On a surprisingly warm December afternoon in 2015, I unwrapped my thoughts about a trip I had taken earlier in the year to visit my family in India and put them into words.That piece of writing found its way as the very first post on a blog I had just created. This year marks ten years since that beginning, and it feels rather surreal how time has flown by in the blink of an eye.
How It All Happened
There was a reason I decided to start a blog. I have always had a passion for writing although I cannot recall the exact moment when I first wrote a poem or a story. Naturally, it began with pen and paper, for I do not belong to a generation that has known computers since birth.
Whatever I wrote in my childhood were essentially micro stories of five to ten sentences along with tiny poems that rhymed but made little sense. As reason took hold, most of what I wrote in my early years evolved into humorous pieces. This is ironic, however, because I was never blessed with a good sense of humor. I would instantly have big, fat tears rolling down my cheeks when someone pulled my leg, failing to realize that it was merely a light-hearted comment and not an attempt to put me down.
Occasionally, I sent some of my pieces to be published in a local newspaper in my city called The Sentinel. One article I particularly remember writing as an eleventh grader was titled Goodbye to March.
I had weaved the tale of a fictional family in which everything would go haywire during the month of March. That piece was actually inspired by my father, who was in the finance service. He was neck-deep in work that month, and it was definitely not a fun scenario in our house.
I had sent out that piece to be published, and those who knew our family well figured out at once who the characters were. My father was highly amused when he read it.
I regret not having any of those early writings with me: neither the handwritten sheets nor the newspaper clippings. I had not filed them carefully, and eventually, they were misplaced and lost.
It was a massive improvement when I graduated to writing on the computer in the early nineties. My stories and poems were finally in one place, but they stayed in the hard drive. Some were sent out to be published; others remained just by themselves unseen and unread.
Although blogging gained popularity in the mid-2000’s, I never thought of creating one. Better late than never as they say! Finally, thanks to my better half, I decided to have a website where my writings could be kept in an organized way and shared with anyone who wanted to read them. Today I feel very content for having made the move.
Anything under the sun
I do not believe in confining myself to any particular genre and prefer to let my thoughts flow organically. Hence, I choose to write about anything that interests me in a given moment or captures my attention. This could include family, festivals, films, people, or any incident happening somewhere in the world that has resonated with me.
Reality is stranger than fiction. I love to look at life and its various hues and shades and then weave them into stories and poems. My keen observations of the quotidian dimensions of human existence led me to take a small step a few years ago: the publication of my first book. It was a short collection of anecdotes titled From Life’s Cove: Laughs, Musings, and More.
A Heartfelt Thank you!
Looking back at the first post on my site, rashmiwrites.com, I feel both grateful and humbled by how this blog has unfolded over the years. This platform has given me the opportunity to keep learning, and I strongly believe that there is always something new to learn in life and that we cannot do it alone.
Writing is therapy for me, and it brings me pure joy. I write because it makes me immensely happy, and that joy is multiplied when I feel I have been able to strike a chord with a reader.
I am forever thankful to those who have read my articles and shared their perspectives. Many have followed my blog regularly, and I cannot appreciate them enough. Some who were once strangers are now close friends, bonded through the support they have shown me and my writing.
I have also been fortunate to connect with some remarkable writers through sharing my articles. It touches me deeply that despite their own prolific work, they take the time to read my pieces and offer encouragement, inspiring me to keep moving forward. I consider them my mentors.
Today, December 27, marks ten years since I began this website. I am engulfed by a deep sense of gratitude for everyone who has read, encouraged, and supported me along this path, and I look forward to continuing to share stories, thoughts, and reflections that inspire and connect us.
As we step into the New Year, I wish each of you happiness, good health, and plenty of sunshine in the days ahead.
rashmi writes 