Writing = Therapy

I know, it's cliche, but it's true.  Writing can be the best, and cheapest form of therapy around.  I grew up writing in a journal (never a diary... I've never started an entry with "Dear Diary..."), and overall I've continued writing over the years.  There have been large gaps of hiatuses, but in general, writing has always been there for me.  In college I started a blog, and that put a dent in my journal writing, but at some point I realized that I had to sensor myself somewhat when writing things that would be posted on the Internet.  I mean,who really wants to air all their dirty laundry for everyone to read?

Overall, I have noticed, on the rare occasion that I go back and read some of the things I've written over the years (which is a lot and quite embarrassing), that I tend to write the  most often and the most content when I'm unhappy or stressed out in life.  I write almost everyday for the first semester of my freshman year of college.  I had a terrible room mate situation, a terrible time with sorority rush (totally different story), and it took me a while to figure out the whole frisbee thing on a social level- I was 18, didn't start drinking until probably October, and was super socially awkward (and less successful at hiding it than I am now).  I started to write frequently again last year when I moved to Wyoming and hadn't visited, didn't know anyone, and school hadn't started yet.  That fell to the wayside very quickly once I got busy with school, frisbee, assistantship, tutoring, and working out.

Now, I'm back in Atlanta, and I find that I'm writing more often again.  I've had a few people ask me about it, and my response is: "It helps keep the crazies at bay".  I realize that sounds ridiculous, but ask anyone who writes on a semi-regular basis, it's cathartic.  I'm am trying my hardest to keep my crazies to myself this summer, and thankfully, writing has helped.  So, writing = therapy.