Five and a half reasons why you need to start a blog this morning

Here’s how I found myself starting a blog at 30,000 feet over Sydney this morning, instead of watching a movie.

I’m completely sick of watching TV every evening.

Dinner is finished. Run a bath. Bathe the toddler. Get him into his pajamas. Brush his teeth. Read him a bedtime story. Tuck the toddler in, pray with him, and kiss him goodnight. Bring the dog in and feed her. Clean up the kitchen. Plop down next to my beautiful wife. Watch TV until bedtime.

Repeat, every… single… evening.

Don’t get me wrong, I love this routine. Except for that very last part. I’m not sure when this became my default, but lately, the 50-inch habit just feels so unfulfilling and regrettable.

Is it just me, or do you get this feeling too?

That nagging sense that I’m idly flushing an hour or two of my precious time down the toilet each night, combined with the tide of drama and change unfolding across the globe, led me to this blog comparison post at 11:30PM last night.

I had to do something.

So, here I am at Medium, and here are five or so reasons why you should find your voice, too, before lunchtime.

1. You are important. You deserve to be heard. You are the community. You are the only one with your fingerprints, your face, and your words. You have the right to speak freely. If you don’t find your voice, the rest of us will miss out on what you have to say.

2. Ideas are important, whether embracing or dissenting. You can write about your latest mishap in the kitchen, teach us some clever new life hack, or spin an epic tale of survival. Remember that others have given their lives defending your right to speak what’s on your mind. Just don’t say nothing.

3 + 3b. Produce, don’t just consume. This is what bothers me about my TV habit. I’m letting a producer somewhere do all the creating, while I sit and consume all their stories and ideas, for better or worse. You were born to create. Also — it’s my opinion that most people are most productive in the morning. Harness the energy and hope of a new day; let your life produce something.

4. Critical thought makes you a better person. Whether you’re crafting an idea and refining it for others to enjoy, or challenging an existing idea, your mind is better off for it. You’ll have your own ideas, not just the ones someone else put there. You’ll be more interesting to talk to, and a better listener.

5. Finally, you paid (or are still paying) too much for that education not to use it. If you’re like me and rue the day you ever signed up for those student loans, we’d better make sure we wring every last ounce of creativity out of that expensive gray matter of ours.

I don’t know about you, but I’m rebooting my routine. It may or may not include Netflix, but I’ll be making a choice about it.

When you find your voice, too, drop me a comment — I’d love to hear what you have to say.