Writing Can Be a Grrl's Best Friend

by Jennifer Matthewson

I was taught early in life the importance of words in action. My mother, proud of my elementary graduation, presented me with a beautiful book of blank pages. On the inside cover she wrote, "Write all of your thoughts and wishes here. Love, Mom." I began with diary entries, detailing every minute of my daily life. In those younger years, the events were less important than the feeling that arose as I was writing. It seemed to be a feeling of euphoric release - in essence, a book of personal short stories. Each volume of my diary detailed my friendships with my peers, my relationship (or lack thereof) with my parents, family trips we took, crushes I had in school, and the struggles I dealt with throughout the growing period. The pages became a documentary of my world. The words became a way for me to look back at the mistakes I'd made and the achievements I had accomplished.

In the eleven diaries that followed that first gift I honed my writing skills, focusing more on telling a story, rather than just an account of my daily activities. It gave me a chance to look back at my world and understand what it was I was trying to fulfill, what I needed to achieve my goals and what I perceived to be standing in my way. Writing down all of the thoughts floating through my head allowed me to sort them out. The pages let me voice all of those things I wanted to say, or wish I had said, to others. I began writing during class, after tests, as the teacher talked, during lunch, any chance I got. Not only was it a chance to sort out my thoughts, it gave me the ability to escape the mundane.

As I grew up, I was offered the chance to visit other countries via choir trips, study abroad, and family vacations. Through my dedicated journaling, I have pages of each experience documented in my own words, rather than just a pile of postcards or souvenirs. At times when I experienced truly great moments, I had my trusty pen and paper nearby, able to describe the details of the water tugging on the passenger ship as we floated through the Great Barrier Reef or watching the children run in circles around the gardens at Tivoli or the green grasses of Kuala Lumpur. I am able to relive each and every journey through my words.

When I moved to Seattle, writing became the closest friend I had. Straight out of college I was offered a job with a now somewhat-defunct dot-bomb. I jumped at the opportunity. Great benefits, new city, good salary: the only problem was that it meant moving 3200 miles from everyone I had ever known to a city I had never visited. For the first year I lived south of the city and took the bus into work every day. There, on my daily commute, I was fascinated by my new surroundings. Interesting people, beautiful new buildings, a huge city I had to learn my way around - I was mystified. It was also the place where my writing really took off.

I would describe in great detail every moment I experienced, from waking to sleeping. The woman sitting next to me on the bus, mumbling to herself. Getting lost during my first driving trip downtown. Attempting to utilize the public transportation system (something I was not familiar with, being raised in a small city in the Midwest) to make it to and from appointments. I focused on writing every aspect of a situation, both to build on my composition skills and to remember my journeys. At night, when I returned to my apartment, alone with only Mt. Rainier to keep me company, I would write pages upon pages in my journal. To me, it was a whole new world, and I didn't want to forget even the smallest detail. Not only were my words a close friend to me during those first few years, they also gave me a chance to reflect on how far I'd come since then - my first great adventure into the adult world.

In the coming weeks, I'll be moving into the next stage of my life as I take up residence with my partner, Jeff, and leave Seattle, the home I have become accustomed to in the last few years. As I venture into this personal uncharted territory, I will keep my journal near me, as I have during the first months of this relationship. Years from now, I want to remember how I felt the night we met, the first time he told me he loved me, and the nervous butterflies in my stomach as I packed up my apartment and my things and took a chance on love. As the relationship grows and moves onto the next level, I want to remember those moments as well, so I can share them with my children, as my parents have shared with me. These written details will protect the incredible moments in my life as my memory fades. It is imperative for us, as women who know of the importance of words in action, to utilize our skills and teach others to use their words as well. After all, there is a story in every moment.

Jennifer Matthewson is a sassy young writer from Seattle, busy in her pursuit of happiness. She enjoys writing for fun and hopes to make a career out of it someday.