Once, a lifetime ago, when I was only twenty-eight, a rather gifted poet friend of mind, upon reading the first person narrative of my journal, suggested that I try writing in third person. I gave it a try and in so doing turned my rather self-absorbed navel-gazing journal writing into fiction. Some day, some year, I may do it again. I may write fiction or at least a highly fictionalized version of my life. Who knows?

Like how I envision myself some day an orator, I see before me possibilities. Possibilities in the not too distant future. I have certain gifts — such as public speaking (preaching, actually), writing, and perhaps once again helping and healing others as a psychotherapist — that I must cultivate and at some future date use. In the meantime, I wait patiently, carefully taking life as it comes, one step at a time, one day at a time. For now, I still very much need my time and energy devoted to caring for myself, my son, and my husband. Everything else can wait.


Comments

  1. Dyane and I consider each other friends, so I take it as a compliment.

  2. oops, sorry Kitt. But I do like both of your blogs. Glad you took it as flattering or it could have bern a little awkward. cheers, Glenn

  3. I’m flattered that you got me an Dyane Harwood confused. Yes, my experience with bipolar disorder and with parenting will help me be more compassionate when and if I do go back into practice. Still, even only the person thinking the thoughts and feeling the feelings really knows what it is like. We can only ask and then try to imagine ourselves in the same position. Not easy to do since we each have unique personality traits, unique ways of dealing with and reacting to situations. Thank you for your always thoughtful comments.

  4. Seems like your priorities are right Dy. Goals are great but they need to be kept real, as you are doing. I think those who have been affected by mental illness would make great therapists. Peer understanding seems to be something missing from psychotherapy and psychs in general. They think they know what we are going through, but I have doubts about that. And sometimes I think they erroneously project onto the patient what they think is going on rather than questioning further to get to the real issue. cheers, Glenn

  5. Note, I’m not currently following that advice. Just keeping it in mind, in the back of my mind to be precise.

    I feel I know you, too. Perhaps we could Skype or FaceTime.

  6. Please give yourself credit. You do a service not just by blogging, but through the generous and loving volunteer work you do for the homeless. God bless you.

  7. I love the advice your friend gave you! How freeing and simple, yet it really transformed your approach to writing. It’s so funny – I feel like I know you well, yet I’ve never even heard your voice. You could write a short fiction piece and post it here – I’d enjoy reading that.

    I have HUGE admiration for passionate orators, and I so look forward to the day when I can be in one of your audiences. You have so many talents, but you are wise to pare things down at this point in your life and focus on your family.

  8. You’ve got the right priorities 🙂
    Well, I told you it might take me some time…sorry for the wait!
    http://montairyus23.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/guess-who/
    Aul

  9. Kitt, thanks! I just hope it can make a difference in others lives. Owning my own experiences is something I’ve been working on. The good the bad and the ugly.

  10. Some of us, like me, too much inside our own heads and need to get some distance and perspective. others, like you perhaps, could gain from owning our experience. By the way, Gertie, your blog very much gives me the sense of what you are going through, thinking, and feeling. I commend you.

  11. It’s kind of funny, my journal is in the third person but it speaks of my life. For me the blogging thing is a bit difficult because I am writing in the first person. So it looks like we are both in a life stage that requires some stretching.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.