A Wednesday Full of Thoughts
I’m so full of thoughts at the moment that I’m writing three different blog posts about it all simultaneously. One document I’ve got open has four separate ideas going on within it, each trying to wriggle their way out of my head, onto the page and into full realisation while I’m just trying to keep my eyes from crossing. It’s kind of confusing. Mind you, that’s still no comparison to the three-ring circus that’s going on inside my head.
So the easiest way is to just start.
I really feel right now that there are so many things going on in our world that deserve our time and attention, yet are being marginalised because we either feel like they’re too big to deal with, or we want to (on some level) avoid the work associated with them. And sometimes it seems that voicing the way you think or feel is an invitation for open slather on aspects of your character, your intelligence and your morals, though I will concede that blogging about the world certainly invites the wider community to contribute their thoughts.
The thing is passion is alienating. People will either love you for whatever it is that lights a fire in your stomach, or they will hate you for it, but you’ll find it’s rare for them to be indifferent. [Except maybe about puppies, because other than those people who have a debilitating fear of dogs, most people like puppies*] Especially if you are passionate about something that makes them uncomfortable. And because I have been (and to some extent continue to be) afraid of alienating people – especially friends and those I love – I have, on many, many occasions, decided that my passion for something, my need to talk about something and be truthful to myself was less important than someone else’s discomfort.
I’m sorry, but no. I can’t do that anymore. I will not do that anymore.
I understand that means there are people who aren’t going to like what I say, and while I believe that I can continue to be relevant despite some very deeply held beliefs, I understand that there will be those who don’t want to read my work or interact with me anymore. But being a writer is about telling your own truth: and that’s what I’m going to do. So I thought I’d start really simple.
I’m passionate about feminism and about achieving social equality.
It’s really, really hard for me not to qualify that statement so that no one gets the ‘wrong idea’, but I’m going to make myself leave it at that: I’m hoping to put up a blog post in the future talking about some of these things, because I think they’re important. And, here’s my jam. I like to talk to people about things (if there’s room for discussion), so please, get in touch with me – comment, write a blog post, email me, whatever – if I’ve said something that has upset you, or conversely, inspired some kind of passion in you, and let’s talk about these kinds of things! Let’s open a dialogue and be honest and patient and open-minded about this kind of business.
I know that’s all a little bit naïve, but I’m not interested in living in a world where we can’t strive for our best, or one where we give up and remain quiet about something because ‘it’s too hard’. I’d love to hear from any of you if there’s something you believe in or feel passionate about that you openly advocate for, or if you’ve silenced yourself out of fear or social pressures.
Let me know what you think.
–Ana.
[Disclaimer: I’m not trying to be puppy-ist. ].
7 Comments
Nicole Evans
I love you.
<3
And I admire your bravery and honesty! You inspire me every day!
anapascoe001@gmail.com
I love you too. You always inspire me and I’m so grateful for a growing community of people who make me want to be a better person! 🙂
jac forsyth
In Tibetan Buddhism, they have a great tradition of debate. Halfway through you have to swap sides and argue from the opposite point of view. They say that it teaches us to see things from both sides. I’ve never managed to quite get there, especially on issues of social equality. Stand in your own truth babe, Placation is a bitter form of refuge.
anapascoe001@gmail.com
I think someone who has the capacity to do that would be truly admirable.. But I’m with you and I think there are just some issues I couldn’t manage to do that with. Not when I think the other party causes any pain or discomfort to another person. Thanks for the support Jac 🙂
Nik
Being honest as a writer is not always easy – the temptation to give context to, or defend your position is often hard to resist. In both fiction and non-fiction I would much prefer to have a marmite/vegemite love-it-or-hate-it reaction from those who read it and provoke some sort of emotion, whatever the emotion might be. I tend to be fairly blunt and honest about religion which often offends those with a more religious mindset. That said, I try to do it from a position of understanding and without belittling those who have faith (as an example I was brought up in a Church of England environment and feel comfortable poking holes in some of the beliefs – I have no frame of reference of other religions and so I don’t try and stir things up) My parents are very active church folk and even though our views are very different we can openly debate these things without offense. I think they are nuts, they think I’m going to hell and we move on haha 🙂
Ultimately I think it’s far more healthy to be honest and forthright and risk losing a few people along the way. Being honest doesn’t (always) mean being disrespectful 🙂
Great topic!
anapascoe001@gmail.com
Nik, I love your comments! I completely agree: we should all be able to chat about these things (I’m similar with religion) without being asshats about it 😛 Thanks, I’m feeling a lot of love for the blogging community right now! 😀
rosemawrites
“People will either love you for whatever it is that lights a fire in your stomach, or they will hate you for it, but you’ll find it’s rare for them to be indifferent.”
Yes. This is a sad reality that we should try to shrug off and do what we what to do. Indeed we should strive for what we want and not for what others want us to achieve. Great work, Ms. Ana! Love the rawness of your post!