THE PENNY PUB
I Write to Make a Difference
The motivation is in my genes
I must have been three years old. My mom taught third graders at home after school. She kept me busy with a piece of chalk so I could draw on the red oxide floor in our rather large and bare living room. Because I was curious and wanted to “read” with the other kids, she’d write the alphabet on the floor so I could copy it.
Not very long after, I could figure out words. She’d say something and I’d write it. And that is when I started writing. I also started drawing — a cup of coffee for her. A book. Shoes for my uncle. A sari for my aunt.
I worship the written word and the spoken word. I owe my love for writing to my Mom and my uncles, who always encouraged me to express myself on paper. And read, of course. We had a massive library at home.
Writing is like breathing to me. It is a wonderful outlet, liberating, opening up new perspectives, and teaching tolerance. When I read something I wrote years ago, I enjoy seeing how I have learned, grown, and changed. Sometimes, I am proud of what I wrote and sometimes, I feel I could have done better. Journaling is such wonderful therapy!
One of my earliest writing exercises was diary writing. My mom always encouraged me to keep a journal. It improved my language, my vocabulary, and my confidence. It also helped me learn better at school. Above all, it kept my mind well-ventilated, stress-free, and positive. It improved my memory and fed my creativity.
“Diary writing is far more than a way of exorcising one’s unhappiness. The effect is extraordinary. Distanced on paper, troubles shrink to their true size. You can regard them objectively and see how temporary they are”….Devi, my Mother
Each time we went on a trip, my mom would make sure I had packed my notebook and pencils. Not only did I write about the trip I also sketched in those pages. Sometimes, sketching helped me get my thoughts on paper far quicker than words to describe the scene.
Letter writing is another writing exercise that helped me grow as a writer. On Thursdays, a school holiday, my mom and I would settle down with a stack of postcards and postage covers. I enjoyed writing the addresses on these covers. Then, she let me add a couple of lines to each letter. Eventually, I took over the letter-writing. Some of my family still recall them with pleasure.
I remember being excited to learn shorthand when I was just out of college — as I could now journal without worrying about someone reading it.
After I retired from my corporate career at 33 and took a break, I was worried about not finding a job. Mom encouraged me to think outside the box and take stock of my talents. Serendipitously, a friend contacted me to say he was looking for a writer-editor for his business magazine. It felt like a dream. Soon after, I began my freelance writing career, along with blogging. In 2003, I started my first blog and I now manage six blogs of my own across various niches.
One of the best pieces of advice I received was from my mom. She said, “Don’t worry about what people might think. Just write!” She encouraged me to explore different writing styles and genres. I fondly remember all the “what if” situations she came up with, feeding my imagination.
Blessed with an inquisitive mind, I am never without a pencil and paper within reach. Even my kitchen shelf has stationery within reach. And I line my shelves and work table with white paper — all the better to write on, because who wants to lose a brilliant idea?
Over the years, I won writing contests, published in magazines, and ghost-wrote books for clients. At one point, a friend of mine dared me to write erotica when I critiqued a story he sent me and I did. Wisely, under an alias, I might add. I still get fan mail!
My dream is to make a difference with my words and writing. In 2003, I started donating my blogging income to support underprivileged children, funding their health expenses, education, and food. I am also working on a few books: The Complete Health Guide for Women, The Diabetes Diet, One Minute Meditations, and my pet project: Coffee With Mi, as a tribute to my mom — a memoir with recipes that I will illustrate as well. Any income from the sale of my books will support underprivileged children.
Thank you, Kim, for the wonderful prompt! ❤