Two encounters with friends recently reminded me of the alchemical power of writing,
The first was at my book launch last weekend, when in conversation with Judy she wondered out loud:
A: It’s the body that does the writing and the body that does the speaking.
And then my dear friend Mike emailed me:
When my mum (now passed for a very long time) was first diagnosed with her illness she started a journal … more a personal history.
Unfortunately, she didn’t get very far. But what she did write was really quite breathtaking to read.
I remember finding that on her PC after she’d passed. I wish my Dad had done that – or I’d taken the time to learn about his life.
Your email today reminded me of that. And it’s inspired me to start writing a journal as well.
And then the third encounter, with writer Elif Shafak, whose current book has me smitten:
Judy is seeking words that align with her body. Mike is empowered by the self-aligned words his mother left for him to find. Elif is writing fiction but was referring to tracings left by the ancients.
All three speak of longing: longing for others to know us as we know ourselves, longing to trust ourselves and others with our words, longing to be remembered.
It takes practice to find words we can trust. It takes encouragement. It takes guidance. It takes support.
And it takes courage.
YEvie knows this. She found the words she trusted to write and the courage she needed to publish her first book: YEvie’s Odyssey, coddiwompling memories of traveling purposely towards unknown destinations.
Congratulations YEvie!
Ultreia, we keep going.
Stephanie Dale is an award-winning journalist, author, researcher and founder of the International Wellbeing-through-writing Institute. In 2014 she launched The Write Road, a wellbeing-through-writing initiative for rural and remote Australians. She is passionate about pilgrimage, and in 2017 initiated Walk & Write Camino for pilgrim writers.