When I asked my now partner to be my girlfriend, I stumbled over my words in a way that was sure to guarantee I would stay single for the rest of college. A friend told me to write my feelings down first, so I knew what I wanted to say. Of course I skipped that part.
Later that night, I couldn't stop smiling as I tried to act nonchalant, which only made me look goofier. This person was sitting by my side, displaying the confidence that escaped me. Perfect ways to ask my question came to me, and I chose none of them.
Words came out jumbled and half spoken, but she said yes, which showed she truly liked me, because they shouldn't have worked.
I often think back to that experience and what would have happened had I wrote my thoughts down first. Maybe I would have written her a note or simply stated my feelings clearly. I certainly know that I wouldn't have been as nervous though, because writing helps me understand myself, which is why I write now.
Writing is one of the most important things that I do. I don't just gain an understanding of myself, but of the world and how I move through it. While putting words on a page is also the first step of my creative process, I mainly write to better understand who I am and why other people do what they do.