What Do You Keep Inside?

We all have things we don’t talk about. Memories we’ve buried deep, sometimes so deep that we forget where we put them. Often, it’s fear; fear of rejection or judgment. Other times, it stems from the belief that no one would understand. What we’ve gone through may feel too strange, too personal, or too dark.

But here’s the truth: we all carry something. Everyone has emotional baggage. Some wear it quietly. Others try to outrun it. Some dig in and strive to understand it. Regardless of the approach, it’s there, shaping how we navigate the world.

Your experiences might feel uniquely yours, and in many ways, they are. Still, that doesn’t mean you’re alone. The weight of grief, the sting of regret, and the hope for redemption are universal human experiences. They embody what I write.

Admitting Our Baggage

Admitting what we carry, even just to ourselves, is where healing begins. When we stop pretending we’re fine and start acknowledging the cracks, we offer ourselves the chance to grow into something stronger. Reflecting on the past doesn’t have to be a trap. If used correctly, it can become a compass, guiding us forward.

Storytelling as Healing

As a novelist, I often work through my emotional baggage by expressing it through my characters. In my books, people struggle. They lash out. They fall short. But they also fight to change, make sense of the past, and reconnect with meaning. They explore emotions I’ve felt but haven’t always captured in words. (And no, just because a character might kill someone doesn’t mean I would. Just sayin’.)

Exploring Themes in My Pacific Northwest Fiction

In The Rogue River Incident, characters hide the truth; not out of malice, but because it's hard. Because they’re human. In Memories of an Ash Covered Sky, wildfire acts as both a literal and emotional reckoning. What we lose, what we cling to, and what matters when everything burns, these questions drive the story.

These aren’t just thrillers or mysteries set in the rugged backcountry of Oregon. They are stories about trauma, redemption, and second chances. They delve into the complicated layers of human relationships. They explore what happens when we stop running from the past and start facing it head-on.

Where to Begin

So I’ll ask you: What do you keep inside? That secret, that shame, that story you’ve never shared, not because you’re hiding, but because you haven’t found the right words? You don’t have to say it out loud. But let it breathe. Then reflect: What has it taught you? How might it guide you toward something new?

The Power of Vulnerability

Recognizing our emotional baggage is a courageous step. It can open doors to self-discovery and healing. The more we share our experiences, the more we connect with others. Vulnerability can create empathy and understanding. It can bridge gaps between people, fostering a sense of community.

If you’re curious how those questions unfold in someone else’s story, I invite you to explore mine.

Visit mikewaltersnovels.com to discover my fiction rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Each novel presents deeply emotional journeys combined with thrilling suspense. Each story offers a glimpse into characters wrestling with the very things we all carry.

Begin Your Journey

Start withMemories of an Ash Covered Sky, a gripping and reflective novel about family, loss, and forgiveness amidst a landscape scarred by wildfire.

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Thank you for reading, and for being part of this journey.

— Mike Walters

Pacific Northwest Novelist | Storyteller of Secrets and Survival