Writing

Writing it down, getting it right, helps me focus on my own compass. Getting it right simply means expressing my inner truth without hedging or wrapping it in fake elegance. I don't write to be popular or to make money. I share this writing as part of my humanist practice. That's all. If it interests a reader, that is an added benefit to me. I take that as great encouragement.

Facing the blank page is the same as looking into a mirror. The writing itself is a sketch of what I see and feel in that reflective blankness. Sometimes the writing is a form of self-encouragement. Sometimes the writing is an attempt to voice my internal process. 

Reading my own writing is informative. If I look at my writing from years ago, I realize I constantly becoming a different person with age. I have journals which I wrote in my twenties. When I get frustrated with a young person in my life today, I sometimes pick up one of those books. This gives me valuable perspective and patience. It also helps me to decide what actions I may best take when dealing with that young person. 

There is a myth which teachers pass on from generation to generation. That myth tells young people that just a few people can write well. This is a shame. Every literate person can write and develop writing skill. In mental health circles, writing is viewed as a common tool for promoting self-awareness. Journal-keeping is a proven tool to raise consciousness of problems and obstacles to growth.

Writing this blog is a practice of personal responsibility and accountability within my own humanist practice. That is what it is all about.