What's your challenge? Most New Year’s resolutions focus on fitness, weight loss, finances, and mental health. But what about creative goals and challenges?
Once I retire in June, I am going to reread all my journals (over 100 notebooks, starting at age 10), and see if there’s a memoir in there, or some poems, or, at the very least, relive my life and maybe figure out what happened. As Kierkegaard says, life can only be understood backwards. But it must be lived forwards.
I tried to read them once before, when I turned 40, but when I got to age 20, I was so horrified by my own stupidity (and my parents’ wisdom, which I’d ignored) that I had to quit. Hoping I have the maturity now to bear it.
It IS embarrassing. At 20 I dropped out of Princeton to marry a Woody Allen type in NYC: I recorded the dialogue with my parents. Every word they said was right, and everything I said was cringe.
Once I retire in June, I am going to reread all my journals (over 100 notebooks, starting at age 10), and see if there’s a memoir in there, or some poems, or, at the very least, relive my life and maybe figure out what happened. As Kierkegaard says, life can only be understood backwards. But it must be lived forwards.
Brava on WHISH!
OMG, that's a fabulous idea. How lucky that you have notebooks going back to childhood! I want to read your memoir.
Thank you for motivating me to put into words what I have been chewing over in my mind.
"Hitting the 'pause' button so there is time for that wisp of a creative thought to float up.
Doing that requires modifying 87 years of 'instant' doing.... and being open to the empty space/time. Not knowing what will happen."
Sounds like a plan!
I tried to read them once before, when I turned 40, but when I got to age 20, I was so horrified by my own stupidity (and my parents’ wisdom, which I’d ignored) that I had to quit. Hoping I have the maturity now to bear it.
At age 16 I became so embarrassed by my earlier diary (age 15), I threw it in the incinerator. Oh how I wish I had it now!
It IS embarrassing. At 20 I dropped out of Princeton to marry a Woody Allen type in NYC: I recorded the dialogue with my parents. Every word they said was right, and everything I said was cringe.
Ah but what a story! You must write this!
Oh, that’s just the beginning. I will try, but what a humbling experience it will be.