Why I write

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The inside of my brain!

Writing has been a passion (albeit a dormant one as of late) of mine since I was a little girl.

I used to create wee books, stories, songs, and poems to share with friends and family. I took part in writing contests at school. Wrote the beginning of books and plays. Took every journalism class I could. After college, I did an Artist’s Way course. It was a joy, part of my DNA.

I have always been an avid journaler until I lost some of my journals in the mail when moving back to Texas– three years’ worth of thoughts, emotions, lessons learned while living overseas gone. It was devastating. I think I mourned this loss so much that I just stopped writing. It seemed easier at the time even though now I realize I was closing off a part of myself. I would sporadically write something in a notebook but nothing regular. It just seemed too hard.

I am a cross-cultural ministry worker so writing regular newsletters and occasional articles are part of the gig. I didn’t consider that serious writing though. It was just a necessity, part of the job so to speak. But I enjoy it, it is life-giving and helps me wrestle through some of the things I am learning and dealing with. Writing has become an outlet of sorts again.

Over the past couple of years, I have been encouraged to write more by different people. Story itself has become so important in both my personal and work life. It seems like I have something to say. I hope my stories are meaningful and helpful to others but mainly I need a way to outwardly work out what is going on inside my head. Hence this blog. Here I will write about what I love and what I am learning. What grounds me and what makes me feel like I need grounding. It might get messy, but I also hope it is healing. We all need that in some way.

Do you use creativity as a way to process? I’d love to hear about it.

I hope you will come along with me on this new adventure. I can’t wait to see where it leads!