The eye doctor smiled and said these new glasses would "correct" my vision and help me see clearer. Yet, since leaving her office, I feel my introspection waning as I stare at perceived objects, manipulated shapes, sharp distinctions.
"The devil really is in the details," I think aloud, as my lenses continue to capture the forced contrasts among images, the lines that distinguish what is what. Who is who.
Frustrated, I begin to curse the images. I've traded in my beautiful eyes, "tainted" and "poor," for a manufactured way of seeing. What a "healthy" investment!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Why write?
Below is my response to the question, "Why do you write?"
I write because I love to read my words aloud, to hear the way they roll off of my tongue and slide out of my lips. The passion that quickly pushes them out and almost just as suddenly wishes to suck them back in. I write to awe and inspire myself and others, to re-read what I have written and marvel at my thoughts. I write to relive those emotions that made my words possible and plausible. I write because I do not wish to stop being great. I write because I feel honest when I do it. I feel that I can cry on the page without shedding a tear. I write so others will hear what I fear to say out loud. I write because I feel the power within when the words begin flowing and that power is maintained as long as I keep them going.
Do you write? If so, why? If not, why not?
I write because I love to read my words aloud, to hear the way they roll off of my tongue and slide out of my lips. The passion that quickly pushes them out and almost just as suddenly wishes to suck them back in. I write to awe and inspire myself and others, to re-read what I have written and marvel at my thoughts. I write to relive those emotions that made my words possible and plausible. I write because I do not wish to stop being great. I write because I feel honest when I do it. I feel that I can cry on the page without shedding a tear. I write so others will hear what I fear to say out loud. I write because I feel the power within when the words begin flowing and that power is maintained as long as I keep them going.
Do you write? If so, why? If not, why not?
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Who Are You?
Last week, we focused on what we do, while somewhat questioning who we are. This week, let's focus more on the latter.
When thinking of myself as a journalist, or a reporter, or a writer, I tend to focus on the titles and what they mean rather than the weight of the responsibilities attached to each. Do I really inform my readers as best as I can or am I focusing more on finishing an article to collect my paycheck?
If I am focused more on collecting my paycheck, my attention is focused less on informing my readers. The process of writing or reporting becomes less about them and more about me, therefore making me a selfish person, not a journalist, a reporter, or a writer. Likewise, if I am focused on informing my readers instead of collecting my paycheck, I am also no longer a journalist, reporter, or a writer. I am compassionate and "truthseeking," which I interpret as "storyseeking."
Making our titles truly reflect who we are is an ongoing process that I feel begins when we think about the qualities we desire to reveal. Focusing on these qualities and whether our actions are aligned with them will transfer them into our beings and what we do will follow. We can define journalist, reporter, or writer, if not in Websters then at least in our own minds.
What are the responsibilities attached to your title? Does this title reflect who you are? Which qualities make up your being and are they the ones you want?
When thinking of myself as a journalist, or a reporter, or a writer, I tend to focus on the titles and what they mean rather than the weight of the responsibilities attached to each. Do I really inform my readers as best as I can or am I focusing more on finishing an article to collect my paycheck?
If I am focused more on collecting my paycheck, my attention is focused less on informing my readers. The process of writing or reporting becomes less about them and more about me, therefore making me a selfish person, not a journalist, a reporter, or a writer. Likewise, if I am focused on informing my readers instead of collecting my paycheck, I am also no longer a journalist, reporter, or a writer. I am compassionate and "truthseeking," which I interpret as "storyseeking."
Making our titles truly reflect who we are is an ongoing process that I feel begins when we think about the qualities we desire to reveal. Focusing on these qualities and whether our actions are aligned with them will transfer them into our beings and what we do will follow. We can define journalist, reporter, or writer, if not in Websters then at least in our own minds.
What are the responsibilities attached to your title? Does this title reflect who you are? Which qualities make up your being and are they the ones you want?
Saturday, April 28, 2012
What do you do?
"What do you do?"
Someone asked me this the other day. Actually, I am asked this a lot. Usually, when asked, I get anxious and tongue-tied, managing to reply something like, "I'm a journalist," or "I'm a reporter," or "I'm a writer."
Why do I get nervous? Because I do so much and I'm not sure how to tell people this. For example, I write articles, which is much more involved than sitting in front of a computer and typing away. There is researching who and what I will be covering, going to events, and interviewing people, to name a few tasks. Then there are the skills I need to develop to properly do all of those things, like listening, questioning, making conversation. In order to properly develop those skills, I need to work on my character qualities, including patience, humbleness, and confidence. So how do I say all of this when people want a soundbite, not a mouthful?
I might have nailed it this last time I was asked, "What do you do?" Instead of nervously stammering away, I paused to think while gazing into the distance. Then I looked the person in the eyes, and said, "Exactly what I'm doing now."
What a simple, yet obvious reply. Strip away my job title, the work that goes with it, the skills needed to complete the work, the character development, and I was just standing there in the presence of someone else. That's what I was doing.
How often do we talk about what we do as opposed to actually doing something? What about just focusing on what we are doing instead of what we want others to think we are doing? Do we ever wonder why the other person is asking?
What do you do?
Someone asked me this the other day. Actually, I am asked this a lot. Usually, when asked, I get anxious and tongue-tied, managing to reply something like, "I'm a journalist," or "I'm a reporter," or "I'm a writer."
Why do I get nervous? Because I do so much and I'm not sure how to tell people this. For example, I write articles, which is much more involved than sitting in front of a computer and typing away. There is researching who and what I will be covering, going to events, and interviewing people, to name a few tasks. Then there are the skills I need to develop to properly do all of those things, like listening, questioning, making conversation. In order to properly develop those skills, I need to work on my character qualities, including patience, humbleness, and confidence. So how do I say all of this when people want a soundbite, not a mouthful?
I might have nailed it this last time I was asked, "What do you do?" Instead of nervously stammering away, I paused to think while gazing into the distance. Then I looked the person in the eyes, and said, "Exactly what I'm doing now."
What a simple, yet obvious reply. Strip away my job title, the work that goes with it, the skills needed to complete the work, the character development, and I was just standing there in the presence of someone else. That's what I was doing.
How often do we talk about what we do as opposed to actually doing something? What about just focusing on what we are doing instead of what we want others to think we are doing? Do we ever wonder why the other person is asking?
What do you do?
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