Thank You For Believing In Me When No One Else Did

I’ve always wanted to write ever since i knew how to. I’ve always kept a journal way back when I was a kid. It was fun documenting the little things you experience when you’re young — those summer vacations with your family, your first doll house, that time you had a fish pet which always dies too soon because you didn’t know how to take good care of it. But that’s fine because you’re just a kid, don’t be too hard on yourself.

And so I kept on writing, documenting… and as life happens and birthdays move forward, I realized I wasn’t a kid anymore, sappy and emo entries spill through my diaries;  all the letters I wanted to send the guy I used to like, those endless hang outs with your best friend you thought you’ll be with ‘til you grow old, that time you lied to your parents and sneaked out on parties and got drunk. All the first times that happen when you’re a teen are all worth writing and remembering for.

You see I’ve been writing pretty much my whole life but it wasn’t until I finished college and turned twenty that I’ve accepted that this is what I’ve always wanted to do. Not only to write, but to be able to share what I actually write about, what I truly care about.

I don’t know why it took me this long to pursue what I’ve always been passionate to. I just never felt like I could pass as a writer, a good writer. I was the problem. I thought to myself, no one would read this, and that there are far more other writers who have interesting things to say rather than mine. I didn’t have enough courage to put out my words. But then I ask myself, until when will you be just aspiring, writing, and reading from afar?

And that’s when it hits me, that my words can only help me if I write, speak, and share them. All it took was a giant leap of courage and I was fortunate enough to have known people who believed in my craft the first time they’ve encountered what I have to offer.

So here’s to you who spent late night chats helping me figure out what to do with life when it’s messed up. Here’s to you who never get tired of reading all my pieces, mostly unfinished, and still never fail to say good things even when I feel like it’s the worst I’ve written about.

Here’s to you who had the patience to listen to my endless and most random thoughts and I know I’m hard to put up with but you didn’t leave.

Here’s to everyone who brought joy to my life, everyone who broke my heart, everyone who caused me pain for I have rendered poems over poems over poems.

And here’s to you who helped me step out of my comfort zone. To you who helped me start my longtime dream. To you who have inspired me to just keep on writing. I can only offer these words as my endless form of gratitude.

To you, who believed in me when no one else did, thank you. This is all for you.