Member-only story
shared how writing isn’t part of how he identifies himself.
Now that I’m retired, none of my activities form my identity. This is probably because none of them takes over my life and attention. I cycle through a wide variety of interests and hobbies. Writing and chess are well-combined since about 20 of my 245 articles are about chess. I’ve written a few articles about my other interests. I don’t write to earn money, but to express myself and experience the joy of being “heard”.
I only publish once a week now. I tried publishing two days a week, but I felt pressured. There were other things I wanted to do, not to mention the obligations I have in my life. To write, I need to read or consume material in some other way. I’ve no desire to write long pieces or anything requiring much research. Most of my Medium writing in 2025 consists of pieces like this one. They’re more like long social media posts than articles.
I never felt embarrassed about my writing, but I ensured that none of my family or friends would find it. Occasionally, I’d send a link to one of my articles to a friend. I’ve been scheduling my Catholic articles to post on BlueSky. If anyone else finds my writing and either claps or comments, that’s an honour for which I’m grateful. After nearly five years, I’ve reached 900 followers.
