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Feb 24, 2003 Just yesterday I had a good friend of mine email me after probably three months of ignoring me. She claims she has been busy, has a life, is raising two children, works, and has been sick. I am not saying she didnt have a good reason, but basically I summed it all up and realized, she had been ignoring me. She was responding back to an old email of mine, packed with information that was seriously outdated and somewhat forgotten. I had let her know of some of my stories that had been accepted during that time and she was now congratulating me. I smiled until I read the next line of her email. Why do you bother writing when we are going to go to war and the world will end? I sat there with the little black line flashing at me, waiting for my answer like fingers tapping or a leg fidgeting. Even knowing what it said, I read it and reread it about a dozen times. How could she ask a question like that? I had a string of comebacks lined up in my head but remembering she was the overly sensitive type, I refrained from typing most of them. But I will gladly share with you some of those comebacks. The first one was something on the lines of why does she bother driving her kids to school? Why should they bother wasting time studying or learning? Another direction was why even bother working? Why not go on that vacation, the last one of her life? I mean really. Take out your savings, why keep money in the bank? Why try to stick to a diet? Why bother watching a television series when you may never see the end of it? There are thousands of questions as to why to do something. Why should I try to defend something that gives me pleasure? Yes I want to have a novel published someday. But because of the possibility of war and such, am I supposed to give up that dream and allow someone to dictate where my life goes? With the thousands of stories, poems, articles, and ideas in my head, keeping me up most nights, making me scribble little inspired bits of words on any post it note I can find, am I supposed to throw my hands in the air and just give everything up? Writing has always been my passion and I love that I am able to do it. I wouldnt give it up for anything. Writing is a part of who I am and by giving that up, I am giving up on myself. That doesnt sound right to me. It is also a way for me to slip out of my moments of stress or pressure and enter a world laced with new characters, places, and even a new time. When I write I hope my words inspire or bring about debate. It is like reading, people read to escape or be moved or learn new things. If everyone stopped writing, then no one would be reading and I dont think it makes any sense for people to sit around their homes waiting for the end. Just sitting there, doing nothing, except fearing something that may or may not happen. No, that isnt for me. I would much rather contribute words to people so they can decide what they want to do with them or how they feel about them. I would much rather explore my creative ability and strive to do as much with it as I possibly can. In replying to my dear friend, I simply stated that I write because I love it and like my son, my loved one, wine and chocolate, I am not about to give up things I love for the sake of a looming possibility. I am not about to walk away from the very things that make me who I am because I may never have the chance to become a best selling novelist or make it on Forbes or Time magazine for highest paid unknown new writer who was finally noticed by a publisher though she didnt have contacts with the in crowd. I simply let her know that during these times, we need to look at what is most important to us and cherish them, nurture them, give them all our care and attention. It makes sense to me. While I am sure she may still nod her head as she reads the reply and make a comment under her breath on what a strange person I am, I hope she also gets the little hint in there that will maybe bring her into a new realm of thought. They are just words, but they are also tools to change life and ways of thinking. I added in that her friendship has been very important to me and instead of just throwing that away and ending our friendship because of the possibility of war, I will go ahead and continue to nurture our friendship and care about her life and that of her family. In closing, I also let her know that she is lucky she lives far away because had she asked me that question to my face, I would have had to smack her upside her head! I figure this is the best way to get a quick response. About the author: Nancy Jackson is a full time author and poet with works in Literati, Twilight Times, Anotherealm, Sonny World, and various anthologies. Her pasttimes include spending time with her loved ones, drinking wine, and lots of writing! Email Nancy Jackson: coryann93@yahoo.com ------------ Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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