Saturday, May 9, 2009

Being Open


I know that as soon as I start seeking to open my heart and mind, to move forward in spirit, I will draw to me the teachers and information that I need. It has happened time and again. Lately I have read things coming from fellow bloggers that have been life changing for me. One example - a reader of another blog commented that her father told her, upon graduating law school, that having the ability to evoke emotion in writing or in the courtroom, was a gift. Now for the hundreds, possible thousands of readers of that comment it was interesting, but not necessarily meaningful. But it knocked my socks off! Why? Because I had always thought my writing to be too emotional. It never occurred to me it was a gift. It was always something I tried to suppress. I had my husband critique and proof-read one of my first papers in college. I'd worked hard on it and was fairly proud, but insecure. He said it sounded like a Hallmark Card. He was not intending to be hurtful, or mean. He was trying to let me know that my writing needed to step up a notch. He was right. Most of my college papers required a different type of writing.

But what stuck, and I know it happens to everyone, is that my writing is too emotional and therefore not good. My husband is in business, and his writing is geared toward a different audience. The part he was right about, was that you cannot always write to evoke emotion, some things need to be precise. 

But what I needed to hear was that it is okay, in certain forums, to write from the heart. And that's where that comment, made for someone else entirely, was meant for me. I needed to hear that. Because that is where I am most comfortable writing.

So, what I am trying to say, when we open ourselves to new thinking, new ideas, new challenges, stay open to your "teachers". They show up in very obscure places, and odd times. It is being open to them when they show you the way that is important. And from a personal point of view, this bloggyworld is just full of teachers for me. Thanks to every one of you!

33 comments:

Expat From Hell said...

The thanks go to you, dear Lover of Life, for your contributions to us. I just got an "I don't understand your post" in my blogsite - kind of like the Hallmark Card comment. We can't always understand, but we can always be open to teaching. You are the example - to far more than you can imagine. Your battles over physical challenges give me even greater respect for you.

Sincerely,

ExpatFromHell

Anonymous said...

Hi LOL, I know what you mean exactly. My writing is emotional too, always has been. I got comments a lot about the fact that my essays in school were too fluffy. And yes, certain writings aren't meant for emotion, just look at a medical journal...zzzzz (imo!)

I have found teachers in the most unlikely of places as well. Well, I say "unlikely" because that's how I was thinking before. Who would have know that certain people would create such an explosion of confidence in my life? Inspire me to share and try to be inspiring as well? Very cool this blogworld of ours!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Oh, you should certainly stay true to who you are because it is YOU that we love!!!! And your heart is beautiful! Keep sharing! And as Shakespeare would say, "To thine own self be true!" You do you so very wonderfully well! ~Janine XO

Carolyn R. Parsons said...

YES! I put my entire spirit into my writing! In creative writing class I was a dream, writing papers I was a nightmare...well except for opening paragraphs and conclusions..apparantly a little emotion is ok there sometimes.

I prefer to read passionate work. There are different audiences certainly and to be dynamic and flexible is certainly a skill.

But when someone says I made them laugh, cry, think, angry, that I've emotionally moved them in someway, I know I'm on the right track. It's why I love blogging so much..no rules!

Breeze

Yunz said...

hi lover of life...
YOU are who you are...yep...true some people may have different thought and opinion apart from what we write...but...dats the challenges rite? so..to be open is a way to overcome it...just like u said..:)
anyway...what i want to say here...you are the BEST...n i hope you will continue to inspire the blogsphere..!

Verily I go. said...

I'm learning too and I always like reading your post. Thank you.

Rebecka said...

For me, you are one of the teachers who shows up at the right moment.
Reading some of your posts is like reading what's in my own heart. You inspire me to dig a little deeper and find the courage to write about what I feel and what is important to me, not just what I think others would like to read.

ellen abbott said...

Open your heart and let it out. If some find it too 'too' they will move on and the loss is theirs. The rest of us have much to gain.

I never took writing classes being all about the visual arts but when I do write, I just open my mind and let it flow...stream of consciousness.

Anonymous said...

Thank you,Lover of Life for your kind and inspirational writing.

In writing courses, we are often taught to consider our audience when writing.Your writing has definitely found an audience in me.

You have a wonderful gift of touching the heart and inspiring the mind.

Lillian Robinson said...

Unless it's an instruction manual, why would anybody read anything if it didn't provoke some type of emotion? 'My Life... lived my way' is a perfect example. We love his blog. It's packed full of emotions. I've cried when I've read some of his posts. We read things that scare us, that make us laught... Keep up the good work!

Joanne said...

The blogs are like an exhibit of the hearts of so many, reading them is like walking through a museum. Paintings are full of emotion, or we wouldn't be drawn to them, and the same is true of blogs I think. They are a form of art, and very emotive.

PeacefulWmn9 said...

When merely imparting information, I write one way, but in other writings, yes, the ability to reach the reader by evoking emotion is a wonderful gift!

Natalie said...

Hey LOL! I know what you mean completely ( My Hub is in business too). My eyes glaze over at his sales speak, and my emotions wear him out sometimes. Isn't it wonderful to have a medium to be ourselves, and write from the heart. We have to be ourselves after all - everybody else is already taken.

