I write because I have a lot going on in my head. If I were to just leave it all there, jumbled together, the confusing mess it is, I would never know exactly what I was thinking or feeling. Writing for me can be liberating. Writing can free the mind from all the questions and concerns it has. It's like when people tell you to write a letter to that someone you are mad at or whatever, but don't give the letter to them, just throw it away. The act of physically writing it down, putting everything out there on the table, discovering new emotions and questions along the way, is enough that actually sending the letter to that someone is no longer necessary.
I think that is a great example of writing's liberating capabilities. Sometimes I even avoid writing because I know that along the way I will put something down that maybe I don't want to deal with at the moment. That is the beauty about writing, everything you feel/want to say is already in your head you just haven't discovered what it means or maybe you just didn't have the courage to address it, but writing forces you to. Writing is very powerful that way.
Plus, sometimes saying things aloud just isn't enough to get people to understand your point, see your side, know how you feel, etc. Writing for me can be far more structured and thought out than spoken word. Sometimes I get flustered or I just can't come up with the right thing to say, so writing allows me to take my time and devise meaningful and clear thoughts.
This is a great example of "writing to learn," which I discussed in the previous comment.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, writing seems to serve this singular purpose for you. Some see it as more utilitarian, as a way to get things done or fulfill requirements. But for you, writing is unequivocally a vehicle for thinking...very cool.