Writing Is Therapy

Back in the days of many moons ago, if you'd told my younger self that I'd grow up to be head over heels for writing, I'd have just waved you off. I was a tennis player, chasing the professional circuit, with no room in my playbook for sonnets or prose. Writing was for other people.

Little did I know I actually found solace in pouring my feelings onto paper. There was a certain joy in expressing my emotions, in plucking them from the hidden corners of my mind and laying them out between the lines. Surprisingly, it seemed to work like a charm.

Learning to Share

There were numerous instances when the idea of sharing a poem left me anxious, waiting for that elusive moment of perfection that never quite arrives. Yet I've learned to get better at unveiling what feels right to share in the moment. It's the subjects that required the most courage to bring into existence that turned out to be the most resonant.

For an artist, revealing the truth is no easy feat, it can be downright paralyzing. When you lay bare the truth through your art, you expose yourself, your soul wandering about naked, hoping the universe will still cast a smile your way. Yet the art that truly resonates with us always carries the tag of truth, and that's what captivates us.

A Practice of Gratitude

I suggest everyone gives writing a shot, beginning with something simple like a gratitude journal. Kickstart each morning by jotting down three to five things you're thankful for. It sounds cheesy, I get it, but this kind of routine starts rewiring your brain toward what I like to call emotional success. Here's a glimpse of what fills my list.

Ever since I embraced this practice, I no longer fixate on the negatives that come my way. It's not about flawless days sticking to a plan, that's impractical. It's about centering on my breath, residing in the present, and handling things as they roll in.