If You Write, You’re a Writer. That’s It.
"If you write, you are a writer. That's it." Roxane Gay's two sentences echoed through my ears as I mindlessly scrolled through Instagram while enjoying my morning pur-eh tea and mushroom coffee mix. Indeed, this New York Times Best Selling author isn't wrong, I thought as a snicker slid out of me. I write in my journal and occasionally during an abnormally long Instagram caption to help my friends understand what I was experiencing in the photo above. Indeed, I could begin to write Love, Charlene, a blog that encapsulates my life experiences and the lessons I've learned. The thought of starting my blog created an engrossing anxiety and excitement. Love Charlene has had many iterations in the past 13 years. It began as "Life in Green Heels," a blog I started while pregnant with my son. It was supposed to detail the growth and changes from a single working woman to a married stay-at-home mom. Iteration 2 was "Single Parent in the City," a blog about my transition from stay-at-home to a single parent. I felt really good about that version of blog, but ultimately, I was too afraid to be seen and was in pursuit of a working woman life that I eventually realized I did not want. Now, to iteration 3, Love, Charlene.
I've learned a lot in these 13 years. The main thing I've learned is this idea will not go away. Instead, it chooses to grow with me. Calling me gently every month, quarter, and day. Reminding me of its existence every time I give someone marketing or social media advice. Using my friends to join in the constant reminder that, "Charlene, my good, sis. You are on this earth at this time to be a writer." Oddly enough, I ended the previous sentence with write instead of writer. Grammarly kindly fixed it for me. The Masterclass advertisement also featured Billy Collins, a poet, who talked about the world needing people to marvel at its beauty and write about it. Needless to say, the masterclass advertisement was precisely what I needed to hear. Kudos to the Masterclass marketing team who put that ad together. I'm sold!
You're probably wondering what Love, Charlene will be about. Love, Charlene will be about all of it. My life experiences, jotted down in 500 words or less. Or if I'm feeling froggy, maybe more. It will be about the beauty of life. There are plenty of places on the internet to get the blues. I want this blog to inspire you to live life to the fullest. To go for the gusto! Dance to the song in your head on the busy sidewalk while the traffic light is red. Yes, they are staring, but who cares??? You are living!!! One of my favorite Bible verses is, "So I commend the enjoyment of life because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun." Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV. See!!! Even God told the writers of The Bible to inspire man to live.
Screenshot via Instagram
We are too uptight! We are too busy running from the beauty of being in this body, experiencing the magnificence of day and night. I refuse to live my life like this. What if we slowed down enough to see the meteor pass through the night sky? Or sat still enough to see the hummingbird fly up to your fifth-floor balcony? And my favorite, what if you were so optimistic that you allowed yourself to talk to the gorgeous person you walk past in the hallway every morning? This, my friends, is what I want to write about. The joys of life. The love that I get to experience. My interactions. I am overjoyed just writing this final paragraph. So, that’s it. I am a writer. Let the journey begin.
If you've gotten this far, thank you for taking an interest in my writing! I'm excited to embark on this journey with you. I'd love to hear your thoughts, experiences, and even your own stories. Let's inspire each other. See you at the next blog.