16 Reasons Why I Write

 

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

Why do I enjoy writing? When did I realize that I wanted to be a writer? I get these two questions often. I have asked myself the same questions, and have thought long and hard how to answer them.

As I recall, I developed a passion for writing in the late 1980’s when I first began to journal as a healthy coping skill to help me deal with stressful life events. It eventually became something I enjoyed doing on a consistent basis. And, I also love reading, and reading and writing go hand-in-hand.

However, it wasn’t until 1996 while on a flight during the Christmas holiday that I began seriously thinking about my desire to become a published author, even though my first book wasn’t published until 2011.

Here are 16 reasons why I continue to write: Writing helps me:

1. Get still to hear my own thoughts
2. Prevent emotional fatigue
3. Connect with a deeper part of myself
4. Cope with life’s stressors
5. Refocus to avoid distractions
6. Gain healing and to help others obtain their own healing
7. Inspire and empower others
8. Feel a connection to my deceased mother because she was an excellent writer and instilled the importance in me of being able to communicate both verbally and in writing
9. Record things I am grateful for as well as milestones
10. Purge feelings of fear, disappointment, frustration, and doubt
11. Create stories centered around every day and social issues and invent characters who are raw, relatable, flawed, yet have redeeming qualities
12. Connect with others around the world
13. Be transparent, be authentic and share life lessons learned over the years from the mistakes I have made in life
14. Stimulate thought-provoking conversations with others
15. Encourage others to never give up on their goals and dreams
16. Avoid overeating

I had this thought almost 20 years ago and it still sums up why I write:

Writing to me is like gasoline to an automobile, without it,

I would be immobilized.

If you, too, enjoy writing, please share in the comments why you write. Inquiring minds want to know.