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Before I started this journey, I was just another tired, overwhelmed parent trying to juggle childcare and binge-watching endless YouTube videos — mindless, one show after another. I wasn’t learning anything, just filling time.

Deep down, I felt uneasy, like I wasn’t making the most of myself or my time. But I let it slide until one day, I decided to start tracking our family dream.

That dream was simple yet ambitious: to build and/or buy our dream home. I wanted to start learning and gathering all the information we’d need so that when the time was right, we’d be fully prepared to take action.

Aimlessly Writing for Self-Collection

That’s where it all began. I made a small promise to myself:

“post everyday some aspects about building a house”

I started with a series on house building from scratch — choosing land, designs, and the steps involved.

At first, I thought, “This is fine; I’ll stick to posting about the house journey.” But then another idea crept in: “Why not post about programming too?” After all, I am a software engineer by day.

So, I wrote my very first programming article.

At that point, I thought I was just posting for myself — for the sake of collecting notes and documenting things I might need in the future. I wasn’t expecting anyone to read, let alone interact with my articles. My plan was simple: gather the info I needed and quietly fade away.

Initial Inspiration from Claps

Shortly after I published my first article, someone left a clap for me. In the days that followed, I started receiving at least one clap per article — especially for my programming posts.

It left me wondering: “Is my information actually useful to someone else?”

That small acknowledgment felt surprisingly good. It wasn’t about the numbers; it was about knowing that someone out there found value in what I collected.

It motivated me to keep going, to post more articles.

A week later, I found out that a lot of people claps for almost every article he reads. For them, clapping might be a routine thing, but for me, it was a turning point. It was one of the biggest motivations that pushed me to keep writing. Those early claps meant the world to me.

Seeking Publications

As I kept writing, I stumbled upon articles about how to improve as a writer and get better exposure. That’s when I learned about publications on Medium.

I started researching relevant publications, following their writers, and applying to submit my work to them. Then came my first breakthrough:

Dinah Davis from Code Like A Girl offered me the first entering ticket.

Submitting to Code Like A Girl is very much like submitting to a research journal. There were edits back and forth, but the process was smooth and incredibly rewarding. I received genuine feedback that helped me improve my writing.

Can you believe it? I was a writer with fewer than 100 followers, but my article was still selected and boosted! Here’s the article if you’re curious:

From that point on, I looked forward to writing good articles and submitting them to more publications. The process became an absolute joy.

Realizing That Anything Is Writable

With time, I began to expand my topics. Since I had gone through so many challenges — learning to interact with people, appreciating human connections, and finding meaning in relationships — I thought: “Why not write about human nature too?”

So, I explored some interpersonal lessons I’d learned:

“Why some women thrive in love while others struggle”

I found myself writing less about building a house and more about programming, relationships, and other interesting discoveries. Writing became a way to share everything I’d learned and experienced.

How Writing Changed My Life

Writing on Medium has completely transformed my lifestyle in ways I never imagined.

What I Started Doing:

• Reading more: I began reading other writers’ articles and clapping for everything I read.

• Paying attention at work: Whenever I solved a problem, my brain immediately thought: “This could make a great article!”

• Experimenting more: I opened my mind to try things I’d been putting off for years, knowing that even the outcomes — good or bad — would make great writing material.

What I Stopped Doing:

• Watching mindless content: My time on YouTube dropped dramatically. If I watch now, it’s usually about productivity or learning something new.

• Complaining about parenting: Even the tough parts of looking after kids became opportunities for meaningful stories.

• Worrying about the future: Whenever I felt anxious, I turned those feelings into writing opportunities.

Wrapping Up

I only have a few hours to write — after 9 PM on weekdays or during weekend naps when the kids are asleep. But in those hours, I feel completely absorbed.

Every day, I feel like a new version of myself, different and better than the day before. Writing has helped me grow in ways I never expected. It’s no longer just note-taking; it’s a passion that brings meaning and joy to my life.

That’s how writing on Medium changed me in just 15 days. If my story inspires you, I encourage you to start writing. It’s one of the most rewarding things you can do for yourself.

Start writing today. Your future self will thank you.