Why Write?
Why write?
I have spent my entire career in the communications business. I mean communicating. Almost all of it has been visual, video to be precise.
I write because I want to communicate with you. I write because writing generally demands that you think though what you are saying, as opposed to the thoughtless tweet or the abrupt response on a comment board.
It’s obvious with our president that he either has no idea how his words hurt and divide people, or he doesn’t care about the power he really has.
It’s a fact that words do have power and his abuse of them either causes more apathy than we already suffer from, or more thoughtless responses.
Communication is so important. I spent my high school years singing and traveling around New England doing what we called an “Up With People!” show… but this was a small local high school cast based in my home town. Many people roll their eyes at the mention of UWP people and it has been maligned by many but mostly those who have never been in it.
Why I bring it up here was it was through that music and experience that I really got the life-long interest and pursuit of communication between peoples.
That may sound as corny as what you think Up With People stands for, but it is true… with a capital T. That is what I believe.
The wonder of our creation is that you don’t have to think that way. We have our own minds, our own experience and our own agency to create the world we live in. Throughout time that agency has too often been used to separate us and group everyone into various “other” categories.
Since we need to survive we have been given tools to help us survive. We don’t have the strength, or speed or special powers to defend ourselves, but we do have the amygdala which is where our “fight or flight” reflex is located.
While designed to help us not get eaten, it also is activated when we are in any situation where we are not comfortable. Like walking down a street and passing a stranger who doesn’t look like you.
While useful, it also can create the byproduct of not seeing others as brothers and sisters, but as unpredictable strangers. We also each have an ego, which tells us that we are singular and unique… sometimes special and “better” than the other animals that walk around us. We have all experienced this even if we may not act that way.
My point is there are many things designed in us for a good purpose, but – that when not understood or balanced in our lives – can do us and others harm.
So my effort is to hopefully help us realize how similar we actually are despite what our ego and amygdala may be telling us. It isn’t to say there isn’t real danger or evil in the world because it’s pretty easy to see and I understand that… but that’s not where we should start. Not at the danger or difference, but at the oneness.
William Shakespeare gave us the great truth: “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” Yes we do… we all do.
So I return to the opening question, why write? Because I have something I want to share with you, that I hope can help you if you have struggles or questions about figuring out this thing called life.
Because of the richness of the experience of my life I have seen, experienced and learned many things from many people.
I don’t claim to know everything, but the older and more experienced I have become over the years, the more I seek simplicity and more I see it in the world around me. Elaborate connections and complex schemes always fail, because I believe it goes against the natural order at the end of the day. “The truth will set you free” scripture tells us. I hope to share the simple truths I’ve learned along the way.