Stella Jones said...

Can't be too emotional for me! Let it all out, that's what I say... LOL
Blessings, Star

susan said...

Writing in both a precise and emotional form has difficulties attached but people are finely tuned beings who generally find what they're ready to understand. You're speaking now about synchronicity and the fact we're attuned to the collective unconscious. Long before cell phones, jet travel and the internet indigenous people understood coincidence as a very real part of their life and learning experience in the world. Perhaps it's all coming back?

Joanna Lee said...

Being open to learn is one the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves. I recently found a blog written by a 16 year old, who's profound poetry and writings, really made me think.

Then when he wrote about a friend who cuts themselves, I wrote him a letter; hoping to help. Our little communications, made me realize what a profound, intelligent, and intuitive young man he really was! In my realizations about who he was, I realized how people saw me at his age. How blind I have been! This realization really helped me see myself clearer and I hope that it helps me in my journey.

I also hope that I am able to be helpful to others, in some small way; like he has been to me and like you are to all of us!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

Your talent lies in the ability to express yourself in words....I so much enjoy your writing. Happy Mothers Day.

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Brenda Susan said...

I love this post. Your own individual personality has to come through your writing or else it isn't true to you. If you/we are people who think with our hearts then to push the emotion down would be false. Right? Keep on being the real you, that's is why we read you! :)

luksky said...

When the student is ready the teacher will come....I learn more and more everyday from my favorite bloggers.

I also write in full blown emotion. Every time I click that publish post button, I wonder if what I wrote was too intense for the average reader....

Nicole said...

I love your writing and it's emotions...guess thats why I keep coming back and enjoy to read your blogs so much :)

Lori ann said...

Dear Lover, you are so right, being open. Sometimes it all has to do with timing too I think, we want to hear when we're ready for that lesson. I think you've reminded us how much power our words have, they can stay with us a long time.
xxxx lori

Marguerite said...

I agree with you that the ability to invoke emotion is a gift. You've got that precious gift. To speak from a heart that is good and true is perhaps the highest form of journalism. Thank you for sharing your heart with all of us.

Prashansa said...

I love your writing...Yes it is emotional and provoke emotions!!Your writing has given me a new hope...Keep writing like this...THANK YOU!!

WHY? said...

I agree! And, the most fascinating part is that we can hear or read the same bit of information multiple times, but it's that "one" time when we are open to it that matters. So, we need to pay attention. That's the most difficult part.

Linda Pendleton said...

I really enjoy your writing and always look forward to it. I see an honesty and compassion in your words no matter the subject. My husband, Don Pendleton, a successful novelist, wrote some years ago, “The writer is always working from his own individual world view, whatever the subject, so an honest writer cannot conceal himself in the work no matter how hard he may try to do so.” (Don meant she as well as he. :-) )

Another of my favorite quotes is by Lord Byron. Many, many years ago he said, “Words are things; and a small drop of ink, Falling like dew upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions think.”

And blogging is now giving all of us the opportunity to share thoughts and inspiration and I love it!

Erika C. said...

Yes, this helps me too with the similar comment I got from my sister about my blog.

Also now that I am writing fiction, I am finding that the rawer I can get with my emotions, the more real it is. Often if I am afraid to put it out there or even sometimes when I get the feeling of 'this isn't important, it's been said before," I know that it is the real stuff and to keep going.

Thanks for your posts.

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

The hard part about doing anything in life is being true to yourself. The true self will come out whether emotional or for precision...we can not write for everyone...you must write for yourself...the rest will follow seeing the genuine self in the prose.

CrazyCris said...

Hmmm... as I browse through these comments a frequent regret/wish comes to mind: creative writing classes! I don't know if you guys have any idea how American that is! And it's one of those courses I have often wished had been available in one of my schools for I dearly love writing but can't seem to find my own voice. It creeps through in my papers, and then gets critiqued because "the tone doesn't feel right for a scientific journal" Bah humbug! Scientific writing is drab and dreary and needs livening up I say! :p

I guess in a way certain styles of writing are more "appropriate" for certain media... but here in the blogosphere we're truly free to lay it all out for the world to see. Both in subject matter and our own particular style. If only we have the courage to be so open. Which you do by the way. And so I salute you! and rather envy you... I can't bring myself to write posts like that... I think I actually reveal more of myself in comments on other people's blogs than in my own posts. And so I thank you (and others) for providing me with a place to do so!

keep 'em coming! ;o)

Deboshree said...

Well said my dear friend.
I know how you feel coz I guess it's rather similar to me.Somehow feelings and emotions always crop up in my writings and I'm proud of it.
The thing is that we are human beings...living creatures with life and love running through our veins.It's a gift to know how to express that love buried in all of us and make it meaningful for the people around us.
Love
Deboshree

Spiritual Journey said...

You are a mover in many ways...and the saying "Pen is mightier than sword" applies to your style of writing. You move us emotionally with your posts and you really take time to get to know us. Thanks for leaving a comment in my post - that's my very first.

Patsy said...

I understnd what you are saying. Sentimentalism is looked down upon by people who consider themselves intellectuals. When it all boils down, I think that being true to yourself, expressing your true thoughts, is always the best way toward success.


~Lorna