For the longest time, I wasn’t here.
I have always loved to write. A long held dream of mine has been to write publicly and share personal essays, to uplift or inspire or maybe just offer a little levity. But for many reasons, I just haven’t been ready. A person can be so confident, decisive and even fearless in certain aspects of one’s life, but unsure for something so deeply personal. I am only human after all. And in my uncertainty, the dream has been postponed.
One day I will start a blog (when I come up with the right niche, the perfect name, a compelling first story). I just need more information, more advice, inspiration, and of course, much more time.
But the other day, as I was being my contemplative introverted self, quietly reading my Twitter news feed, a random tweet commanded my attention and held me spellbound.
It was philosopher Alan Watts. He looked me right in the eye, and spoke to me directly across time and space.
“Advice? I don’t have advice. Stop aspiring and start writing. If you’re writing, you’re a writer. Write like you’re a goddamn death row inmate and the governor is out of the country and there’s no chance for a pardon. Write like you’re clinging to the edge of a cliff, white knuckles, on your last breath, and you’ve got just one last thing to say, like you’re a bird flying over us and you can see everything, and please, for God’s sake, tell us something that will save us from ourselves. Take a deep breath and tell us your deepest, darkest secret, so we can wipe our brow and know that we’re not alone. Write like you have a message from the king. Or don’t. Who knows, maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who doesn’t have to.”
Alan Watts
I was stilled by his message.
Words have the power to do this. They can transcend time, travel through space, and arrive at the most exquisitely perfect time, kicking you right in the pants.
This was the kick in the pants I needed, coming from a wise old friend I never knew, who wasn’t afraid to tell the truth.
Stop trying to find the perfect title, and the perfect words, to be shared publicly at the perfect time.
Stop waiting to learn more about WordPress or copyright, or sorting out what picture you want to feature on the front page.
I don’t really know what I’m doing yet, but I took Alan’s advice to heart. Stop aspiring and start writing.
I registered the first good name that came to me, and wrote this post tonight, with the first imperfect words that came to me. The rest will undoubtedly work itself out.
So, I am here now. I am finally here. And it feels right and good.
Perhaps one day, my words will speak directly to another person across time and space. And something really good will happen afterwards. But in this moment, if I haven’t saved anyone else, I have at least saved myself. The writer in me will not have to perish from the regret of dreams unfulfilled.
Sharing in this space was easier than I thought. Thank you, Mr. Watts.
