A month ago, I reopened a door I had closed years back.
Medium. Writing.
The world of words I once adored.
Five years ago, I used to write on my blog, pouring my thoughts into the void of the internet.
Then, life happened – I quit, convincing myself that writing didn’t fit into my busy world.
But something stirred in me recently.
A small voice nudged me to try again. So here I am, a month into this journey, stumbling and learning, pen in hand.
This article isn’t just for you – it’s for me. It’s a reminder that habits are fragile but worth building, and every word I write is a step closer to becoming the writer I hope to be.
I won’t pretend it’s been easy.
Some days I stare at a blank page for hours, other days, the words come effortlessly.
I’m sharing my journey here not as someone who has figured it all out, but as someone walking the same path
reminding myself – and you – that
writing is both the struggle and the reward.
Writing Begins Before Writing.
When I restarted this habit,
I thought writing began when I sat at my desk. But I’ve realized that it starts much earlier.
It starts in the observations I make throughout the day
in the way my two-year-old daughter Hareem laughs, in the conversations I overhear at a café, or in the quiet of the night when the world finally pauses.
I’ve started keeping a small notebook nearby, not because I’m overflowing with ideas, but because I want to teach myself to notice again.
Writing, I’ve learned, isn’t just about the words we put down
it’s about the life we live and the stories we pay attention to.
Showing Up Matters More Than Results.
If there’s one thing I’ve struggled with, it’s showing up.
For years I told myself I’d write when inspiration struck.
But if I waited for it I’d still be staring at blank pages.
Inspiration doesn’t arrive on its own; those who wait are left staring at emptiness.
So now, I treat writing like brushing my teeth – something I do regardless of how I feel.
Some days, I only manage a few clunky sentences.
Other days, I find a rhythm and lose track of time.
But even on the worst days, showing up matters. Because those moments, however imperfect, remind me that I’m still moving forward.
I’ve realized
Discipline doesn’t chain you to your work it frees you from the fear of not being good enough.
It gives you permission to write badly,
It gives you permission to experiment
It gives you permission to learn.
Small Wins Are Still Wins.
For me success would mean – growing followers, readers, claps, glowing comments.
I thought that’s where the meaning was.
This time, though I’m learning to find joy in the small wins.
Writing five days straight.
Finishing a tricky paragraph.
Hitting “publish” on an article that might not go viral
That might not even get a single clap.
These quiet victories are what keep me moving forward.
They remind me that progress doesn’t have to be loud or flashy.
Sometimes
it’s just showing up.
One word,
one line,
one day at a time.
Stephen King’s first novel, Carrie, almost didn’t happen. He wrote it while working multiple jobs to support his family and threw the first draft in the trash, thinking it wasn’t good enough. His wife retrieved it and encouraged him to finish. Selling his first short story for $35 was one of his early small wins, which gave him the belief to keep writing. Later, when Carrie was published, it became a massive success, but it was built on years of small victories and persistence.
Writing as a Lifeline.
A few weeks ago
after publishing an article, I felt something I hadn’t in years:
a spark of joy.
It wasn’t because the piece did particularly well
it was because I had written it.
Writing has become more than a habit for me – it’s a lifeline.
Each article I write feels like a conversation with myself.
It’s a way to untangle the mess of thoughts in my head, to reflect, to grow.
I’m still figuring this out.
There are days when I doubt myself, days when I wonder if I’m good enough to keep going.
But then I remind myself:
I’m not writing to be perfect. I’m writing to be present.
If you’re reading this and trying to build your own habit, know that you’re not alone.
We’re all struggling, all learning.
Let’s remind each other that every word we write, no matter how small, is a victory.
And with time, those small victories add up to something bigger than we ever imagined.
So here’s to showing up.
Here’s to the messy drafts and quiet mornings and late-night scribbles.
Here’s to building something, one word at a time.
Let your words fly.
If you are struggling with publishing your first draft
Read my article: