I and Thou

“Don’t think before writing; think by writing.”

This line jumped out at me from the page while reading Donald Murray this week. So often we try to think before we write – we feel we must have it all laid out in our minds before we put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard in 21st century terms).

However, one thing I learnt over the years is that sometimes you just need to write. Yes, you should have an idea of what you will write about, but once this is decided upon, let loose the reigns and give yourself the freedom of simply writing. Don’t pre-determine your thoughts or standings on a topic and definitely don’t come to conclusions prematurely. Relax and give yourself the freedom to decide those things along the way. As Donald Murray said early on in Write to Learn, “The best writing is traitor to intent.” So give yourself some freedom, stop thinking and simply start writing. You may be surprised by what you come up with.

On a different note – seeing as this is a somewhat informal blog and we do have the requirements of entering in at least 250 words – I came across a quote this week that I can’t help but share with any and everyone I come in contact with. It is from Martin Buber’s book “I and Thou” (it is a very difficult read, so don’t rush to the library thinking it will do well as a relaxing Sunday afternoon read). Buber says:

“As long as love is ‘blind’ – that is as long as it does not see a whole being – it does not yet truly stand under the basic word of relation. Hatred remains blind by its very nature; one can hate only part of a being. Whoever sees a whole being and must reject it, is no longer in dominion of hatred but in the human limitation of the capacity to say You.”

How’s that for something to think about...
~Lauren Bersaglio.