The Write Stuff

Source

Once upon a time I used to write a lot. I would write reports for school. I would write little "books" for my friends. I would make up stories, journal daily, and even throw a poem in the mix every now and then. I even wrote a thesis once upon a time--a nice long piece of work that supposedly represented several years of schooling and study. It's published in a library. It even gets checked out from time to time (only by graduate students who are supposed to look at former stuff, but whatever...)

The writing didn't stop when I graduated (yes, I had to graduate several times before I was "done" being a student. Slow learner.) I was expected to write for my career. In fact, one semester I joined a faculty writing group where I wrote every. single. day.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't claim to be anything of a profound or "great" writer. I don't plan on having a novel published, or being recognized for my prose. I inherited my mother's bad spelling, and I often neglect grammar on purpose. (So there, Ms. Chavez! Just kidding, you were my favorite English teacher.) But I love what writing offers: It offers an opportunity to do that one thing that separates us humans from the rest of the animal world--reflective self thought. Writing allows us to dip into our imagination, create something that wasn't there, and make sense of our own reality (sometimes through creating a completely new reality).

So with this in mind, I'm going to try and write more. Every day, in fact. (But I'm not going to feel guilty when I inevitably miss a day or get sidetracked completely. If there is one thing motherhood has taught me it's to be more forgiving of myself and others.) I can't guarantee anything witty, profound, or even entertaining. But then again I'm not forcing anyone to read this, so you get what you pay for. But I do hope that this little exercise will help me feel that creative gap and reconnect me to something that I've grown to love over the years.

Write on, right on.