I wish it were possible to rly convey this to non-creatives: It’s not just about having enough time to write (or sculpt, or compose, or whatever). It’s about having enough time to quiet your mind first. That part is the hardest.
If you don't know this poet, you should. He died too early. I have carried this poem with me since his death in 2001. Everyone should know it...
By Agha Shahid Ali from his book, Rooms Are Never Finished (@wwnorton )
Being deaf, people ask me about silence a lot.
And, now we are all watching--yes, in silence--a 30 mile long convoy heading to kill civilians.
That kind of silence.
So, let me say it once again, in real time:
Deaf do not believe in silence. It is the creation of the hearing.
Me, writing to an older friend in Odessa: how can I help, please let me know I really want help
He writes back: Putins come and go. If you want to help, send us some poems and essays. We are putting together a literary magazine.
And, that is in the middle of war. Imagine.
Your partner tells you she’s had a bad day and instead of creating a safe environment for her to vent and release, you offer solutions further invalidating her emotional needs. The inability to differentiate when someone needs solutions vs an outlet is rooted in lack of empathy
What you need to know--there are people who are going to be impacted by your work that you will never know about.
You will think you aren't making a difference and yet, lives are changing because of something you've done. So keep writing, keep creating, keep doing your best.