Saturday, August 20, 2005

Three Steps to Frustration and Then Acceptance

Step One:

You read something that really lifts you, really raises your consciousness, say Emily Dickinson:

 

 

 

 

A word is dead

When it is said,

Some say.

 

I say it just

Begins to live

That day.

Step Two: 

You realize what motivates you to tell stories:

At the heart of the impulse to tell stories is a mystery so profound...--Dennis Covington, Salvation On Sand Mountain.

Step Three:

You decide it's going to be pretty easy.  All you have to do is put down how you feel.  You are relieved and happy:

If you wish to be a writer, write.  --Epictetus (110 A. D.)

Frustration:

You find out it isn't easy:

Human language is a cracked kettle on which we beat out tunes for bears to dance to when all the while we want to move the stars to pity.  --Gustave Flaubert.

Acceptance:

You go back to where you started, making space for human failing:

At the heart of the impulse to tell stories is a mystery so profound...  Dennis Covington, Salvation On Sand Mountain.

There's a time to be gentle with yourselves.  As beautiful as language is, it's an imperfect vehicle of soulful expression--Theresa

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

So right, so right.  While language is such a thing of beauty and purpose to all who love it, even words (or glorious combinations thereof) are limited sometimes.  Ah, the frustration!  Being gentle with oneself is a lovely thought.  We are not raised to be so in this land of achievement and competitiveness.  Thank you for your voice of reason, sanity, and compassion, my dear.

Vicky
http://www.livejournal.com/users/vxv789/32872.html

Anonymous said...

"There's a time to be gentle with yourselves.  As beautiful as language is, it's an imperfect vehicle of soulful expression--Theresa"

That's a perfect definition of language. I love that. Mind if I quote it? lol

~Lily

Anonymous said...

Oh how I love this!  Well put!  Lisa

Anonymous said...

All I can say is, "Ain't that the truth."

Anonymous said...

Owe. Been there. Done that. Good luck breaking the choke hold.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/JMoranCoyle/MyWay

Anonymous said...

Wonderful!
V