You Have to Start Somewhere

Seth Godin once said that the best way to write, if you plan to write every day, is to write the way that you speak. I think that is a good idea. The man practices what he preaches because if you go to his blog, the posts range in size from one paragraph to several hundred words.  The design of his blog is extremely simplistic as well. He definitely writes the thoughts swirling in his mind immediately and posts them. Snippets of knowledge that seem to portray his voice speaking them aloud as you read them.

I like to write. I must like to write a whole lot because the idea of writing constantly nags me. I used to write in high school, for the high school newspaper in fact, but I quit. I won second place in a poetry contest, to which I had no clue I was a contestant. I have started several blogs and many, many journals but every time I start, I stop.  I fall into the same trap that I assume many people fall into that wish to write as a habit: I overthink the process of writing. I drone on and on in my mind about how to start, what I will say and how I will say it that I never put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard.

Especially when it comes to blogging. I love the idea of blogging and the ability to share my voice aching to be heard and connect with someone out there. But then when it comes time to hit that "publish" button I freeze.  I can't do it.  I'm way too scared to show myself.  Sure there is a really good chance that it will never be seen but then again the possibility is always there.

It's the type of vulnerability that I was never ready to embrace.  But then the idea of writing pops up again and I yearn for it. As if we always had this lifelong friendship that was torn apart.  Maybe there was something that came alive in me all those years ago as I toiled over editing that article for the high school paper.  Maybe there was something there, that once planted, grew enough roots to survive in dormancy.

Maybe it is time to stop running...

Stop running from myself.  Stop overthinking this.  Stop stifling the voice I have within. If no one sees this then so be it. This is for me. I'm doing this for me.