Natalie Goldberg’s book on self-expression, Writing Down the Bones, was first published in 1986. Within her text she incorporated Zen Buddhist practice into the act and art of writing. She sought to help free individuals from the fear of aticulating their thoughts. Writing should be mindful or mind (less). Almost like Julia Cameron’s espousal of daily “free writing,” Goldberg wanted us not to be inhibited. We could quote John Mayer here: “Say What You Need to Say.” Indeed. How do we say or express what we need to make known? How do we make known what we feel really? When we do find the courage to let it all out, in the end is it worthy of sharing?
What I think is even more great, though, is what Goldberg observed in The True Secret of Writing (2013), “We are not looking for the gems but a way to meet and accept our whole mind. Writing down the boring, the complaining, the violent, the agitated, obsessive, destructive, mean, shameful, timid weak thoughts allows us to see them, make friends with those parts of ourselves…And then we get out of [ our own] way and stop judging.”
I am a middle-aged woman. I have loved and lost. As of the new year, I made the radical decision to move and to relocate to the town in which I grew up. I am now helping my dad navigate his twilight years while he grieves the death of my mom still. It is not easy. I am commuting to New York City from the Jersey Shore. This is not easy either but not impossible. I promised myself after a grueling fall of full-time work along with a part-time adjunct gig that I would find the time and discipline to develop a writing practice. I thought I would draft a book. That hasn’t happened yet. I am trying to develop a regular writing routine here. What does this have to do with Natalie Goldberg and her plea for self-expression of the most authentic and uninhibited kind? I think she inspires us to be honest with ourselves and to keep at it. We all are entitled to a seat at the table or at a desk with pen and paper or computer in tow. We just need to find the courage to show up and let the words out and to be as real as we can be.
Comments