The question arises from time to time: "Why do you write?"
One reason I write because I must and if I don't write, my mind becomes a muddy mess filled with words and images, flying like boomerangs. Toxicity is spread in each non-writing step I take. If I didn't write I would bore people with incessant conversation about topics that would, most likely, quickly become boring and lifeless to them, yet like taunting jailers to me.
I remember distinctly a conversation I had with a life coaching client several years ago.
We were having one of those "over and over talked about" conversations and when I asked abotu taking a specific action, he said, "Easier said than done."
To which I responded, "Nah, I think its much easier done than said."
Can you tell I have been an Emerson fan for a long, long time?
I have said, and I still believe fervently, that incessant talk about a topic without action oftentimes causes an action-preventing-wall to be built, though perhaps it is a wall only built in opinion, in thought, and in lack of belief in oneself.
How often are the bricks of that wall built from other people's opinions, thoughts and lack of belief.
I have debates about this on a regular basis. You know, between me and people who believe they must have every duck in a row before taking any action at all. People who believe the entire outline must be written, the table of contents narrowed down, each bullet point approved and re-approved in triplicate before the first word is drafted.
A little balance would be beneficial: walking that razor's edge between hyper-planning and no action and the wild-crazy leap over the edge into the black abyss action I sometimes think is exciting to take.
I also think it is amusing because as I was writing this a woman basically smacked me across my face during a twitter chat. I have never had that happen before and it came about, basically, because of my following what Emerson says in the beginning of today's #Trust30 quote:
"What I must do is all that concerns me, not what people think."
We were talking about pseudonyms and I was sharing that sometimes I use one if my words may hurt my family.
She was enraged that I would write anything like that... well, actually, she assumed I didn't write anything like that.
I felt like I was talking to my second grade Sunday School teacher. "Thank goodness, Julie Jordan, that other little girl in the red checked dress wasn't you." Except, Second Grade Sunday School Teacher, she was me. This very same me. My actions helped people and I don't even want to take them back.
This Twitter-slap woman basically huffffft and harumphed out of my twitter stream, insisting my way was "not the way to building a successful writing career". I was tired of arguing so I dropped it. She wouldn't be convinced and I didn't feel the need because Emerson reminded me...again... "because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know I."
Remember, now, Waldo's words:
"What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think.
This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may
serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness.
It is the harder, because you will always find those who
think they know what is your duty better than you know I."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
From Today's Trust30 prompter, Laura Kimball
"I once received a fortune cookie that read: "Speak less of your plans, you’ll get more done."
With that, I am going to continue to work on my art project (orange spray paint calls) and then do some more connecting with like-hearted and perhaps some angry-at-me-being-me souls. Should be an interesting afternoon.
Follow me on Twitter: @JulieJordanScot
Did you enjoyed this essay? Receive emails directly to your inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the Daily Passion Activator. One inspirational essay and poem (almost) every week day. Subscribe here now -
© 2011
Julie Jordan Scott
Recent Comments