Each of us have internal prompts that make us who we are. Internal prompts can be those in which we were born or those learned from others. Each of us have particular things about us that are unique from others and thereby distinguish us one from another person. For example I cannot, and I do mean cannot do more than the basics of mathematics, even if I try. Truth! I cannot seem to be able to measure using a ruler or any other number-laden stick. On the other hand though, one of my internal motivations and loves is writing. I don’t know why. I have no idea what prompts me the urge or desire to scribble, doodle, write or even want to share stories but it’s inside of me and it’s an every day event.
Not a day goes by that I don’t have the urge to take a pen in hand to write. Today, I have written 4 letters and all- by hand. In my heart and with my mind comes a face and name of a person for whom I really care and I arbitrarily write them. For no reason. I wonder after I mail it what they must think for them to go to their mailbox and for no good reason get a 2 or 3 page handwritten letter from me. Humph?
So writing is truly one of my internal prompts that makes me who I am and when I think about it, could change a person’s life. On the day a person gets my letter for no reason, he or she could have needed the encouragement and needed the “God Bless You” at the end. Who knows? (Above, I put could because this is not scientific pole here!)
No day goes by in my life that I don’t desire to write “something”. Sometimes I follow my urges and write. Other times I fight it off and do something else but every single day that urge is there for me to choose or deny and very often I deny the urge because it’s easier that way. Writing takes effort and time. Just because a person says he or she is a writer does not mean it comes easy. Writing takes thought, research and lends itself to a detailed life. If you’re a writer, you know exactly what I mean.
Looking back, I should have been a writer by profession. I could have written books, worked as a journalist, done copy editing or any number of things to hone my skills. I became a teacher and later an administrator in the school system so I had all opportunities to write and develop grammatical finesse. What happened to me was, that I became interested in a variety of things and because I was able to do a lot, I took the position of teacher to teach others how to write, use grammar, etc. Over these years I have been able to do a lot of things but nothing really, really well.
What happened to to me was that I became more than a writer. Had I stuck with just writing, I could have written a series of novels; probably historical non-fiction. But, my internal prompts now are far more than writing for I also love art and painting, playing sports, teaching, writing, and more. I’m one of those “Jack of all trades, master of non” folks. And I am a “Jack of all trades”. I can tell tales, read book, decorate, design websites, photograph, raise chickens, read code(limited but just the same), run a store, paint, play guitar, and the list goes on.
While growing up, my parents provided a large variety of stimuli to make the 3 of us a success. My oldest sister and I took piano lessons. It stuck mostly with her although I can hammer out chop sticks to this day. My older brother was an orchestra member and recently played in the Easter Cantata at one of the largest churches in our area. Seasonally, he plays in various orchestras including several churches in their programs. He married a woman who also played in the orchestra and that heritage lives on in them. Their internal desire is to play music. From what I see in them is that they are doing what they were sent here to do. They are not “all over the place” but settled into one genre- playing an instrument. How exciting for them and those whom they influence.
So, since there is no scientific pole here, I’m encouraging you to answer the call inside of you. What is driving your existence? Don’t fight it. Just join it and step up to the challenge