Dispatch from TEDWomen 2017

Why do I write?

I write to process the world around me, with all its glorious contradictions and dichotomies, and present my understanding of that messiness to readers.

The act of writing is internal and lonely; a daily round of questions posed and answered by one’s self, limited only by the breadth of one’s imagination. It’s living in the world though, that feeds that imagination. And in attending TEDWomen 2017: Bridges conference in New Orleans earlier this month, my imagination was able to feast!

Women and men (but mostly women) from around the world, representing a vast array of ethnicities, races, religions, perspectives and occupations, presented a series of talks that have left my brain fizzing!

Some of my favorite takeaways (paraphrased):

Ask yourself: Did I mean it? Can I defend it? Did I say it with love? — Luvvie Ajayi (author of New York Times best-seller I’m Judging You: The Do Better Manual, blogger, speaker and digital activist).

I realized I excel at the first two, but could probably work on the third.

We are a culture trapped by the tyranny of relentless positivity. Joy is the benefit of love, grief is the price of love, and anger is how we shield ourselves from grief. All of our emotions should be accepted as they are —Susan David (psychologist, author of Emotional Agility).

I don’t know about you, but I’m delighted to be released from the burden of relentless positivity! Of course I write thrillers, so some may say I am already wallowing in negative emotions.

I disagree.

I turn my lens on what makes us tick and what makes us connect, exploring our darkest impulses in the hopes of confirming my belief that we are more alike than we are different and my commitment to living with an open heart and an open mind.

Why do you write? What experiences get your imagination revving? What's your favorite all-time TED Talk? Please share your thoughts in the comments!