It helps me climb

I discovered writing at the bottom of a pit.

Life consists of peaks and valleys. You'll experience your share of high points and low moments. The best metaphor to use depends on your life. Personally, I've been to the stars and I've been in a hole, so deep that there might as well not have been a way out.

I discovered writing in the deepest hole I've ever been in. I was at the worst point of an existential crisis. And I was at the crossroads of hugging the void and accepting my depression or figuring out how to climb. At that point, my thoughts were overwhelming. For a pretty laid-back guy, I could not turn my brain off and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet. The best way to describe it is life had no meaning and I wasn't suicidal, but I was waiting to die constantly. They say life is short, but not for everyone, sometimes this thing is LONG.

One day while I was online I came across some subjective advice that told me to write it all out. Don't scream into a pillow, don't punch a wall, or take it out on anybody. Grab a notebook and take it out on as many pieces of paper as you need.

Write when the thoughts are overwhelming.

Write so that you can see the entire problem.

Write to organize your thoughts.

But most importantly, write to get it all out.

Writing allowed me to begin to understand what I was going through. And figure out what the big questions I needed to answer were. Eventually, I was able to fill up the hole I was in and climb out. Rather than hug the void I was able to close it up for good.

Now, no matter how far life throws me, I can never fall that far again.