Revived

I’ve had stories dancing around in my mind waiting to be told. But, I abandoned the initiative to put pen to paper. I used to be better than this. Writing was once a part of my identity. Somehow, I’ve let it go. I always say I want to get back to it, but those words are spoken. Not written—so not truly done.

However, I am lucky because I have people in my life that remember that now neglected part of myself. For two years, Catherine has encouraged me to send in my writing to a well-known site that is actively seeking content. When I talk about how I need to start writing more (or at all), Rachel says, as she has every time before, “yes, you should.” Most recently, my sister Leslie vehemently told me that I just need to do it. She basically told me to make writing a priority.

This blog marks my first step toward reigniting my writer self. Really, I should say reigniting myself. I think words have been lying dormant in me for a while. I have been accused of talking a lot (when I was little, my aunt decided not to adopt another child after she kept me for a week . . . a very chatty week). So, for some, that dormancy may sound much too ludicrous.

Still, I feel I am not living up to my potential.

In Zen in the Art of Writing, Ray Bradbury said, “You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”

In reality, I’ve let myself become lazy. To clarify, I work very hard at my job, earned my Master’s degree, bought a home, etc. But, I’ve allowed myself to become complacent in the mundane. I don’t push myself like I once did.

That ends now.

I want to start living my life with a less than linear plot line. I want to add some twists. I want to push myself to be the absolute best version of myself.

I want to write about it all: books, dating, fitness, pop culture, politics, anything, and everything in between.

I want to write with abandon, with purpose, feverishly, methodically, outrageously, and succinctly.

I want to immerse myself in this craft that I almost let go. I will devour books. I will read, read, read, so that I can write, write, write. I want to drink in all the words I can, and write down the words that make my world.

I want to be drunk on words.