Make Space to Miss It

Two months ago, I was going through a tough breakup and I had an OTWC event that I was hosting on the upcoming Sunday. Despite my personal struggles, I wanted to put on a good show for the community members who had already signed up to attend.

And I’m glad I did, that event was a reminder of why I host the OTWC. During this session, I wrote one of my favorite pieces of the year - a short personal piece describing the emotions I was feeling at the time. I was also surrounded by the love and empathy of the community, something I was grateful for at the time.

Organizing the OTWC isn’t easy. I often doubt if I’m “built” for this. Yes, it’s stressful, it’s time-consuming, and I’m often anxious about our next event. Yet, I find so much joy in organizing the events, serving the community, and meeting other writers. The joy far outweighs the pain.

We’ve been on pause for the past few weeks and it’s during our breaks that I’m reminded how much this community means to me. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.