Apr 23
The budding writer
Reading was a natural habit that I developed from a young age. Reading helped me to become a storyteller. I have now morphed into writing, but it took me a long time to mature as a writer.
The hardest thing in writing is stepping forward. It is also an act of resistance, resistance to yourself. I now lay bare to the rest of the world. It is also an act of courage.
Writing opens a door to self-discovery. It gets me to think progressively. By writing about my experiences, I re-discovered myself. It is a journey of self-actualisation and more than anything, being honest with myself.
Now I am kind of a historian, writing stories of my youth, of my parents, and my grandparents. I have so much respect for the generations before me, particularly my parents and what they have done to make me who I am today. In turn, they helped me to make my children who they are. So, writing was part historical, and part homage to my ancestry. It is also part therapeutic and part futuristic. My stories describe how difficult life was back then for my ancestors and their endurance to beat the odds of their day. It is a record for posterity.
Telling stories helps me to approach a new reality. See everything from a new perspective. Writing stories also come with a big social responsibility, particularly to my family. I had to come to terms with the past and understand my role in times gone by. Sharing my stories with the wider world, helped me to continue to be a better person.
Writing about my experiences has allowed me to understand that my identity is complicated. It is not simple. It is of being human.
When I write my stories, my thoughts in my essays, I am going out to the world naked. There is nowhere to hide. I become an open book. No doubt, some people will judge me.
But I am OK with that.
That’s why I say writing has made me a better person. It has helped me to understand my status and place in this world of seven billion people. Writing has stripped me to the core. It made me happy in the end, despite the challenges at the beginning of the writing journey.
This is my legacy piece, my ancestors’ story. My kids are going to read them. Their children are going to read them. It is my ultimate legacy.
Writing has allowed me to question my thinking. I like to think that I am a thought leader with a philosophical bent. I continue to develop those parts of my personality through my reading and writing. My life continues to change and evolve through reading and writing. I read every night to fall asleep. It is a beautiful way to end your day.
I always liked talking to people, engaging with people and making new friends. By writing and opening myself to others, I continue to gain more and more confidence. I talk to my friends about serious subjects, social challenges of the day and difficult subjects.
I did not have much as a young boy and a teenager. But I always had books and magazines with me. I spent at least 10% of my money on books. But I did not feel that I lacked anything. I had read so much at seventeen, my eyesight was so bad that I had to get spectacles.
I consider writing one of my responsibilities. There are nearly six hundred subscribers to my stories and essays. They write back to me regularly with positive feedback. That is a great encouragement. I feel service bound to my readers.
Writing is a journey. It generates a lot of energy. It is an act of stepping forward to move ahead.
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