why I write

“When you’re writing, you’re trying to find out something which you don’t know. The whole language of writing for me is finding out what you don’t want to know, what you don’t want to find out. But something forces you to anyway.” - James Baldwin⁣
⁣
Thank you, James Baldwin for these powerful words. And happy birthday, darling. Your words have been a gift to this world. ⁣
⁣
This quote cuts straight to the heart of why I write. I write to find out what I don’t know, about myself, the world, and the people I love. I write to find truth. I write to gain understanding. I write to feel. I write to be free. ⁣
⁣
Through writing my memoir I learned so much about not only myself but also about my mom. I learned about who she is at her core. I learned about our relationship and the ways she’s loved me. I learned to accept her love in the forms that it was given. I learned to accept her as someone who struggles with addiction. I learned empathy and hope. I learned to stop grasping. I learned to love fully. I learned to be free.