Okay, so when I first started this blog, it was my intention to post regularly; however, despite that intention, it didn't quite happen that way. Now, it's been about a year and a half since my last post.
For many months, I've been wanting to start writing again--for me. I think writing and editing all day, combined with the lack of drama in my life, satisfied enough of the need to spit random words, and I found enough fulfillment in my work-related writing.
So what's changed? Work. My duties have changed, and the material that I'm writing. I guess I'm not getting the same satisfaction from it, so it's time to once again start spitting my rantings, ramblings, observations, gratitude, sappiness, and any other other nonsensical--or perhaps occasionally nonsensical--silliness or madness.
When I first started writing editorials at work, I was reluctant. For much of my life, writing was a very private activity for me. Likely because my writing was the one place where I was completely myself--unabashedly so, but only to my one true confidant--the paper on which I wrote.
It wasn't until I was in college that I began to share some of my writing, and even then, I often held back. However, like most things in life, the more I did it, the more comfortable I got with it. Spewing out words has always been in my blood. It wasn't something I enjoyed, but something I needed. I never had any grandiose dreams of becoming a bestselling author. I've always known that writing is like any of the other arts: highly competitive, and few people make a comfortable living from it, but rather it's something that you do because your soul requires it to exist.
It was in college that I began to discover that a few people enjoyed my stories, and I'm sure that's what contributed to my increasing comfort with sharing my writing.
When one of the former executives at my office suggested that I start writing regular editorials, I was initially slightly uncomfortable. I mean really, my life isn't that exciting or impressive, but because it came as a suggestion (with more of the tone of a directive) from one of the top people, I began writing editorials. I wrote about whatever popped into my mind at the time, and they were like nothing we'd published before. I was given two rules: the article had to relate to our agency, and it couldn't get any of my bosses in trouble with anyone above them. Albeit, I still had to censor myself considerably from much of the randomness that I can be known form, but for government, that's quite a bit of flexibility.
I didn't think people would really care what I had to say, but to my surprise, readers seemed to enjoy it, and over the years, I received frequent letters of support and encouragement--many of them begging me to never stop writing. I have to admit, that was a huge boost to my confidence.
Now, the office is changing, and my editorials are a thing of the past, but what came out of it was my appreciation and deep understanding for the relationship between reader and writer. I write because I have to. I have to write to earn my paycheck, but I also have to write to keep my spirit alive. And somewhere in that process, people have to read--maybe not necessarily what I write, but I know some people need to read the same way I need to write. If what I write in any way touches them, then it's been a gift, but not so much a gift to them as a gift to me to know that they shared in that moment with me.
And...on that note, this groovy girl is out. Time to take a shower and head to the office.
Make it a great day everyone!
