#WHYIWRITE ***Celebrate National Writing Day ***
The first time I noticed the art of writing in a way that empowered me as a person was when I wrote a letter to my mom in 1st grade. All by myself. I remember how proud I felt. I remember how accomplished I felt. That letter was everything to me. I put into words how much my mom meant to me. It was a milestone for this 1st grader.
Fast forward when I was 10 years old, my family has signed up my sister and I to take English classes after school at a private language Institute. My family believed in the power of languages since they were bilingual themselves, they spoke Spanish and Guarani. My father wanted to pave the future for us and he believed learning English was going to be the bridge to endless possibilities. At this point in my life we were living in Paraguay where two official languages were spoken: Spanish and Guarani. So, I was taking all these English language classes but I had no one to converse or practice my newly acquired language with except with my sister. But that was not too much to be honest. So, to find my way in this language I started this English journal where I invented dialogues between characters so that I could "practice my English." And that journal helped me immensely as I developed a sense for the language.
Fast forward to my adult life, specifically when I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Master in Language, Literacy and Culture, with an emphasis on Children's Literature. In 2008, I finished this amazing master program where I had read and reviewed so much literature. I was immersed in a world of books and masterpieces. I didn't want to lose all that knowledge, and I wanted to keep the momentum going. So I started a Blog Called My World/Mi Mundo where I blogged from 2008 till 2014. That sweet blog right there opened my world to other teachers who were passionate about children's literature like I was. That blog connected me with teachers, writers and advocates from all over the USA. Some of my dearest friends nowadays were my "virtual blogger friends" for a long time before we met in person. My blog landed in the hands of the wonderful creator, writer and editor extraordinaire Brenda Power where I've been writing as a contributor writer for Choice Literacy since 2010.
Writing has given me so much JOY. Writing has allowed me to find my voice in a way that added value not only to my life but in the life of others. Writing has given me permission to express myself as I am. No filters. Just me. Raw, straightforward, energetic me. Writing has allowed me to peel layers of understandings, questions, concerns, and ideas as I process them. Writing has allowed me to be of service to others. Writing has allowed me to share, revise, grow and evolve. Writing has allowed me to mature in my own terms.
I'm a writer. I'm a doer, I'm a leader and a follower. I'm an activist. I'm a processor. I'm a reader. Words have allowed be to bridge cultures and understandings. Words have allowed me to find home in my own self.
And that's #WHY I WRITE.
What about you...do you write? Do you make room in your life for this habit? If not, would you like to start but not sure how? Connect with me, with other writers, with your community, your tribe. But start. The most important thing is to start...one word at a time.
National Writing Day is Friday October 20th. Join the movement and the fun right here.
