IT WILL CHANGE YOU
Sunday, November 14, 2021
Sometimes daily columns feel like diary entries more than about ideas or current events.
Someone commented that they like what I do – not for what I write necessarily, but for that, I write every day.
Every day.
Every good day. Every bad day. Every sunny day, and all the gloomy ones too.
What is wrong with focusing – on a morning walk, making ohm noises while meditating or listening to tapes while we sleep – on what form and shape do we want our lives to take? The ‘how’ in addition to the well-trod, ‘Why?’
Finding solutions to problems, and fretting about not having a solution at hand, is expected. Keeping that inside is to be expected. But not healthy. Stewing in our juices is not how to manifest happiness – no more than shouting from rooftops will – but sharing our troubles, misgivings and worst fears with a blank page can become easier with practice. Sharing the worst of news with someone who cares matters – as celebrating good news does too.
Between wakeup and noon, I change my thinking, attention, and pace many times – and so do you.
Many involve an action taken, but most occur in my head, my central processing unit.
And then there is writing them.
That’s all, easy, nothing to it, most days – except when it isn’t, and those are the days the process delivers the greatest value, so I recommend it as the cheapest therapy on the market.
Writing every day costs nothing and will never hurt you.
Publishing every day is virtually free, and your choice – it rarely hurts. Some will criticize, but you learn to deal with that. I remember, many years ago, KT counselled me when a scathing critique blindsided me. It was a reader in Wales so that I couldn’t punch her in the nose. KT advised me to reply saying, “___ -off you fat cow.” To be clear, the lady involved was neither fat nor ugly. I never sent that retort, but I chuckle every time I hear harsh criticism, and recall that day.
Writing every day will do one thing I can guarantee – it will change you.
I don’t know how. You won’t either, but it will.
Or you can keep it all inside where nobody can see – nobody can help you celebrate, nobody can help you cry, nobody can help you live, nobody can help you die.
No typical diary for recording yesterday’s happenings – written in advance, hope-filled for what will happen.