I've been thinking a lot about writing lately. By this, I mean writing with a pen and paper, versus using the laptop. Years ago, on a coffee date with a friend, we discussed our relationship with
writing. Specifically, we were talking about writing for yourself
and not writing related to a profession. We talked about how the simple act of
writing can bring about a Zen-like moment that involves being fully in the
moment.
I've
been a journal writer off and on since I was young. I remember getting my
first diary when I was in 1st grade. I was
just learning to read and write on my own and I wanted to fill the
diary with secret stories. I tried for the first few entries to keep my musings to the
prescribed amount of space but found, even then, that once any
real writing began, I could not predict the amount of space that would be
required.
I still believe there are benefits to keeping a journal. There are no hard and fast rules. It is a tool you can choose to pick up when you want or need it.
As I think about my relationship to writing, I remember I was once an avid letter writer. I first became a "letter writer" in the summer after 6th grade. That summer I made friends with Darla who lived in Virginia. this seemed like a long way away to my 6th-grade mind. she was two years older than me and I thought she was quite mature. We decided to stay friends by being pen pals. I don't remember what we wrote, but I remember the joy of getting a letter back from her. There is nothing quite like getting a real letter in the real mailbox.
I still believe there are benefits to keeping a journal. There are no hard and fast rules. It is a tool you can choose to pick up when you want or need it.
As I think about my relationship to writing, I remember I was once an avid letter writer. I first became a "letter writer" in the summer after 6th grade. That summer I made friends with Darla who lived in Virginia. this seemed like a long way away to my 6th-grade mind. she was two years older than me and I thought she was quite mature. We decided to stay friends by being pen pals. I don't remember what we wrote, but I remember the joy of getting a letter back from her. There is nothing quite like getting a real letter in the real mailbox.
As an
adult, I began to write letters diligently after leaving Virginia Beach.
Hubster and I lived there for three years. Our daughter was born there and we moved when she was 18 months. I did not know anyone in the new NC town. (It was not my hometown.) I was lonely for the friendships that I had recently cemented. So, I
would write letters or postcards. I found two things to
be true. #1: Letter writing can deepen a friendship more deeply
than a phone call. One of my friends continued with our deep
friendship writing for many years. The letter-writing friendship was
also kept fresh by several visits back to see her. I still consider her as a very deep friend. And, #2: I was driven to find fun and exciting things to do during my
"regular" non-working life so that I would have something fun and
interesting to write about. The adventures made me a better writer AND the
writing made me a better adventurer. This became a key to getting acclimated
and finding my niche in this new town.
