About Me: Why am I on Medium

As I write this, I’m consumed with a sense of elation that tingles down to my fingertips and a feeling of vulnerability that houses fluttering butterflies around my chest.

Why?

I have recently started a new chapter in my writing journey by joining Medium. Although my stories will not outstretch the far corners of the web, the overwhelming thrill of this opportunity is palpable.

I am Sirhc Lopez, an enthusiastic reader who enjoys discussing books. I recently moved to the USA, leaving the Oriental Pearl for greener pastures. I work in healthcare, but my true passions lie in literature, word arrangements, and sensory immersions. Starting a new life far from home and assimilation with a new culture, values, and personalities is hard. Books have been my constant comfort, which deepens my relationship with literature. I’m usually lost within the conjured worlds of my favorite author, fully immersed in the sensory garden it’s plotted.

This is why I want to meet more friends and collaborate with aspiring writers and like-minded individuals to engage in diverse perspectives and contribute to meaningful discussions. Also, I’m fascinated with nature, how it echoes our mundane world, the various textures it offers, and the deeper understanding it presents in the warm air we inhale imbued with wisdom. I love writing about it. I love to spend countless hours trying to encapsulate that moment and the feeling it made me feel.

I love reading and writing fictional literature and poetry. The artistic power of interpolating words allows the creation of vibrant worlds and connects diverse communities. My favorite authors include Mary Oliver, Richard Powers, Mitch Albom, Toni Morrison, Haruki Murakami, Claire Kegan, and Richard Powers, among others. That said, I’m willing to read anything. But I’ll always have a soft spot for Edgar Allan Poe, the first author who entrapped me in the catacombs of literature.

As a non-native English speaker, I often find myself discouraged from putting myself out there, and the constant looming fear of being misunderstood or unable to accurately convey my true essence has stopped me from sharing my thoughts.

After reading various books, I have encountered materials that do not fully resonate with me. But some books make my heart tremble enthusiastically, filling it with a sense of purpose. These are the books that I tuck in with the finest silks and plumpest pillows and kiss goodnight, only for them to appear in my dreams again.

Then, it dawned on me that art is personal. It is not about striving for perfection or murmurs of validation from other people. Instead, it’s about bravely sharing art out into the world and trusting it will find its rightful audience- those who transcend the same feeling I have when I find a book I’m willing to tuck into bed at night.

This newfound courage and liberation inspired me to write on Medium and share my imperfect stories and thoughts, like messages in the bottle cast out to sea. While I may never know the full extent of its impact, I rest easy in believing that beauty is in the eye of the beholder- and that somewhere in the vast ocean, someone will see the beauty in what I’ve created.

Feel free to follow me here on Medium: https://medium.com/@sirhclopez88

Here’s to embracing a new horizon, seizing every moment, and embarking on this exciting journey! Hope to talk to you soon!

-SirhC