paradise

The more I write, the happier I am. Written communication brings a calm, natural feeling over my soul.

Do you feel that way?

I deeply appreciate the ability to write persuasively, colloquially.

It's one of life's greatest skills.

And it is a skill, mind you. This isn't innate talent. Anyone can write. Especially when they practice. When one digs in and starts throwing down words — editing and re-editing — OR NOT — until something wonderful comes out.

There's something very tactile, very craftsman-like about massaging messages into place. To an artiste, there's always more to say and better ways to say it. Pieces aren't ever “done”, they just stand for now.

I weave in and out. I zoom into text, I sit back in my chair to take it all in. Back, forth, back, forth. Wondering what the audience sees. Sometimes I zoom REEEEally far out — this is called stepping away from the desk and going to get some ice cream — and that helps a bit. Distance. Making the heart grow fonder. Or. Making the mind go wander.

But inevitably we sit back down and keep writing or editing some more.

I'm writing a couple pieces right now, and gotta tell ya, I'm not disappointed in them. I reckon they'll sell a lot of widgets this Memorial Day weekend.

It makes you wonder what people are actually memorializing during this holiday.

Buying things?

Yes, definitely buying things.

Doorbuster adverts be darned.

—

Every child should be granted one amazing writing teacher per lifetime. Several if they're lucky. It'll change many lifetimes ever after. Someone, maybe an editor, maybe a straight up freshman professor, but someone who can coax your best words out of you. To sit and type and think, then solicit a RESPONSE from the thing you sat and typed and thought about. Bliss.

Another teacher who inspires life is experience.

The 1950s saw the start of a new style of schooling in the deprived inner city, where the teacher would actually bring their students out on field trips. Everything before that was in one room, the entire day.

Gardens. Airports. Behind the scenes at the market. This gave those kids, who would otherwise be secluded from society, the gift of EXPERIENCE. Their parents couldn't bring them out – their parents were working 2-3 jobs and didn't have a car. This experience — life experience — had effects that lasted into the next 3 generations!

We are all so lucky to have benefited from that paradigm shift.

This shift was informed by widening awareness of psychology and the looming achievement focus of the Space Race. The US would do anything to beat the Rooskie's at the nuclear armageddon — err, suborbital frontiersmanship — of mankind. And even though in the history books (depending on which ones you read) they BOTH won the Cold War, the real thing they won was a revolution in the education system.

I mean, education systems aren't at all THAT great, okay, the industrialization of children's daily rhythms isn't perfect, but the idea of field experience is (was) a fantastic start.

Yeah, the industrialized state schooling really does beat the curiosity and drive out of a kid, I know.

All isn't lost, though. As long as we're all here to keep it together.

—

Damn, I wonder how much alcohol is consumed merely because people can't communicate.

Loss for words. Social lubricant. Can't connect with the song of their soul. Need a crutch.

Just.

We all got along fine for 21 years when we could say whatever was on our minds, in the company of a nurturing spark... Fine, without spirits distorting the view of our inspired reality.

Anyway — I'm going to let you ponderwander that one for a bit while I get back to my work today. It's been nice chatting with you write.as, using your blankbox soapbox for some rather nice typing practice... So... thanks for listening!

Another day in, Paradise

PS – This was just conveniently and relevantly tweeted my way as I was about to smash the publish airplane:

“Talent is extremely common. What's rare is the willingness to endure the life of the writer.” — Our man, Kurt Vonnegut.

PPS – Yes. Absolutely. This is a beautiful happy place.

Okay okay okay, Rescuetime is about to pull the plug on my meanderings. Better fuck off! See ya, nerds!

— .:~:..:~:..:~:..:~:..:~:..:~:..:~:..:~:..:~:..:~:. published not proofread. #NeverLookBackspace! Words, Ideas, Magic copyrighted by Zem in Paradise. this is confidential communication. Protected by US and International law.