Very Vexing ( #AtoZChallenge )

Viruses are frightening because they are essentially invisible to our view.  We might see the effects attributed to the virus, but most of us have to take the word of scientists or doctors as to what caused the devastation that we can observe.  I take it on faith that viruses exist because the experts say they do.  The longer I live, the more things come my way that vex me for which the experts have no absolute answers...



 
  Very Vexing

       Violence seems to be the norm in nature, but so can kindness and caring.  We hate and we love.  Sometimes we are indifferent.  What affects us adversely might be a cause of great concern to us.  In other cases we are greatly concerned about what we perceive affects us or might affect us someday.  Humans can be a mighty perplexing bunch. 

        Many of the problems humans face are more ideological than actual.  It might be that we have too much time on our hands, use our imagination too much and not for something fun or diversionary, but to scare up new bugaboos to worry us.  It is the conundrum of modern society.  If a real threat is not enough then why not conjure up imagined ones or hypothetical scenarios?

          What would it take for all humans to be happy?   In the United States and much of the rest of the world for that matter, we have it easy.  For most of us, the days of hunting for food or growing crops for survival is not even in our purview.  The food is just there when we need it.  Reasonably clean water is available by turning on a faucet. 

           So, what do we need to be happy?  A new political installation?  More money?  Television shows that might interest or entertain us more?  We have an abundance of so much in our lives and yet it never seems to be enough.

             Yes, it is vexing to me when I dwell upon it.  In my own life,  there are indeed more things I would like to have. But I can also find a relative contentment in what I do have--or at least I accept it for the most part.  And still the world around me cries out for more and still more.

            It's all very vexing in some ways, while in other ways the answers seem as clear as a church bell reverberating across the verdant spring landscape on a placid Sunday morning.  People are stirring, but are they really listening?

          What is the most vexing life question on your mind?   Why do you think there is so much dissonance in society?   What is your answer to finding true happiness and contentment?

One Valuable Lesson (#IWSG)

      I'd learn a lot more if I didn't forget so much.......

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 

Co-Hosts for July are:   Tamara Narayan, Pat Hatt, Patricia Lynne, Juneta Key, and Doreen McGettigan

Question for July:

What is one valuable lesson you've learned since you started writing?

         Through the years I've taken writing related classes, read many writings about writing, and involved myself in other educational and recreational realms about the art of writing.  Somehow writing seemed to be in my blood from my earliest memories.  I've enjoyed reading since I was a young child and was motivated to write by reading.  And if movies count, then I've watched plenty to get some kind of an influence from those.  Life itself is an education for many subjects and in some sense we are always in school though the classrooms might be a bit different than what we normally think of in respect to classrooms.

        A brain is like a sponge.  We absorb everything around us and within the realm of our own thoughts and reasoning.  In life we learn a lot of stuff, but it's mostly an amassing of subtleties that are in turn processed according to our life experiences and interests.  

        One valuable lesson learned?   Where does one start?  So many lessons have been vital to me in my writing endeavors that it would be difficult to single out what is most important to me.  In fact I'd dare say that the most important lessons are those integral aspects of writing that I now take for granted and can't particularly name.

       However, let me go to one thing that has been weighing upon me over the recent months (or is it years?).   We live in an age of extreme sensitivity to differing opinions.   There is so much divisiveness in our society that being genuine and expressing oneself openly can work to ones detriment both from a social standpoint as well as being commercially viable.  I'm seeing this in my blog writing.  I enjoy expressing my opinions and generating discussion.  Sadly, disagreement is rarely met with tactful intelligent response to the point where a sensible discussion can ensue and dissenting parties can be open to learning and understanding each other.  Being on the "other side" can get ugly in many cases.

       Some of my blog readers have asked me my opinion on certain issues, but I believe that they, knowing my stance on other issues, are essentially baiting me into an uncomfortable situation where they can attempt to discredit my opinion because they think they are the ones with the right answers.   I happen to think that in a good many instances both sides bear truth and those things perceived as falsehoods are merely different ways of looking at something.  

         Most of my writing does reflect my beliefs (political, spiritual, or what have you) and I don't think I am much different than a good many of those who write.   Though I try not to be preachy or overbearing in my writing,  there is almost always a message that I'm trying to convey.  I like stories, but I like enlightenment as well.  My favorite books, stories, and movies have all had that quality to them.  Escape is fun, but enrichment can carry far greater rewards in the long run.  

         More than ever before, we seem to be in a time when an opinion can label a writer as a pop star or a pariah.  Writers fall into niches, as perhaps they always have to a certain extent, but never as noticeable as it is now.  Categories and subcategories run rampant and if you toss in a writer with an opinion that others don't like, that writer can face consequences.

           It's not something I'm going to worry about much.  I'll write what I want to write and believe what I want to believe.   Look for it here at Tossing It Out.  I might offend more visitors to my site in months to come, but I must write what is in my heart and on my mind.  That's life--especially in this crazy social media age where little absurd things can rile people as much as big deep ideas.  It doesn't matter really.  That is until the question of marketability enters the picture.  Then I guess we have to accept that we are all jerks to some people while others will cheer us on.  

           Is this a lesson learned?   I think so.  And it's one that I'm still learning about and trying to contend with.

           Do you avoid reading about "issues"?    Would you rather be challenged to think about what you are reading or do you just prefer to escape?    Are you somewhat afraid to express your opinions about major issues for fear that you will make others angry with you?






         

          

Learn and Live #atozchallenge

learning (Photo credit: Anne Davis 773)

         The traditional thought suggests that we should learn from our life experiences.  That certainly makes a lot of sense to me.  In our life journey we all make mistakes now and then.  If we don't allow those mistakes to be learning experiences then we are missing out.

         However, learning and living goes both ways.  When we learn something new we should try to apply it to our own lives when it is applicable to what we are doing.   Many marketing lessons are learned from experience, but there are also many resources for learning the marketing tricks others have learned.

          Find good books or blogs on the subject of marketing and promotion to see what the experts have to say on that matter.  Start applying what you learn to your daily life.   Ask questions about the things you don't understand.   Work with others in their promotions to see what you can use for yourself later.

         Learning and then living while using what you've learned will help you attain your goals more efficiently.   If others have already blazed trails that makes your journey easier then use those trails.

Some Poetry about Life's Lessons

        Here's a bit of A to Z Challenge history for you.   When I put out my Challenge to bloggers in 2010 to blog with me from A to Z, the first person to take the challenge was poetry blogger Yvonne Lewis who blogs at Welcome to My World of Verse.   She's been a dear friend ever since.

        She's back again for this year's Challenge so I hope you'll visit her and while you're there join as one of her followers.  She's had some blog problems but hopefully this new one is here to say.  She's got some wonderful A to Z entries again this year.

          And just in time for April Yvonne Lewis has released her third volume of poetry.   Distribution in the U.S. is being worked on.   I'm particularly stoked about this release because I'm on the cover!   That's me with Yvonne at the bottom of the cover.  Plus I've written a few words about Yvonne in the book's Introduction.  Wow, it's so cool to be sharing the stage with this poet whom I've admired for so long.  Go Yvonne!

 


       Do you learn well from the mistakes you make in your life?    Have you taken any classes in marketing?    Do you know about Yvonne Lewis?     
  

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