make the world a smaller place: a place where people can come together through their common experiences and struggles.

So, thank you. Thank you to the people who wear their hearts on their sleeve. Thank you to the writers who share their experiences because they have come to some kind of understanding with their situation and want others to know that they can do the same, to the people that know how to express their feelings, to the people who I do not have to guess how they are doing, because they will tell me, and to the emotionally upfront and the comfortable sharers.

Keep writing about you, because it makes it a whole lot easier for me to write about me.