Writing is Therapeutic but Writing is not a Person

I love writing not just because it is writing but also because it is therapeutic. It's basically like saying, "I love my best friend not just because he/she is fun to be with, but also because he/she understands me."

So whenever my mood goes down (which happens often; I'm a 20-something aspiring writer, of course I'm a nervous wreck), and it can't be relieved by proper, deep breathing, I turn to writing. It helps me thinking more clearly by articulating my emotions, thus helping me identifying the core problem and connecting the dots to find the solution.

But as relieving as writing to me, it doesn't talk back. I mean, the reason why everyone, IMHO, should have a hobby, is so they have at least one thing they can hold on to that will never disappoint them. Hobbies do not disappoint you, you take full control of them. People disappoint you. But a hobby doesn't talk to you like a person talks to you (okay, this is getting quite confusing).

For example, last night I talked to my best friend, asking for career advices. Unlike writing, my best friend doesn't stay silent and accept everything I told her. She pointed out some of my points that contradict my past remarks. She comforted me, convinced me that all hardships will eventually come to an ease. She reminded me of my bigger purpose.

Writing doesn't do that. It accepts me for who I am. It doesn't argue. It even goes far by validating everything I think is true ("Yes, Caca, you're right. You're the smartest person on Earth. Uh-huh, I totally understand that. Yeah, she's the bitch. Sure, it's okay to change your decision too fast," said writing).

It is therapeutic because it is too accepting. Writing is like a boring guy, wishing he can earn your attention by nodding to everything you say (girls actually like being argued, but of course, not too much xD).

Wow, sorry writing, I didn't mean to go that far. It's just that trusting you means trusting myself too much--trusting that everything I write down is the truth. Well the fact is, I can manipulate my own mind to believe what I want to believe. And that's why you're only a hobby/passion, writing, not my best friend. Because a best friend tells you if you're wrong, not blindly accepting your flawed decision-making process.

So that's the conclusion. Writing is therapeutic, but writing is not a person. Writing is still one of the first things I go to to relieve my mind. But writing shouldn't be the only one. We have to talk to people, who listen to us, who remember what we used to say about our dreams, who argue us, who point out our flaws. And after we're done talking to people, then we can start talking to ourselves through writing to find clarity.