Sunday, April 18, 2010

365 Lessons-Lesson 107: Not Everyone is Going to Like What I Have to Say

Not everyone is going to like what I have to say, but hey, I've got to be me. I am writing lessons on my blog, 365 of them to be exact. For the most part, I have gotten such positive feedback. People comment and say, "This is exactly what I needed to hear." or "How did you know that I was dealing with that?"

I never know what's going to come out. I don't plan it. Most of my posts tend to lean on the positive, inspirational side of life, because..well, that's what I feel these days. I know not everyone jives with the positive. People have told me to write more about painful issues. That it's more "real" if I show more misery and pain. But I'm not feeling that so much these days...so what to do?

I have written on my own self doubt, fear, etc. Usually I write what I need to hear. This writing is my medicine. It helps me and from the comments I usually receive, it seems to be helpful for others too.

I write where I am. This is where I am. Whatever you read here is exactly where I am, no more and no less. I don't write what others would like me to write. I'm not trying to please anyone here.

That being said, the greatest gift I have received, as a bi-product of writing my own lessons, is that people actually get something from reading what is written here. That you resonate with something I feel or write and it has actually helped you in your life. This shows me that we are connected and when we write where we are and what we feel at any moment in time, we connect with each other. The truth that shines through from writing about this particular time and this particular moment connects with a greater truth.

If you write from your heart, that's all that matters.

Not everyone is going to like your style. People will tell you you should do it like this, or do it like that or don't write lessons, or write something different, or change your story, or, or, or....

But guess what? Write what you want to write. After all, it's your blog, book, short story, poem, etc. It came from you and YOU are important.

I have a writing group called Writers Rising in Seattle. We read each others writing during our writing sessions and give feedback. Most of it is very constructive feedback. This kind of feedback is very helpful. We all write in very different styles and have different backgrounds.

One writer in our group writes short fiction stories, another has a journalistic approach to novel writing and I'm writing a spiritual memoir. We are all completely different in our approaches, yet we are able to see the beauty in each one of those styles. We respect each others differences and we encourage each other to continue to pursue whatever interest or style we each have.

I'm learning that, for the most part, people are supportive and have constructive things to say.

I'm writing lessons on my blog. Lessons that are important to me. Lessons that I have learned or am still learning. Lessons that have helped me and, from the comments I have received, appear to be helping others. I have also learned that not everyone is going to like what I have to say, and, for whatever reason, may try to dissuade me from continuing. But guess what? I'm going to keep going. I've only just begun. I've got a lot more of this path to cover.

For those of you who have been walking with me all this time, it's been a pleasure and a joy to have you along on this journey, for those who have just met up with me here "WELCOME!" and for those who are on a different path all together, I wish you all the best on your journey.

And finally I leave you with this precious quote from a mastermind, in my opinion:

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

reposted from my blog: Lessons from the Monk I Married