I rarely say this out loud, but I want to tell you something.
I almost gave up writing all together at one point in my life. I delete everything, packed it all up, and thought,
"Maybe this isn't for me."
It does sound dramatic, I know. But what if you keep writing stories, thoughts, lessons, and little bits of truth into something and no one reads it? It makes you feel bad. It's like yelling into a tunnel and not hearing anything back.
I remember very well one night. Something I worked on for days was finally ready to be shared. It was real and honest, and I thought it might help someone. After a few hours, I looked at the stats. None of them. Not a single one. I looked at the screen and thought,
"Really? Not even by chance?"
I shut down my laptop, sat there in the dark, and asked myself,
"What's the point?"
I didn't write for a few days after that. Not a single word. Even though I told myself I was just taking a break, I knew I was leaving. Plus, I began to think of other things I could do. Something that didn't require me to show my heart.
But do you know what made me come back?
It wasn't a post with a motivational quote or a "never give up" message. Not even a friend was cheering me on.
It was a message. Just one message from someone I don't know. I had written something months ago and had forgotten about it until they found it. The message was easy to understand.
"I just read your piece about being stuck." I cried. Tonight, it was just what I needed. "Thanks."
That one line turned something inside me on its head. Like a gentle push that says,
"Hey, someone else felt this."
Someone heard you.
I thought, maybe the things we write don't always reach the right people right away. This could be because they need time to get to the right person at the right time. That person might be sitting somewhere and looking through their phone, trying to feel something real. What about our words? They show up like a friend who is quiet.
I no longer worry too much about views since then. For sure, I still check every once in a while. They don't tell me if I'm good enough, though. Writing helps me stay alive. I write so that someone else can know they're not alone if they're going through the same thing.
You should read this if you're a writer, artist, or just someone who wants to make the world a better place.
Do not stop. Even when it's not busy. Even if it doesn't seem important. Your words will help someone when they need them the most.
And maybe someone will remember your story one day and not give up. The same way that message was for me.
That's right, I almost gave up writing. I didn't, though. I'm glad I stayed.