Being Faithful to Your Longings

Winter Light, Stewart Park

There is no primer for how to become who you want to be. No one path to the successful writer's life. No manual on how to be. We must take this explorer's journey and find out for ourselves who we are through our creations and encounters.  This is our life's work. This is the priveldge of a lifetime -- to become ourselves.  To become who we already are. 

We may not be obvious heroes and change agents; we may not seem to be doing much to solve the big problems that face us now, or even change a situation that we are presently in. But we can be a light in the world, bring simple beauty and love to this day. We can choose to make a commitment to something or someone. 

As writers, we can gift the world our poetry, our stories, our remedies, our ideas. The way to live the life you are here to live is to simply keep opening. Opening to what you want; to the conversation with your inner self (soul). Opening to the moment, its darkness and light and the dance between the two. As writers we have the gift of opening on the page. We open to ourselves as we write. Our readers then open to some truth or idea as they read our words. (This is no small exchange.)

​Listen and open to your longings. Then be faithful to your longings.

I know. I know there is such intense loneliness in this world. We all carry this aloneness within us. I know. I know there is loss and division and cruelty. I know there are distractions and addictions. This is why (and where) we must be true to our longings as writers. 

Open. Then commit. Choose to finish the story, write the poem, send the letter or manuscript out. Choose to leave the job that kills your spirit. Choose to join one thing and drop another. Say yes to a friendship. Commit to a circle or class.  Once we commit, our energies are then focused, this choice then opens us up to more possibility. Instead of having our energies dispersed and distracted by too many options, (or from living a life that is not true to our soul), we have made a choice, and as a result everything that is connected to that choice comes into focus. More becomes possible.  When we do not choose, and do not claim our selves as meaning makers, we are bullied around by other's agendas and a myriad of distractions. 

So much comes from a simple choice. Everything really. And once that choice is made our life continues to unfold in simple but miraculous ways.  

Join me and other writers for 4 Saturday mornings in May and June: BEING FAITHFUL TO OUR LONGINGS: Exploration, Recognition, Opening and Commitment to our True Lives (as Writers). SAVE THE DATES:  Saturday May 9th and 23rd; June 13th and 27th. Email me with questions.  Saturday's from 9 till 1:00. Limited to 10.  For more click here. 

After the final no
there comes a Yes
and upon that yes
the future world depends.  –Wallace Stevens

Still Possible