Why I Write – Because I Can Finally Do What I Love

With the youngest of his four children grown and gone, Richard Greenberg is finally free to remember why he loves to write, and what he wants to say. 

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People say to “do what you love,” but sometimes you don’t know what that is because you’re busy doing what you have to do.

Such was the case with me.  Keeping myself and my marriage alive, while raising four kids is fun – but for many years it involved working for others and ignoring that opinionated voice in my head.  With our last child out of the house, I published a book about raising children and began my new career as an author, blogger and teacher.

I love raising my children and, by writing about it, I’ve discovered the threads that go back through the process for decades.  It turns out that this is what I love (and have loved all along).

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I write because I have a message– I believe that being a parent is easy if you use common sense.

I write because I want others to benefit from what I have learned – I have broken that common sense down into “bite sized chunks” to make my message easy to swallow.

I write because it allows me to share a single philosophy with a lot of people – I believe in a positive, loving , but disciplined approach to parenting and ultimately, everyone (including the world) can benefit from those ideas and observations.

I write because writing reminds me of what I was thinking (at the time) – I will not be the same person tomorrow as I am today.  This is very exciting, but I’d like to have some breadcrumbs to follow if I ever need to find my way back.

I write because writing helps me organize my thoughts – I have learned to write my feelings down and to prepare speeches before I deliver them; the organization gives me confidence.

I write because writing helps me listen to my self – I ask myself a lot of questions when I’m writing – and I really consider my answers.  Somehow, putting them down on paper makes them seem more realistic than just having another brainstorm in the shower.

Photo: Flickr/sethdickens