I’ve been talking about starting a blog for years, but some doubt has always stopped me from doing it: What will I even write? Who will even read? How will I find the time? Will I even stick with it? Ultimately, it seems to me that all the doubts come down to fear. And you know what’s stronger than that? My love for writing.

I am happier when I am writing, and I always have been. I feel more fulfilled, more creative, more in touch with the world around me. When I write, I feel like I am actually doing what I am here in this world to do. When I try and take stock of my passions, of what really moves me, what drives me, it always comes back to writing. Uncovering stories, using my voice to tell them, sharing them with the world–that is what I have done since I was a kid. Being able to put pen to paper (/fingers to keys) and bring something into the world that wasn’t there before, it’s like magic. It is magic. Being “a writer”–whatever that means–is the dream inside me that won’t shut up. And I’ve finally decided that it’s time to listen.

Some big life changes have shaken things up enough for me to finally do this. My boyfriend of 2.5 years left me suddenly and completely, vanishing without even a chance to say goodbye. I’m staring down graduation from law school, a move back to California, and the start of my first real career job. These changes have encouraged me to actually think of myself, of my dreams and hopes and wishes for my life. What kind of person do I have to be in order to feel truly comfortable and happy with my own company? One piece of that is being a person who makes time for their passions, who prioritizes the things that he says he values. And I value creativity, storytelling, and speaking out. I value writing.

So, here we are. I’m finally doing this.

What will I even write? We’ll see. I want to write about the issues about which I care most deeply; namely LGBTQ equality, criminal justice reform, addressing homelessness, supporting survivors of sexual violence, and politics. I also want to restart writing creatively, so I think I will share some of that here on the blog. I may write about books I’m reading, shows I’m watching. I may just muse about life. I’m sure it will evolve, but that’s what I’m thinking right now.

Who will even read? We’ll see. I think I can count on at least my parents! 🙂 I guess it doesn’t really matter who reads; it doesn’t really matter whether anyone reads. I hope that people do, and thank YOU for reading this! I hope that people read because I always hope that some of what I write moves folks. Whether it moves you into taking action on an important social justice issue, or inspires you to do something creative yourself, or makes you laugh, or cry, or feel some other emotion that simply in and of itself reminds you that you’re human, that you’re here, that you FEEL, just as you blink and breathe. That’s the magic I hope for when I write, so with some luck we’ll get a bit of that going here.

How will I find the time, and will I even stick with it? I suppose that’s yet to be seen, but I know that if writing continues to make me happy and bring me fulfillment–which I expect it will, as it always has–then I will find the time, and I will stick with it. If it no longer does that for me, well, then good riddance! Onto other things.

Here’s to new beginnings. I am so excited to get started, and I am thrilled to have you along for the ride. Hopefully seeing me get this going after all this time of just talking about it will inspire you to go ahead and do something you’ve long talked of, but never done. If it does, I’d love to hear about it in the comments! (Do I even have a comment box? And so it begins…)

Ryan