I recently saw a play at North Forsyth High School called "Ghost Tale with Mr. Dickens," and when watching - even though it was a children's show - I found that I related a great deal to the character of Charles Dickens. I have only read or seen "Tale of Two Cities" and "A Christmas Carol." However, some of the quotes from the play really resonated with me such as, "My stories don't give medicine to the sick or food to the poor. They are merely ink on a page."

When hearing that quote, I was struck with the thought of questioning why I write, just as Charles Dickens did in the play. If words were just ink on a page, pixels on a screen, or soundwaves in the air, then how come they could affect people to the extent that they do? As soon as I did so, a quote popped into my head that I cannot even remember where it came from: “Words are merely words until you bring them to life.” By writing, typing and speaking, people have not only a way of communicating, but a way to impact other people’s life with your own. The goal I have set for my life has been to inspire those around me and so far, I have done that with just words – even though they have just been ink, pixels and soundwaves.

The magic of writing is partially that when words are put together in certain ways, it can relate to every single person in one way or another. Everyone has a different perception of words and sentences that creates a unique picture and meaning. So as I write this and continue writing, my hope is to inspire not only through words I write or type, but in the way I speak and impact people throughout my life.

I encourage you to bring words to life every time you have the opportunity.