Start a blog. Nothing like shaking off the anxiety of putting yourself out there by putting yourself out there! Hi, my name is Arlene! First of all, thank you for visiting me here on my website. The fact that you've even read this far is incredible! It's so hard to get anyone's attention out here in the world wide web, but somehow you found my digital space. I hope you enjoy your time here!
I used to love writing as a child. My wild imagination naturally embraced the potential of words, falling for the beauty of its nuances and the deceptiveness of its simplicity. The way you can craft a world, articulate theories, evoke emotions--I was mystified by its magic, and have been storytelling for as long as I can remember. Poetry was my childhood favorite, but fiction was a close second!
I was praised by adults for my enthusiasm and clear narrative voice, until one day it became a weakness rather than a strength. Scholarly writing is just so different, sterile and impersonal and structured by nature, but I didn't quite grasp that until my academics took a turn for the worse. Writing became anxiety-inducing, and I stopped believing that anyone would care about the things I had to say.
Fast forward to today, August 31st, 2024. I am writing a blog post for my website and you are still here, thankfully! I remain unsure if anyone will hear me, but the difference now is that it doesn't bother me anymore. I have a lot to say and I'm going to put it out here for the world to see (or not see!) Maybe I will share some poetry from time to time, or recipes that I've developed, or informal essays on contemporary issues--whatever strikes my fancy, or whenever I'm feeling inspired. Hey, this is me trusting my voice!
Keep it up!
♡av
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