Anyone who tries to write soon realizes a daunting truth. There are countless possible stories to tell, and numberless ways to tell each one. Infinity multiplied by infinity amounts to a whole lot of indecision!
Last weekend I stood on a patch of beach on Shelter Island. A sailboat moored nearby fascinated my eye, and I puzzled over its profound complexity for several minutes. How could I accurately paint that sailboat with words? How could I phrase the most perfect description? Is it even possible? With a million words is it possible?
As I watched the bobbing boat and struggled to sequence potent adjectives, a sudden thought shook me: Writing’s purpose, like art’s purpose, isn’t to replicate the world. It’s to stretch our minds. That is all.
Words are limitless. As limitless as the universe. They allow us to travel anywhere, in any direction.
A few well-directed words can focus our minds (for a moment) on overlooked things; they can help us see vague things more vividly. Words can seek and memorialize those things that seem important. Words tossed about can provoke hidden feeling and allow us to draw nearer to others. Words, when magical, can help us to discern whispers of meaning in the echoing vastness around us.
Our lives are finite. But the infinity that is contained in words can expand our lives. That is their purpose.
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It can definitely be hard to deal with the possibilities of writing, the second guessing and indecision. Will my words be good enough?
I also think another purpose of writing is the positive feeling as a result. I always feel accomplished after, like I did something of value. Same with along those lines, of stretching our minds. I think of stretching the mind in terms of creativity and imagination and the magical feeling when it goes right, like what you said.
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Well said!
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As much as I LOVE to see your wonderful photos of my hometown, I am really loving the words you wrote here. Very meaningful and eloquent! This is why you blog 🙂
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Thank you! Don’t worry–more photos are coming!
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I miss San Diego and I can’t wait to go visit soon..👍👍
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Very sweet! I love words!
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Reblogged this on My Voyage Through Time and commented:
Beautiful photo. Magical place. I loved the last paragraph of this post from “Cool San Diego Sights.”
“Our lives are finite. But the infinity that is contained in words can expand our lives. That is their purpose.”
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Very well said! You just beautifully captured AND shared your thoughts, giving us a chance to stretch our minds. Well done!
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Thank you!
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