I write because it’s easier than speaking. There’s time to contemplate what and how I’ll say whatever is on my mind. Some days that’s a lot and other days, not so much; it just depends. It depends on what is going on in my life and the world at large. It depends on what is going on in the lives of the people around me. Some days it depends on what I’m remembering from the past.

I write because sometimes it’s better to keep things to yourself. Certain thoughts and feelings don’t seem appropriate or acceptable, so they’re not to be shared with others. But I still need to acknowledge them in some way, outside of my own head, so writing offers that outlet.

I write because it’s a need, like scratching an itch. Somehow, speaking the words to convey emotions doesn’t quite get the job done; it doesn’t feel complete. Spoken words instantly become invisible and drift away. But written words are more tangible and more likely to stay. 

I write because it feels good. Thoughts, emotions, and ideas should never stay bottled up inside oneself. They need to be free and I feel better when I let them escape. Once they’re out I then decide if they need revision, if they’re a true, accurate reflection of me, and whether I will share them or keep them to myself.