And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?
~ Rumi
- And so we return to LifeThemes2012 as part of the 2-year anniversary celebration of SunnyRoomStudio.
- What life themes have you identified so far? Are you taking surface themes and digging deeper … looking for the underlying thread?
- Are you looking for themes that have been part of your life for as long as you can recall?
When I look back on the road that has been my life, yet another theme (besides nature and spirituality) comes to mind.
Writing — Creativity — Exploration — Reflection
It seems that writing is how the other concepts manifest themselves in my life. One of the primary ways, at least. I was a letter writer as a young girl. And recall a few diaries. For me, there was always something magical about the written word … going to the library was even great fun.
Words were a way to connect with other people, more deeply than in a quick verbal exchange. Writing gave me the opportunity to really consider how I was feeling about something … I learned about myself when putting paragraphs together. Words also provide the cushion of time. There is space around each one. I can ponder or meditate on something before communicating. Sometimes understanding takes time — the written word can be read again for enjoyment, clarity, or thoughtful consideration.
Enlightenment is not imagining figures of light, but making
the darkness conscious. ~ Carl Jung
- Were you a letter writer as a young person? Did you enjoy doing book reports in school? Did you keep a journal?
I suspect there are plenty of people out there who really haven’t come to terms with their love of writing. For instance, I took it for granted for many years. And then one day it dawned on me that nearly every professional position I’d held had provided me with an opportunity to write. And that’s what I loved the most. To say it was a significant insight is truly an understatement. I was blown away by the realization. It was sort of like finding a sea of colorful flowers amidst the cold of winter. And I kept wondering: How had I missed it?
All the clues were there from my earliest days.
I’m sure that is one reason I spent so many years working with nonprofits — writing was a key skill when it came to fundraising. Letters, grants, brochures. Even as a graduate student in sociology, I should have suspected that I really wanted to write. Knowing I had to write a research paper was cause for excitement. Really.
Everything in creation has its appointed painter or poet and remains in bondage like the princess in the fairy tale ’til its appropriate liberator comes to set it free. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Writing also has a certain kind of beauty, doesn’t it? Consider the poetry that has moved you deeply. Or the novel with the ending you’ll never forget. Maybe a love letter you received or wrote to someone. Perhaps a memoir that helped you see your own life in a new light, or that brought you comfort. Maybe memories about the loss of someone you will always miss recorded in your journal. A quote from a great spiritual leader — one that always points you back in the right direction.
- Is there anything you love doing that you’ve somehow overlooked? What talents or interests can you set free? Can you look across the scope of your life, as a whole, and see something there in the pattern … something you’ve missed or minimized until now?
- When I begin to write, there may be stress or anxiety, but there is also joy. It’s unmistakable. It’s palpable. So thank you for being here to read these words. I hope they are good food for thought. And I hope to see you here again next Friday. Until then, take care.
Blog posts by DazyDayWriter @ work in SunnyRoomStudio: all rights reserved.
