Why I’m Writing: An Introduction

Here I am. My first day of writing. My goal is to take 1.5-2 hours each Wednesday to get away by myself, during the day (this is key), to write. Moomers* always says that “work expands to fill the time allotted,” and I’m hoping that work constricts to fill the time allotted, too.

I’m writing for these reasons: There have been several times over the last year or two when I’ve thought to myself, “I want to write an essay about [fill in the blank],” and I’ve never gone beyond forming loose outlines in my mind. This thought comes when I’m working through something in my brain—something that is troubling me—and I really feel the need to get all of it out on paper and maybe, in that process, distill some conclusions or definitive thoughts. My own definitive thoughts. Something somewhat succinct. For example, I experience almost constant angst around my cell phone. I want to spell out the conflicting thoughts and impulses that create this inner grind, and I want to share them with those I love! In essay form! I want to understand better my own habits and practices, and I want to open wide that conversation and facilitate understanding between humans, most of whom I imagine have complicated relationships with their devices as well.

Another reason I want to write is that I’ve been realizing how important communication is to me. I am passionate about communication. And I can tell you that, as a Nine on the enneagram, it’s not easy for me to name things I’m passionate about. To see and name them. But this has become clear to me: I’m passionate about communication, interpersonal and professional. (The professional world is largely unknown to me, but my hunch is that there’s quite a lot of overlap between the professional and personal spheres regarding healthy communication.) Gaining better communication skills literally saved my relationship with Chris and allowed us to move into marriage with a measure of confidence and peace we had not known before. I can survey the last 10 years and see how, slowly but surely, I’ve been putting these skills to use more broadly—beyond my marital relationship. I’ve pushed myself. I’ve practiced and exercised this muscle, and its gotten stronger. It’s easy to feel like I’m only beginning this journey of exploring and employing solid, productive communication with people, but, really, I’ve been on this path for at least a little while. And I now see it as such: a real path under my feet and one that I very much want to continue on.

Lastly, my beloved sister said I should write more. And that meant a whole lot to me. She’s a writer—a song writer—with an emphasis on powerful and insightful lyrics. For her to tell me that I should write more and that I’m good at it sealed the deal for me. Okay, God. I mean Al. Okay, Al. Speak the word only and my blog shall be started.

Now I will brainstorm some of the topics I want and hope to cover in my writing. I had planned to create a private document for this list, but why not share it, now I wonder. Welcome to the process. In no particular order:

-Cell phones

-Defensiveness

-Instagram

-The idea of being offended

-The idea of boundaries

-Disclaimers

-Listening

-Being forward

While I intend to have time each week to write, I’m confident I won’t be able to churn out a completed post as often. My goal will be to post something each week, though, even if just a brief writing update or pertinent anecdote.

Alright, time to go get those sweet kiddies of mine from Moomers’** house…

Sarah

*My mom

**My mom’s