Sometimes I wish I had something noble to say when someone asks why I write—the lofty answers that sound good on paper. But the truest driving force has always been pain. When the weight of the world grows too heavy, writing becomes my way of stepping aside, of catching my breath. It’s the simplest and most honest way I know to process life.

At heart, I’m a philosopher. Writing helps me untangle complex ideas and bring order to the chaos within and around me. It’s how I think, how I see. Lately, I’ve also begun to notice just how much beauty there is in the world. When we slow down and pay attention, we discover countless stories waiting to be told.

I want to steward as many of those stories as I can—faithfully, intentionally, and with care.

Pain also drives my creativity, I don't think it's a motivator that should be dismissed. Most times I can't deal with my pain in a more healthy way than through my art.