Lamott’s wise words remind me that to achieve authentic writing, words that are worthy of legacy – we must indeed be prepared to own our past, demand our present and be fearless of our future.
Recently I have been privileged to be connected with other writers, especially those who boldly share their writing fears, hopes and aspirations. Writers who are willing to write about writing draw me to their authentic voice.
In the past I spent more time talking about writing, than writing – other than years of academic writing. I always found it much easier to work with words when the motivation was extrinsic – the world of teaching, earning a living, study and assignment completion. Hundreds of assignments to write and mark!
Owning all that has happened to me gives me a fabulous sense of freedom. A whole new way of being. The feeling reminds me of yoga breath – yoga has taught me a new way to do the very thing I have been doing since birth, taking air into the lungs. Lamott’s wisdom tells me that it is perfectly acceptable to take this new freedom and write all of it. Tell it, tell it all – the sweet, funny, happy, tragic, despicable, snippy, wonderful, loving and compassionate little tales and interactions that make up a life.
The rise and fall of relationships – write it.
The joys and losses impossible not to encounter when existing in a family – write it.
The things that make the fingers zing on the keys – write it.
I must continue to think and talk less about writing and aim to write with strength, purpose, with grit.
Lamott gives us permission to write authentically which is always important regardless of how others conduct themselves. We can only be responsible for our own behavior.
“People will always notice the change in your attitude towards them. But they will never notice it’s their behavior that made you change.”
Anonymous
They are our stories and we shall write them.
C Writes 