Here in the midst of my final exams, just one week before my intended graduation, I am not writing essays or studying. This is because I have rediscovered one of my old passions--writing. The sad thing is that I haven't yet begun to write... I've merely been reading about it! You heard me, reading about writing. I came across a blog authored by an author who is so very passionate that she shares her advice about writing with the world. And I am spellbound. I had to tear myself away from her articles (I've read at least 5 in the past hour) because I need to start dinner, but I'm getting ideas. The wheels are turning, and my mind is chomping at the bit to put pen to paper and just go! But I know myself, and I know what I must do in order to preserve the spark and still do what is necessary in my life. I'm jotting down key words, ideas, names.. and bookmarking articles of course. Then, I will get up, prepare dinner, and worry about these essays.
The reason I'm telling you this is because the mere idea of writing made me simply joyous. My heart began to race, my mind flipped through character base ideas faster than I could register them. In the background, while I was reading one of the articles, I had already decided to do a major rewrite on the novel I wrote a few years ago (I had presumed it was finished, now I realize I was mistaken). It was self published and never sold a copy that I didn't buy myself, so nobody think I'm famous or anything ;) but still it has a hook in me. Another part of me wants to discard the rewriting idea and just jump into something else new, and leave that for later. After all, it's already written. I already know what happens. A new story, I would be experiencing the adventure for the first time!
An important point to make here is that if you have something you are passionate about, don't put it on the back burner for too long. I haven't written seriously in a few years because of school and other hobbies, and I do deeply regret it. Don't let yourself have regrets like that! If you love something, find time to do it. If it is something creative, allow yourself to do some things that suck because that's just part of the process. If it is something else (I don't know, stamp collecting?) let yourself buy the silly novelty stamp that won't be worth much to your collection. But then also challenge yourself to find a rare one as well. If you do some crappy creative work, challenge yourself to do something better.. or better yet, take that mound of dirt and sculpt into a masterpiece! You learn more about yourself and, I've found, you enjoy yourself a lot more in the process. You feel a sense of fulfillment, of purpose, of peace.
If anyone is reading this, I challenge you to find (or reclaim) something you are intensely passionate about. If it is reading, seek out a new novel you've never read and dive in. If it is drawing, painting, writing, sculpting, photography, anything.. go out there and create something amazing! If you're collecting stamps, get doubles and use the extras to create a collage! Run an extra mile, develop a new route, begin a garden (it's not too late!).
Just do something that you are passionate about. Do something that makes you happy. You'll never regret it! :)
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