Write!

 

I went to the State Young Authors Celebration on Saturday afternoon. 

Students, teachers, and families from all across NC 

Gathered together

To celebrate the importance of writing.

 

On Saturday night, 

I went to see a friend in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

Students, teachers, and families 

Gathered together 

To celebrate the importance of…

Chocolate, yes. 

But also of 

Imagination and 

Writing! 

 

Needless to say,

I was quite surprised when I realized the connection 

Between two seemingly opposite events. 

 

Allan Wolf, the keynote speaker at the Young Authors Event, said that 

When you have an idea, 

Write it down. 

When you have a thought,

Write it down. 

When you are anxious, 

Write it down. 

When you are joyful, 

Write it down! 

He even went so far as to write things on his walls! 

 

Charlie Bucket, the main character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, demonstrated that

When you have an idea, write it down.

His mother gave him a new notebook,

And he immediately started filling it with his ideas for chocolates and confectionaries.

Willy Wonka also had a notebook in which he wrote down his ideas for chocolates and confectionaries

And made his strange imagination tangible.

 

In between events, 

I was talking to a friend. 

She had a lot on her mind,

Including a lot of medical questions,

And so I said,

“Why don’t you do this?

Write down every single one of your questions and then the next time you’re talking to the doctor,

You can read the list instead of relying on your stressed brain to remember them.

Use the notes feature on your phone or

Bust out the sticky notes or index cards or legal pad or whatever you feel most comfortable with.”

 

Write it down.

Get it out. 

Whatever you’re thinking. 

Whatever you’re feeling. 

It doesn’t have to make sense.

It doesn’t have to rhyme.

You don’t have to share it with anyone

Or you can share it with as many people as you please.

 

The sheer act of writing is

creative

expressive

cathartic 

transformative. 

 

Take it from Allan Wolf,

Whose anxiety was grounded by writing. 

Take it from Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, 

Whose imaginations came to life through writing. 

Take it from me, 

Whose phone note feature has well over 1000 notes, from lists to quotes to musings like this. 

Take it from therapists, doctors, pastors, and life coaches 

Whose work encourages progress through writing. 

 

Writing is important. 

 

So write. 

 

Right now. 

 

Write. 

 

And if you need something to write, then consider these words from  Allan Wolf: 

 

I am here. 

I exist 

This is who I am. 

Watch me shine. 

 

Amen.