Why I Write: Stories, Kindness, and Connection

My love for writing reaches beyond the pages of my children’s books. I also write for Medium and Brainz Magazine, where I share reflections on kindness, personal growth, and the experiences that shape how we see ourselves and one another.

People sometimes ask why I write or why so much of my work comes back to kindness, feelings, and connection. The answer is personal: I care about what people carry inside, especially the things they struggle to put into words.

We can go through an entire day answering questions, completing tasks, and taking care of responsibilities without ever having a conversation about how we actually feel. Children experience this, too. They may not know how to explain why they feel left out, frustrated, worried, or different. Adults can have the words and still find it difficult to say them aloud.

Writing gives me a place to explore those feelings with care. It gives me time to think about what I want to say and how someone on the other side of the page might receive it. I hope my words offer a moment of recognition: “Someone understands this. I’m not the only one.”

That hope is at the heart of my children’s books. I want children to know that their feelings matter, that they deserve kindness, and that they have something valuable to offer. I want them to see that asking for help is okay, that mistakes are part of learning, and that being different can be something to appreciate.

I also want to encourage conversations between children and the people who care for them. Sometimes a character’s experience makes it easier for a child to talk about their own. A simple question after a story—“Have you ever felt that way?”—can open a conversation that might otherwise never happen.

My articles give me another way to explore these ideas, with room for the questions and complexities we encounter as adults. Growing older doesn’t mean we stop needing reassurance, belonging, or opportunities to understand ourselves. We continue learning how to handle disappointment, set boundaries, care for others, and make decisions we can feel at peace with.

I write about kindness because I believe it deserves a place in ordinary life. It shows up in how we listen, how we respond when someone makes a mistake, and whether we pause before making assumptions. It also shows up in the way we speak to ourselves when we’re tired or struggling.

For me, kindness includes honesty and self-respect. We can care deeply about others while recognizing our own limits. We can offer understanding and still speak up when something hurts. These are things worth thinking about, practicing, and discussing openly.

I don’t write because I have every answer. Often, writing helps me understand the question better. It asks me to slow down, examine what I believe, and consider another perspective. I hope it gives readers that same room to reflect without feeling pressured to have everything figured out.

There is something meaningful about knowing that words can reach someone you may never meet. An article might arrive during a difficult afternoon. A book might become part of a family’s bedtime routine. A sentence might stay with someone and help them begin a conversation they’ve been avoiding.

Those possibilities keep me writing. I care about the small, personal ways a story can matter: a child feeling understood, a parent finding a way to connect, or an adult remembering to treat themselves with more patience.

Through my books and my writing for Medium and Brainz Magazine, I hope to contribute something thoughtful and useful. Something that invites reflection, encourages compassion, and reminds people that their everyday choices matter.

You can explore my articles here:

📖 Medium: Mona Liza Santos – Medium
✨ Brainz Magazine: Mona Liza Santos, Award-Winning Children’s Author & Emotional Literacy Advocate, Executive Contributor at Brainz Magazine

Thank you for reading, sharing, and making space for my words. If something I’ve written has stayed with you, I would love to hear about it. Knowing how a story reaches someone is one of the most meaningful parts of this work.