If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

If a writer does not write and no one notices, does it make a difference?

This is a question I’ve been asking myself over the last many weeks. I haven’t published a post here since mid-May. At first, I just needed a short break. I wanted to consider a fresh approach to meaningful content; writing that makes a difference to the reader. A noble aspiration, right?

The longer that time went on, I  also noticed that no one else seemed to notice I wasn’t posting. Not even those closest to me. No one asked why I stopped writing. They didn’t miss it. This realization pushed my reflection to another place. If no one cares, why write at all?

What did I learn? I don’t write for the reader. I write for me. And, that’s the best writing I do.

I noticed that missed writing. I noticed that I didn’t have a another satisfying way to deconstruct and reconstruct the world around me. I noticed that my best writing wasn’t about what I felt obligated to write about but what I needed to write about, what I cared about.

I also noticed that by putting pressure on myself to write on certain topics I was actually overlooking the best content of all: my unique view of seemingly ordinary situations. That is what the blog started with nearly ten years ago, living in a fully present world. Interestingly enough, when I have written in my authentic voice framed by my personal view, those have also been the most read posts.

So, I’m back. I don’t know how often I’ll post. I don’t know exactly what I’ll write about. But, when inspiration strikes, I do know that I will enjoy the writing and, therefore, I think you will enjoy the reading.

And, yes, if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, I believe it does still make a sound.

Photo credit: Fallen Tree by robfry2000, used in its original form with Creative Commons license.