Its the Write Time

                              

                                    By Neal Lemery

            Last week’s ice storm and accompanied winds, closed roads, and a general interruption of life’s normal rhythms, has spurred me on. 

            I’ve been learning about technology that is new to me, and connecting with others who are masters at what I am aspiring to learn about and practice.  There’s a sense of satisfaction in being a lifelong learner.  I get frustrated at times, but I keep moving ahead.

            Other people are doing that too, working on their learning curves and overcoming their own reluctance to tackle something new and challenging.  “Working their hard”.  I’m inspired by that determination, and I’m following their lead on embracing change and venturing forth into the unknown and the uncertain.

            A friend and I met for a much overdue lunch and “catching up” with our busy lives.  They’ve had some devastating losses lately and have decided to channel their grief and their need to express themselves in their writing.  And, a product of that has been their desire to write a book and share their thoughts and insights with the world.

            They wanted to pick my brain about book writing and publishing.  What little I know I happily imparted to them, firing them up to work on their project and bring it to fruition.  It is an exciting time, where one can fairly easily put down their thoughts, organize themselves, and produce a manuscript worthy of “getting out there” and being noticed in the world. 

            We live in an amazing age, where one’s creativity can be recorded in so many ways, and find an audience.  We can inform, educate, inspire, and also give voice to our own thoughts and ideas. The possibilities are seemingly endless.

            Now, I want to create podcasts, both sound and video, and share some ideas and experiences. My friend does, too, and wants to do that work so that others can heal, and hear their story.  From what they shared with me over lunch, their stories are worthy, captivating, and well worth my time to pay attention. 

            I live in a small town, where there’s not much collective creative possibilities. At least, that’s the myth we keep telling ourselves. But, there’s more going on than I think, and what others are doing around here is really quite amazing. With more tools, more kinds of media, the possibilities to share creative energy and projects is actually enormous. 

            The recent local Chamber of Commerce community awards announcements showed me again that there are some amazingly talented people in my town, that great things are happening, and many people are refusing to accept limitations in what they do for others, and what they are creating for themselves in terms of careers, community service, and being agents of change.  Geography isn’t that limiting anymore. 

            Neither is provincial and narrow-minded thinking.  Webinars, videos, and access to thousands of websites crammed with information and research tools give all of us access to learning and interaction with like-minded thinkers and doers.  The only real limits are the ones I impose on myself. 

            I could grouse about the state of the world, and about how life in a small town is limiting, narrow, and stifling.  But, in reality, that is NOT the state of the world, or the reality of my community.  Most anything is possible, and I need to keep challenging myself.  Am I part of the problem, or am I part of the solution?

            I’m with my friend: it is the write time to get it done.