Why I gave up writing

Simply put, I got busy! And I suddenly stopped to ask myself, "Have you given up writing?" I asked myself this question when a good number of friends who had read my weekly newsletter "Patti's Diary" began to ask why I stopped writing. They want to read more from my experiences, particularly my travels within Ghana.

Then I saw another message from World Pulse and I read it. Three women who have contributed to World Pulse - Jampa, Olanike, and Ynanna - would be speaking in different places. How I wish I could hear one of them speak. I realize that I have strayed from things I love doing and stuck with my job for far too long. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I also love writing. And the truth is that I had to give up writing because:

1) My job (at that time) was very demanding; I sometimes worked from 9am to 8pm, and continued till 3am at home.
2) I worked to an exclusivity of service clause which prevented me from doing anything else that looks like a job, even if I didn't get paid for it.
3) Personal views on any matter had to be sanctioned by someone higher than me, even if it was outside work.

You see me writing now, and you can tell that I am not sticking to any subject - just pouring out reasons why I gave up writing. And you probably can tell that I have gotten rusty. Well, not for very long. I am starting to write again; and soon, I will write about my experiences as a woman - an African woman, a career woman, a single woman, a woman of over 40, a Christian woman, a woman who loves cars, computers, electronic gadgets and food! Jampa, Olanike and Ynanna have inspired me, as have all World Pulse contributors. Thank you, Sisters-in-writing.

As the advertisers say, watch this space; I gave up writing, but I am starting again.