29 Oct A Journal Entry

In an attempt to connect with the newbie writer in me again, I do these writing courses on and off. Not because I feel I don’t write well enough but because I feel it is important to go back to basics every now and then. Why do I write? How do I become better? What is it that I can do to push myself out of the comfort zones?

As a Creative Writing Coach, these are not just questions I insist my students and workshop participants ask themselves but ones that I ask myself too, time and again.

During one of these courses, the instructor Joyce Carol Oates spoke about the importance of maintaining a journal. I am not someone who has followed this ‘oft-repeated by many authors and writers’ writing advice very well, but since I was again on the journey of rediscovering the writer in me, I dug out my old journal with the intention of reviving the habit of journaling.

Imagine my surprise when I discover something that I wrote long ago and find immense meaning in it in the present moment – exactly what Oates had spoken about when she said you may come something you wrote long ago and connect with it differently now.

I certainly do not remember in what context I wrote this. I don’t consider myself much of a poet too. (If you need proof of my pathetic poetic attempts, all you need to do is read the open letter I wrote to Poetry) But because friends insisted that I share this (read threatened me with dire consequences if I didn’t!), and I’ve been meaning to resume blogging too, here it is: a poem I wrote I know not when but which I take much joy in reading and sharing with you now. Do let me know what you think of it.

 A tear here,
 A fear there.
 All connected
 but living in solitude.

 Exploring the meaning,
 and it’s fortitude.
 Succeeding and failing,
 each time learning,
 lessons that stood
 longer than the test of time.

 Or maybe forgotten the day after.
 Only for it all to come again
 like uninvited guests visiting.

 Those tears here,
 These fears there. 

Do you maintain a journal? What do you like writing about in it? Do share your thoughts and comments via the box below.

Featured Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash