Writing is nothing and everything. In a maze we get lost trying to write our way out. In a labyrinth our writing will find us at its centre. The mystery calls. We live into the unfolding of the questions. Thanks Jeff. Meet you there.
Writing is something that holds everything together yet somehow feels like everything is falling apart. Writing makes me heard yet makes me feel lost. It makes me feel strong yet vulnerable.
Being newish to writing on a platform like Substack, Posts like this makes me feel better about writing what's on my mind vs coming from Twitter where all newsletters/blogs needed to provide value.
I like Paul Graham's answer to a question from a twitter followers asking him about how he sustains the motivation to write. Graham said "I don't have to motivate myself. I can't help but write."
Thanks Jeff, some wonderful words and phrases here. I'd strongly argue THIS is writing!
But as I told / asked my daughter when she was pursuing a career path in high school, “Can you go a day without writing?” Her look told me all. She did not follow it as a career, but thankfully, sixteen years later, she is writing. The world has to wait for her words. Sad world. I’m just a mom, so I’m not to be believed.
Thank you for sharing this! There are two verses towards the end of this piece that especially speak to my experience with and views on writing: that it’s what we do when we don’t know what to do, like a prayer, about understanding, and how it carries a message and can move us and others.
I think I have been drawn to journal writing so much to sort through and understand, and definitely to pray too, and I know I write stories with messages in the hopes of helping to make the world a better place.
Thank you for sharing this! Those “quotable moments” really stood out to me.
"Writing is human. It is the legacy we leave" - I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I was flicking through Meditations by Marcus Aurelius a few weeks back and thought to myself how wild it is that the thoughts he captured in a personal journal close to 2000 years ago were now in my mind and shaping my life - amazing.
It’s funny to me that writing can encompass poetry and contracts. It’s like movement encompassing both ballet and boxing.
That's well said, Joel.
Totally agree. And as one who has written a lot of contracts filled with legalese, I have to say I much prefer writing poetry. 😊
Haha. Good to see you here, Ernie.
It’s good to see you here, or anywhere. Thanks for your thoughtfulness.😊🙏
You bet, Ernie. Maybe we can find ourselves at another Mike Kim event soon.
That would be be great 😊🍸
Writing is nothing and everything. In a maze we get lost trying to write our way out. In a labyrinth our writing will find us at its centre. The mystery calls. We live into the unfolding of the questions. Thanks Jeff. Meet you there.
Ooh. Beautiful analogy.
Writing is something that holds everything together yet somehow feels like everything is falling apart. Writing makes me heard yet makes me feel lost. It makes me feel strong yet vulnerable.
Exactly.
Being newish to writing on a platform like Substack, Posts like this makes me feel better about writing what's on my mind vs coming from Twitter where all newsletters/blogs needed to provide value.
Right. Value isn't that valuable. ;)
To me, writing is thinking. It's investigating. It's reminding me of who i must be.
I like Paul Graham's answer to a question from a twitter followers asking him about how he sustains the motivation to write. Graham said "I don't have to motivate myself. I can't help but write."
Thanks Jeff, some wonderful words and phrases here. I'd strongly argue THIS is writing!
But as I told / asked my daughter when she was pursuing a career path in high school, “Can you go a day without writing?” Her look told me all. She did not follow it as a career, but thankfully, sixteen years later, she is writing. The world has to wait for her words. Sad world. I’m just a mom, so I’m not to be believed.
LOL. Beautiful. Yes, we parents are not to be trusted when it comes to the directions of our children's lives. ;)
They don’t listen anyway. We have to find our own path in this world.
Can I suggest an alternative ending for this piece, Jeff? "What is writing? This is." Bravo.
My thoughts, exactly!
Thank you for sharing this! There are two verses towards the end of this piece that especially speak to my experience with and views on writing: that it’s what we do when we don’t know what to do, like a prayer, about understanding, and how it carries a message and can move us and others.
I think I have been drawn to journal writing so much to sort through and understand, and definitely to pray too, and I know I write stories with messages in the hopes of helping to make the world a better place.
Thank you for sharing this! Those “quotable moments” really stood out to me.
"Writing is human. It is the legacy we leave" - I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I was flicking through Meditations by Marcus Aurelius a few weeks back and thought to myself how wild it is that the thoughts he captured in a personal journal close to 2000 years ago were now in my mind and shaping my life - amazing.
"It is speech but on paper, language but with cadence." and "Writing is what we do when we don’t know what to do."
God, I love this.
None of those things? I'd say all of those things at one time or another...loved this thoughtful romp through your head and heart.
;)
Nailed it. Bravo!!