A Reflection on the Power of Support from Fellow Writers

You Can’t Spell Writers Without “We”

The road of a writer is often rugged and raw, as we navigate some of the most impactful and emotional parts of our stories on a page. To fully hash out these experiences in ways that are authentic, relatable, and valuable to ourselves and others is no easy feat, and yet and still the talented writers on this platform continue to produce excellent works of art. Many of us have yet to make our first dollar on Medium. We simply do it for the love of the craft.

Writing is a source of joy, love, and pain in my life. The painful aspect is something I am learning to accept as part of the love for it. One portion of the pain is that I am not yet able to do something that I love so purely as my full-time job. As a writer you hope that your art will connect with people. So, when you’re really throwing yourself into an article, trying to create a valuable piece that will resonate with your readers and those stats fall flat, it can drum up that old, sinking feeling. “Am I good enough?”

Occasionally I find myself falling into that trap and I try to remind myself that this is a normal, human experience. Many of the writers on this platform have shown me that I am not alone in this feeling, and many have gently pointed me back to the north star of truth that we sometimes forget on our writing journeys. We are all good enough. We all have something special and unique to offer through our shared, diverse human experiences. When we lose sight of that truth, the light that shines through the gems of another writer’s perspective radiates hope, understanding, connection, and inspiration. This uplifts us and allows us to go forth confidently as writers.

A Moment of Pivotal Praise

Prior to Francisco Iglesias kindly featuring me on “My Top 5 Must Reads of the Day #17”, I was brand spankin’ new to this platform and stumbling around like a baby deer. Who the heck am I kidding, I still am. At the time, I had faith in the positive feelings writing pumps through me whenever I am fully immersed in creating a new article. There were signs that some people were beginning to connect with my work, and I felt grateful for all the love that was shown in the form of claps and comments. Love was pouring out slowly, like room temperature, thick, honey maple syrup on pancakes. Part of me was questioning whether I was taking the “right” steps in my writing process and how I had been navigating and engaging on the platform up to that point. I’ve been trying to focus on “the doing” aspect of writing and not worry too much about the end results. However, I sometimes still get in my head about how this whole writing thing is going.

Right before I heard the news about making the list, it was almost as if I was searching for a sign from God to keep pressing on this passionately painful path of sharing my heart on this public platform. When I read the generous words of affirmation about my article in Francisco’s article, I felt them touching me in a genuine way. As I read on with a sense of astonishment that this moment was really happening, I eventually leapt up from my laptop with feelings of uncontainable joy and accomplishment. I felt like Mario when he runs into a star and turns into that rainbow colored, optimal version of himself. I felt honored that my writing connected with someone in such a way that they would go out of their way to support me. I spread the amazing news with my close family, friends, and network and they blessed me with even more love.

Inspiration

The article that was featured in “My Top 5 Must Reads of the Day #17” came from a desire and hope to help others cope with the calamity that comes with being human. A few years back, I found myself sinking and swirling in a maelstrom of life struggles. Having experienced hard things like rape, divorce, law school, losing a close parent, and childhood trauma…I felt like I truly hit the breaking point. The only place to go for me was up or out of a world that I could not bear to live in with the mindset that I had at the time. I began to practice meditating, being mindful, and seeking the help of therapy on a consistent basis and I can honestly say that the life that I’m living today, while not perfect, is a more present one. It’s an everyday journey to live in the present and make peace with the past, and knowledge empowers us with the tools to be able to do so. I love that writing gives me the opportunity to contribute some tools that I’ve found in hopes that they can help others feel more able to take control of their mental health. This was my goal in writing, “How to Deal with The Circus of Circumstances That is Life.”

Motivation

Francisco’s gesture of support and goodwill further motivated me to continue to do my best to be humble and hungry to learn and grow as a writer. It was very affirming, and it could not have come at a better time. I will strive to make other writers feel that way by supporting and being present to connect with their meaningful, valuable stories. We all deserve to take the time to cherish the high moments that we feel as writers. Whenever those moments arise. If it hasn’t happened for you yet, it will. Please continue to keep writing and have faith in what makes you, you. Let us continue to build one another up through the bumpy bouts of uncertainty and self-doubt that sometimes creep in as creatives.

I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to step into an entirely different human experience through the eyes of the writers on this platform and feel connection. As someone with social anxiety, at times it feels difficult to be my authentic self and connect with others. Reading and writing on this platform has helped me feel more connected and less alone by reading about the inspiring, insightful, and intriguing experiences of others. We may be millions of miles away and never see, talk to, or experience each other in the physical realm. Please know that you have poured into my spirit with your work. You have opened my mind to new perspectives and gifted me with knowledge. Thank you for doing what you do.

Here is the link for Francisco’s article that reviews the works of many dope writers on this platform. I am so honored to have been a part of it: