Why do I write? Or, more honestly, why do I attempt to write? And why do I then choose to publish this writing, to submit it to the scrutinizing eye of the public?
The answer is genuinely quite simple: I write as an outlet and to put my ideas into words. But more than anything, I write to get better at writing.
Language is the premiere interface between a human brain and the outside world. True, there are many nonverbal ways to communicate. A hug or a hand gesture can send a very clear signal. Music or visual art can transmit feelings without any words. But still, language is the strongest and most used way to transmit ideas and concepts.
The simple fact that a human can produce some sound waves in the air or squiggles on paper, and these create pictures and concepts in the brains of other humans, is in itself truly incredible.
Language was one of the evolutionary developments that allowed our species to cooperate, build on each other and ultimately become the dominant species on our planet.
You can have the most brilliant, world-changing ideas, but without sharing them with the outside world their lifespan is limited to your lifespan.
So is it really surprising that I believe the use of language is something worth practicing?
Language is in its most basic form segmented into two areas: written and spoken. I believe both are worth their own attention, and both are absolutely worthy of practice, but for now I will focus on writing.
Writing is a door to immortality. While almost all writing is eventually lost, you still create a part of yourself that is independent of your physical body every time you write. You preserve a tiny part of your brain. Is that not amazing?
So yes, I write for a multitude of reasons. I write as an outlet, I write to motivate myself to learn more, but most importantly, I write so that when the time comes that I want to put my most important thoughts to paper or immortalize my ideas, I will be able to do so properly.