Why write?

Why write?

‍

Why write?

‍

What’s the point?

‍

Of these words?

‍

Of this flow?

Of this piece?

Of my life?

‍

Why do I write?

‍

Is it to waste time?

‍

Or make sense of it all?

‍

Do I enjoy this?

‍

Sometimes.

‍

Actually most of the time.

‍

But sometimes, I hate it.

‍

Have months where I can’t say anything.

‍

Where I don’t know what to do.

‍

Or where to go.

Or what to say.

‍

There are days where I think my best is behind me.

‍

How did I, Anish, write these insanely long pieces?

‍

I’ve written 3000-word essays in an hour.

‍

And yet there are other days when I can’t string two sentences together.

‍

Even this.

‍

What is the point of this?

‍

The point of this piece?

‍

Here’s the thing I’ve learned.

‍

It’s not about what you write.

It’s about the act of writing.

‍

Of showing up.

‍

Of trying.

‍

For you have no idea what you can create.

‍

None.

‍

Inspiration is fleeting.

‍

It comes and goes.

But the real professionals know.

‍

The real writers know.

‍

Excellence comes from work.

‍

From showing up.

‍

From doing your best.

‍

Even when you don’t have it.

‍

It’s what makes great athletes great.

‍

Anyone can do it when they’re feeling good.

But can you do it when it’s hard?

‍

When you don’t want to work?

‍

When you have nothing to say?

‍

No energy left in the tank.

‍

Can you do it then?

‍

That is the difference between good and great.

‍

Between the amateurs and the professionals.

‍

Am I a professional writer?

‍

No.

‍

I’m not.

‍

I don’t think of myself as one.

And yet my output would tell you otherwise.

‍

How many people do you know have written almost 2900 days in a journal, published 1300 blog posts, 2 books and a third manuscript with a fourth outline done, all as a side project in less than a decade?

‍

Probably not a lot.

‍

There are some.

‍

And all the power to them.

In fact I hope there are more.

‍

I hope one day some of these words inspire someone else.

‍

Someone else on their journey to write.

‍

To make sense of the world.

‍

To share their experiences.

‍

Anne Lamott told everyone in Bird by Bird.

‍

We all have a story to tell.

‍

The question is can you show up enough for yourself to tell it?

‍

Even when it’s hard?

‍

Just remember.

‍

Bird by bird.

‍

And remember your why.

‍

Remember that kid who just graduated high school who was about to take on the world.

‍

Remember that guy.

‍

Write for him.

‍

Write for your younger self.

‍

No one else.

‍

Is that person proud of you?

‍

Is that person interested?

‍

Did you teach that person something?

Good.

‍

Then you’ve done your job.

‍

That’s all this has been for me.

‍

Still remember hearing Nicolas Nassim Taleb say the same thing many years ago.

‍

‘I write for my younger self.

‍

If he is proud of the work I do and has learned something, then I did my job.

‍

Who cares what everyone else thinks?’

‍

It’s great advice.

‍

Listen to it.

‍

Write for you.

‍

Write for younger you.

‍

Write for the small kid inside who’s still trying to make sense of the world.

‍

That’s why I write.

‍