Live, laugh, and writing

Grateful for this outlet

I never considered myself a good writer, but I find a lot of joy in it.

Writing is therapeutic.
Writing is healing.
Writing allows me to connect my story with others.

I often check out Substack and think to myself, “damn, I’ll never write that well.” But that feeling subsides as soon as I get lost in one of my endless drafts.

Photo on Unsplash

True story, I was going to be a business major in college, but opted out because of the math classes that I would need to take. Maths and I don’t get along, but we’re working on our relationship. So I stumbled upon Communication Studies and was instantly excited because the two main requirements were writing and public speaking. Both of which scared me (and still do), but definitely more manageable.

I write to write.
I write to get my thoughts out.
I write to express my creativity.
I write to challenge myself.
I write because I like it.

I started a writing habit during the pandemic when I wanted to share quick tips on improving our mental health. This was a perfect time to do this because we were all home all day, and all going through it. I’d share 2-3 sentences each day on specific tips focused on quick actions that we could all do that wouldn’t drain us. This exercise pushed me to be both concise and creative. I didn’t want to repeat the same tip twice, and I needed these in bite-sized form, otherwise people weren’t going to pay attention.

I’m inspired to write, I write to be inspired.

From there, I kept writing. Ironic enough, I was going through some mental health challenges, which consisted of experiencing my first panic attacks. Back when everyone was afraid of getting Covid, my anxiety shot through the roof. I was afraid of going outside. Afraid of being near people in public. Afraid of getting sick. I worked myself up so much that I would get panic attacks and nearly pass out. I thought something was wrong with me, and then I continued spiraling.

But writing saved me. I wrote about my experiences, and it allowed others to reach out and share their similar experiences, too. I didn’t feel as lonely. I felt way more connected to people because I was able to share my story. Writing kept me going.

Writing is a journey, and I’m glad to be a part of it

I continued this practice by starting my own Substack in 2022. My only goal was to share my own perspective on my work in Community. I had no set schedule for when I was going to publish; I just wanted a creative outlet.

That turned into more writing and eventually led to where I am today. I’ve been able to grow to 1,100+ subscribers and publish over 100 pieces. I know that none of these numbers are groundbreaking, but they’re still special to me. I’m so grateful for all of this support, for those who read my newsletter each week, and for all of you for taking the time out of your day to spend a part of it with me here.

I’m excited to keep writing.

Thank you for reading,

Max

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