5 Reasons Why I Write

Inspired to answer to the essence of my being

Again I was inspired by a good friend here on Medium, Salam Khan, who always finds new ways to express joy with his writing. So I spread the wings he gave me to share my view on the topic too. You can read his 5 reasons here:

I have said it before and I will say it again. I was never meant to be a writer. I never followed a path of enlightenment, a destined journey to becoming a master of words. In that aspect, I was blindfolded.

Words had no higher meaning to me. You write a poem with captivating prose, and I would sway back and forth to its mesmerizing rhythm.

But its meaning? Lost in my ignorance.

I discovered writing not as a sacred art; not as a means to convey powerful emotions and thought provoking ideas. No. I discovered it as a tool. A way of sustaining my life, curled up in my home, far away from all these people who yell and shout at each other during work at a regular job.

I wanted to escape the stress, the pressure, of never being good enough. You struggle nervously through yet another job interview. You shake and tremble, while men in suits are staring at you with dead eyes.

1. It keeps my family fed

This might not be the most honorable or virtuous of reasons for writing among a community that sparks with joy and creativity, but at least for me, that’s the most honest one.

I’m not on Medium to earn money, though I always appreciate getting something back for the things I share. But I first started writing — as in: deliberately putting words together — in 2016, and to this day, I keep doing it to make sure my daughter has a roof over her head and enough to eat.

2. It lets me discover myself

Now apart from work, where I’d write what people tell me to, I’ve discovered another — much more beautiful — side of writing. That is, sharing my own thoughts with the world, gathering different points of view and adding my own to it.

I realized I’m not alone in my thoughts. Many people think the same. If someone concurs, we can have a lively discussion about the topic and I learn more things. I slowly learn to see who I really am. I’m so much more than boring articles about jackhammers or surfboards. I’m more than the slogan of a new lawyer. I’m more than all of that.

And I want to share this.

3. It connects me to the most amazing people I’ve ever met

I’ve been working as a writer for 4 years now. In that time I met many clients. Usual business relationships. We’d work together and shake hands. They’d pay me and that’d be the end of it. It felt like any other job, just that people would value me more for the effort I put in.

But about a week ago (so I’m really new!) I revisited my Medium account because it was flooding my inbox with mails. Up until then, I never used it. I don’t even remember why I registered.

I stumbled upon Salam Khan then, because he wrote a piece that really resonated with me. Before I knew, he’d invite me to a group of people, welcoming me among their ranks.

And each single one of them has awesome stories to tell. Some help me with getting better at my job (the boring writing I do), others help me to discover new things. Poetry! I always thought poetry has no value. I know many people who make their income with books, but so few who manage the same through poetry.

But the beauty in these words is captivating. Reading it thoroughly, I recognize lost love, heartbreak, new found love, faith and so much more in these handcrafted lines. People are sharing their most intimate feelings. And I fell in love with it.

4. I found a second family

The encouragement you get from people valuing your work is much more fulfilling than any paycheck. Everyone can pay you money, but there’s one resource that’s much more valuable than money: Time.

People give some of their precious time just to respond. They can see me and they acknowledge me.

Just a line like “You made my day”, feels uplifting and motivating beyond reason.

Here at Illumination, I’ve found this second family.

I didn’t come here with any particular skills. I’m not a good writer. I’m not a veteran. Yet they treated me from the very first moment like I have been a part of this community for years.

Though they might seem like strangers, they feel like family. A big, diverse family, spread across the globe.

5. It made me a more passionate reader

It feels like a symbiosis. I never read much. But since I started writing, I started reading much more. It’s no longer a tedious task, but instead feels like a journey through the minds of so many different people.

Their prose, their words, the way they express themselves, are as diverse as the people themselves. I learn so much just by reading what other people write. They all lived different lives. And through reading, it feels like I live these lives through their very eyes.

Reading has become a passion, just like writing. By now I just feel bad that I can’t read it all. There’s so much out there and each day feels too short, between work, family, writing, sharing and reading.

I still have to catch up a lot.

Kevin is an editor and writer for the ILLUMINATION publication. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.