Why I Write

Writing is my best form of expression. I found writing during my elementary school years. It started with me writing short stories and became journal writing. I found that physically writing out my experiences or my issues allowed me to release anything I was holding onto or felt I couldn't get rid of. Writing has become my saving grace. Have you found yours?

All of my posts are meant to serve others whether you can relate with a similar feeling, the exact opposite, or somewhere in between. The sooner we realize NOTHING is black or white and that EVERYTHING is really about the shades of grey, we will have a true understanding of self and others. You could never experience anything the way I would experience it and vice versa. I honestly believe I could never experience the same thing twice, even if I am doing the exact same thing. Every moment is different in some way and those are the shades of grey. It could be something as simple as a body temperature change or the weather outside that can cause you to feel a different way.

At this intersection (understanding of self and others) is where we come to respect, if not love, each other based off our true selves. The basis of my experiences is no different nor special compared to others. There will always be someone with family drama or got his or her heart broken. I simply have the ability to express what others may not yet be able to articulate. Nevertheless, we ALL have a story to tell.

If you have yet to watch the TED talk above please do so now.

Now that you've watched it, let's talk about it. Reflect on it. I personally loved the video. To me, it points out that there is a commonality between ALL of us regardless of our capabilities, gender, race, and every other category we use to create a distinction among ourselves. We all have something we aren't comfortable talking about or feel that we have to hide in order to "fit in." If we consciously make the effort to create a safe space for each other to express our concerns we will have a society where being yourself is fitting in.

A lot of my posts will include TED talks because they provide a different perspective. The beauty of perspective is that you can present the same video to 10 people and get 10 completely different responses to that video. And we need to hear/see ALL of those shades of grey.

I challenge you to put your guard down. Don't automatically assume a person is questioning you to pick at you. More often than not, a person questions because there is a lack of understanding and he or she actually wants to understand. Be patient and keep in mind that he or she doesn't realize that their actions can be considered offensive. The more open we are towards each other, the easier life becomes.

Now, I could just throw everything I have to say into one REALLY LONG post because everything I write circles back to each other (stole that from a friend,) but for a tasteful reader digestion I’ll break it down. Plus, I figure people won’t read anything that’s longer than a few or so paragraphs. With that being, kudos to those people who read this entire note! Thanks, and I hope this space helps you!

Also, feel free to post/share on social media responses to the action questions at the end of some notes or just the note in general.

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