Since I was a kid, writing has been what I dreamt of doing as a career above everything else. To be a writer…
It was one of the things I loved to do most.
When I was in primary school, teachers commended me for my creativity and writing skills (not so much on spelling and grammar – some things don’t change!). I loved immersing myself in stories and creating new worlds and characters. I specifically loved adventure and mystery fuelled by Nancy Drew, Enid Blyton and Perry Mason.
And then I stopped writing
After some dodgy advice from teachers in high school (your grades aren’t good enough, and you should consider child care grrr), and my inability to handle criticism, I lost my confidence and writing voice.
Dabbling in creative writing at University, I was met with the rude realisation that I sucked at what I loved and so I just stopped writing (okay, I didn’t suck … I was intimidated by the environment and all the ‘cool, artsy’ people).
This was helped by a lengthy project manager career, which sucked me dry. These days I recognise how my communication skills helped me excel in this career and how the role refined my business writing skills – something I still use to this day.
Exploring Travel Writing
It wasn’t until I started travelling the world that I started writing again, capturing the wonder and excitement of my other love – travel. Each night I would find myself perched over my journal or at an Internet cafe composing an entry or an email to home about my latest adventures. It was addictive (both travel and travel writing).
The thing was, I got caught in a trap as I found myself only being able to write when I was travelling. When I returned home to my normal life and day job, I was hit with a case of writer’s block.
Discovering blogging
This continued for years until over ten years ago when I started this blog. Reflections from a Redhead.
This blog became an outlet for my thoughts, dealing with my depression, and reaching out to the world in some small way. It was also a way for this shy, introverted recluse to connect with people like her from behind a keyboard and computer screen.
I’d never planned for it to be big or for anyone to read it.
The thing that mattered was that it helped me. It is cathartic.
Blogging helped me come out of my shell, make friends and change my life. And as time went on, it helped others. I know that because I still receive emails from people telling me how much reading one of my little blog posts has helped them. I treasure every one of these as, in return, they have impacted my life.
I’ve missed writing
I’ve missed the feeling as the words flow through my fingertips and the keys onto this screen. I’ve missed exploring and releasing my thoughts, which have been clogged up (if I’m honest!). And I’ve missed connecting with you.
The realisation that I am a writer has been something I’ve struggled with, and I didn’t believe I was a writer until the last few years. After I quit my project management career, it was like a switch had been flicked, unleashing creativity and the urge to write, write, and … write.
Writing has always been a way for me to explore my mental health and to capture my ‘journey’ over the last ten years from a project manager, through a career change into comms and marketing and starting my own business, to getting married, losing loved ones, getting a new fur child, becoming an Aunty, travelling the world, quitting coffee, overcoming depression, and everything in between.
Writing (and blogging) has changed my life.
