Fitting in or Standing out?

As this was a topic that I was consciously thinking about yesterday, I loved that this challenge popped back in my inbox. It is along the lines of focusing my intentions (or atleast) for knowing why I want to do, what I do. This title might have you questioning on what does it have to do with the theme. Well here you go-

The last five years have been transformational for me, for mental and spiritual reasons. In this period, I have come to realize what writing serves as for me. I have "journals" for almost every random or mainstream reason you can think of. I have:

- One for writing down what I dream

- One which is more of a "notes from thoughts" journal which isn't necessarily a breakdown of a day - but a emotional snapshot entry

- One for writing down something I loved in a piece of art; an interpretation; a movie, a book, a text snippet, a painting, a sculpture or an art installation (which can be poetry, a metaphor that was too beautiful that I wanted to capture the line and author who wrote it alongside what it evoked in me)

- A small contacts book which serves as my gratitude journal

- Another which you can call a "scribbler", for note-making or even recording a question that comes up while reading it that doesn't go away - it all goes in there.

-A notepad for writing down stories or just snapshots of feelings of people that form in my mind when I listen to music or feel inspired by art. You can call this an ideas journal/characters journal.

All these gave way to wanting to write the stories that etch these dimensions to characters in my heart - to wanting to want my reader (you) to feel the way I do about these people. Then of course, I have those pieces I write on platforms - personal essays, stories, poetry etc.

For the longest time(probably for the first two decades of my life), I used to think I wanted to express these stories to the world, I loved taking people on a journey with me. I wanted readers or consumers of any of the art I put across, to be engaged, to be able to understand and possible even emulate what I feel. Although this is true to a large extent, I have come to a deeper awakening of what writing on platforms or for stories serve as for me.

They serve as a way of finding community. I couldn't have had it more backwards when I was younger. I so strongly thought it was for others to see, know and interpret my stories. Nope. It was always for me to find others who could understand my stories, resonate with my stories and for me to listen and understand their stories and together we become a power to reckon with. Together, we become a team. Fame is superficial and fades away, but community is permanent. A community where you participate in their wins and loses and they in yours; that is the deeper feeling than happiness, maybe because it isn't a feeling - it is a state of mind - fulfillment.

"Your destiny is written."

"Your fate is written in your head"

Any agreement we make is a final call only by the written word. In ancient scriptures, in the world today, in medicine, in business, in education; in every system we have set up till date. Numbers, symbols and words. This deduction has always weighed on my mind. The written is not just terms or images on a manuscript to decipher, but in time - is the vessel; to carry legacy, tell stories, preserve culture and to build community.

That has been and is going to be my intention with my writing on Vocal in 2024!

The second, which also happens to be the reason why I am unable to leave behind platforms - the incredible writers here!!!!! Never, I mean, yes, experiences and life is incredible motivation, but nothing spurs me into action than seeing a beautifully written piece and feeling so moved that I take the ink and paper again. Hence becoming the other goal this year. Read variety of pieces - of those that motivate, those that challenge, those that intimidate, those that arouse positivity, those that get those writer butterflies fluttering and more.

A word uttered could be a word thrown, but a word written is a word promised.