Writing has been what I have known forever and loved, yet I wasted a lot of years not writing – thanks to my own inner critic.
If I were thinking honestly, writing chose me, as most people choose what they know what’s best for them. I didn’t skip through high school and University; it was a trial for me. I didn’t stop in relationships because they made it too difficult. I distinguished my inborn skills and my gifts from the crowd and chose to write, and write for me, believing my craft has more to offer than just a career and some visibility.
Writing has offered a level of healing in my life. I know my books are dark and twisted, but they reflect my inner demons. They need to come out in an inert fashion. Without the outlet of writing, my thoughts were killing me. So close to suicide was I that I checked the beam in our out-house, pulled on some roping that was clumped in a tangled mess in the corner. What stopped me was my wife, Sam.
I thought about her walking in on me, in an hour or so’s time. What a horrible lasting image that would have been for her, but that was the only thing that saved me that day.
The connections the currents of life will develop along the paths of your writing are endless, and it is the freedom of your creativity that keeps this world of ours alive. For so long we have educated the creativity out of our children and begs me to answer this question.
How would I have faired today, knowing what we know now? What would I be doing now?
It is not merely a career because your vulnerability is your greatest strength and I don’t think for one minute that creativity is a vulnerability, but as creatives we are often dogged with vulnerabilities, some tangible, some not so.
What is it for your heart’s desire? Let your imagination run free. Many times just filling a page with words is enough for me to know what I am writing about. Funny enough, there is no standard definition for an opinion piece, and I have used (and still use) a style I created myself. Some hate it, most love it. My writing elicits a provocation in you, the reader, and this is a good thing, if you hate my work, first ask yourself why?
Understand that I live to provoke.
Sometimes you come out with something completely different from the piece you set out to write. There are many sides to being a writer. If you live in a one dimensional world (spoiler alert, none of us do) then writing won’t be for you. Every writer brings a level of trauma and stress to their narrative as well as the fluffy lovely stuff. It’s what makes us so interesting. Yet others are afraid of being exposed and just as many haven’t held back. Call me crazy, but I am proud of the courage in myself to bounce back and tell all. When you use gratitude as your measure, this flex is something that I’m very grateful for.
Gratitude is everything and something that we all should employ every single day. This allows you to acknowledge the goodness in everything. Promotes positive feelings and has corporeal healing properties as well in the metaphysical world. Gratitude helps you build resilience to obstacles. Opens the mind to the alternative possibilities.
The stoic philosopher Epictetus said “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”
Sometimes we allow our passion for writing to undermine our success in other areas, but that comes with the territory. Everyone wants to be recognized for their attainment. Saying yes when I might have preferred to say no is a function of being committed to doing a commitment – isn’t it?
When a new career opens the doors for you, there is a transition that has to happen. Money is a major obstacle in a lot of these and also has some impact on the personal or professional lives. When you strip all the excuses away from the decision that you are to make, it boils down to one thing, and one thing only – FEAR.
Fear is an emotion that is as temporary as anger and sadness and yet regret, the regret of not doing is simply forever.
What must you do? The time is always now. Do not delay the joy of pursuing your dream! Your heart wants to write! You are connected to something that wants to be known. Do whatever that will bring you into your heart’s desire of passage.
I’ll leave you with the words of one of my favourite authors – Johnny B. Truant – Write, publish, repeat.
