I came across a post on Facebook, this evening, which asked the question of all artists, why do you write, play music, sing, paint, sketch, or whatever else you do?
Of course, there were a number of responses, many of them having to do with writing. Those having to do with writing had a number of reasons from it being in the blood to it being something a person enjoys to hoping to someday publish something, and other reasons. It made me consider why I write.
Most of what I’ve written lies in some notebook or page, in some uncatalogued manner that if I had to find an idea or concept, some particular perception to share, I would have to do some serious scrounging to find it. Of late, I’ve begun using a computer, in order to be able to look up, via some key word hopefully, any given idea, and be able to share or at least reread it. Even what I write in this blog is not really advertised and so mostly goes unread.
So, why then do I write? Well, I’ve always used writing to serve as a therapy, to work out some dilemma or let go of something pent up, in order to not need to continue to go over it and even to be able to look at the dilemma from a sort of outside perspective, thereby gaining a little more clarity on what needs to change, what needs to be identified, what needs to be let go of and what is just plain dumb and not worth the effort. More recently, I’ve been involved in sharing my perspective on life, this world and even some ancient wisdom that passes through me. I used to keep these things to myself. Now, I realize that what I perceive as being important to me, may very well have some importance to someone else. At the very least, other people may appreciate a different perspective on life. And certainly, what I have to share gives people pause for thought, I hope.
Additionally, what comes through me often needs to be recorded in some form. Again, I used to keep these things to myself. Of late, I’ve come to know that my knowledge and remembering of ancient and woods wisdom is not for keeping to myself. It comes through me in order that I be able to share it. And share it I will.
It no longer matters so much that many people won’t get what I’m on about. It no longer matters that many will not even try. It only matters that I continue to put my perspective out there, in order to offer a different view. So, take a chance. Walk with me.
Peter J Quandt