Intentional Acts of Words
The blog Intentional Acts of Words has been on my mind for a long time. I have always felt comfortable with language and speech, words, phonemes--all the elements of speech that make communication an art in nuance. Writing this first post had me all jammed up however. I wanted it to be just right. Perfect. As I always do. Perfection sought from the very start. Counter-balanced with a crippling fear of failure. Where did this come from? I didn't have family who told me or implied that perfection was how they valued me. I'm only one of the masses who seeks perfection, whether knowingly or unknowingly, for reasons known only unto ourselves (or not).
I'm just going to lay it out there: "SCREW PERFECTION". Let's talk instead of INTENTION. #IntentionalActsofWords is meant to expound on everything tied up in this meaty little phrase. Let's talk of intention in our delivery of words, language...of how this impacts our writing, reading, comprehension, relationships and so much more. Let's address intentional acts, including the very act of being/existing, and how the basis of our intent buoys or dispirits the individuals touched by those actions. Let's see examples of these conscious manipulations in play. In essence, let's just enjoy where this conversation takes us.
One has to start somewhere, so I will start with a nugget of cream that rose to the top for me during a recent exercise led by Bethany Hegedus at a beloved little place called The Writing Barn.
Why do I write?
Excellent question. Here was my off-the-cuff response.
I write because the words knock on the inside of my head, on the backs of my eyelids, and against my inner ears every time the external noise dims enough, and sometimes even when there is a dull roar. I write because the stories are writing themselves across my mind and it feels it would be an injustice not to let them be heard. And, because it just makes me damn happy and I need it to feel sane.
I love the realization that came from this exercise, and the INTENTION it confirmed in me. Where does your intention originate? Feel free to post! I'd love to hear from you.