Simply put I LOVE to write! To dig deeper, the question becomes harder to explain because there are so many facets to WHY I write and truly enjoy doing it.
Writing has ALWAYS been an outlet I use to express myself. It is a way for me to take my thoughts, opinions, or views, and authentically & unapologetically be me. It is a way for me to be creative and elevate my logic to thinking in ways that may be different from my own. Writing is a way to introduce new characters that are relatable to my readers or be transparent and share my experiences (good and bad) with hopes of helping someone else hang on a little longer, push through, and accomplish what they may have thought was unreachable. Writing is who I am.
Growing up, I became relatively quiet, like most people, I had a temper and an attitude to match. I felt like no one understood what I was going through or my feelings and they didn’t, because I NEVER wanted to open up enough to let someone understand them. I would mentally blame those around me for not understanding but wouldn’t take the time to give them an opportunity to. I became prideful and the fact that I was (and still am) a straight shooter did not help at all.
As I have become older, God has humbled me, daily. I have become more transparent and realize that I am not the only one going through a situation, whether good or bad. I realized more than ever that Words (written and spoken) are very powerful and I was not always using my words in an uplifting way. I realized that not using my words at all, whether to speak or write life into someone, was just as detrimental as words I verbally spoke that may have been hurtful.
I recently saw a movie “The Letter Writer” and I identified with the main character, Sam, who was the “Letter Writer” in the movie. I was able to relate to what he said when asked why he wrote letters and it stuck with me.
“Words…It suddenly hit me that I was using words to hurt other people and I was quite good at it… I became fully aware of all of the pain I inflicted…I knew I had to change, I decided then and there that for the rest of my life, I would only use words for good. To lift the broken hearted and heal the wounded. And that has been my desire and purpose since.”
~ Sam Worthingtom, “The Letter Writer” 2011
This stuck with me because we truly never know what someone is going through on any given day. In today’s society people have become so use to camoflaguing themselves to blend in with whomever they are around or hiding behind temporary situations. I do not want my words to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, I would rather my words be the ones that encourage, uplift, inspire, or motivate someone to keep going.
Why do I write? I write because I love it! I write to encourage. I write to uplift. I write to inspire others and myself. I write to be transparent. I write to let the reader know, you are not the only one going through that certain experience. I write because my words have not always been uplifting or positive and that is something I wanted and needed to change. I write to grow and learn. I write because….
Do you write? Why?
Chanelle A. Watson
Author, Chef, & Entrepreneur