Why I write
Hemingway said that you write for the one you love. The last book was from a place of giving, written for a dear friend, something that I knew would help. Honestly, up until I hit publish, I was on the fence about putting it out to the world.
I once heard that we all want good judgement, and good judgement is the result of experience, and experience is the result of bad judgement. That made me laugh. In that case, I thought, by now I must be the king of good judgement.
I sometimes think of my past self, the child growing to the man I’ve become. He doesn’t exist anymore except in my imagination. Memories arising when I least expect them. Sometimes, I catch a glimpse of him and I feel such a fondness. I wish I could spare him the pain I know he’ll experience. But I also know the love he will as well. The amazing things he’ll see, the adventures he’ll have.
At the same time, I, who has experienced all that he will, I so often forget the lessons. So I write for him. A guide, perhaps, to the future. To the self that I will one day look back to and nod, knowing.
After Hemingway finished The Old Man and The Sea, the book for which he won the Nobel, he took the manuscript to his wife. She read it, then said to him, “I forgive you for everything.”
The act of going within, finding our truth, and then sharing it, it helps us far more than we know. Because when you find that gift and express it to the world, it is better, you are better. It’s just the way things are.
That is why I write. To share with ones I love, to share with myself, to remember and live the lessons, to make less mistakes – or at least better ones. A guide for me to return to and apply because I know that when I do, my life flows naturally, things easily resolve themselves. The struggle ceases and magic begins.
“I once heard that we all want good judgement, and good judgement is the result of experience, and experience is the result of bad judgement”. i’ll be thinking of this line allot now, thanks for putting it out there.
“Better mistakes,” is an excellent goal. So’s making the world a better place. You’re doing both.
speaking from my heart! thank you!
I love knowing why people do what they do — especially in this instance — why a writer writes. Often we don’t stop and think about what motivates our actions, desires, even our quirks — we just blindly plow ahead. Asking ourselves core questions brings us closer to the root of who we are — a place we can grow from, and share with others. Thank you for sharing with us today.
If you’re the ‘King’ I may be first runner up for ‘Queen’…. Love your honesty, Kamal -
your words are like wine…better when exposed to air:) thank you for sharing.
Was glad to find this today.
On writing as, “a guide for me to return to and apply.” This is so important to remember.
It’s easy to learn and examine only new concepts.
Oftentimes the best learning happens when we revisit and examine what we already know. Good reminder for me.
Share Share Share please…
Beautiful. I’ve been looking and looking outside, only to come back to my self, to come home. So now I begin the road inward. Glad to have found your blog along the way.I hope to write too . The truth within I have to uncover. Keep writing.
I came across your book because a friend recommended it on FB. As it happens, I had just posted about a change in my reading experience these days, at http://serenereflection.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/reading-between-the-lines/
Reading your book within minutes of posting that article was amazing timing as once again, it is not only your writing, but also the gaps between the words that speak to me!
Thank you