Especially for young people: A case for writing.

Things have been hard lately.

We might feel good one day and down the next. Happy in the morning, despairing in the afternoon. Or the middle of the night.

Writing can help get what’s inside of you outside. And that can make you feel better. Even if it’s just a little bit. It can help you get to tomorrow. And the day after.

You can write about anything. It doesn’t have to be a novel. Or a bestseller.

You can write to help you make decisions, plan your life—or decide what you’re going to do tomorrow.

It doesn’t have to be good, great, or even ok.

You might think it’s terrible and others might think it’s outstanding. Or you might think it’s fantastic and it doesn’t matter what others think.

It can be one sentence, one phrase, or pages and pages. Or even one word. Or a list, a chart, or random words inside or outside of boxes or circles. It can have pictures, or doodles.

It can be typed on your phone, or handwritten in pen, pencil, or pink magic marker. In a notebook or on post-its. Lined paper or unlined. Every day or every now and then.

Whatever works for you.

Whatever it is, it’s yours.

What you write is private, unless you decide to show it to someone else. You can say anything you want. Nobody will care because nobody needs to know. Unless you show it to them, which could be helpful. If you want to.