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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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AN HONEST MIRROR
On a Friday night in the middle of December, I attended an author reading. As you might imagine, there was a plethora of conflicting events taking place that evening. Yet something called me to join the intimate gathering of book lovers sipping hot tea, nibbling lavish confections, and waiting to be both entertained and enlightened. We were not disappointed. After a brief introduction, Jennie Shortridge did what authors do at these sorts of affairs. She thanked us for coming, told us a bit about her background and about the general plot of her novel, and then read several excerpts. She read dramatically, and it was entertaining. The audience was appreciative. Before moving to the requisite question and answer session, Ms. Shortridge asked the writers in the audience to raise a hand. Only four hands went up. Then, with little comment, she invited questions. People asked about her motivation to write the novel, about various characters, and about how autobiographical the book was. One man in the audience, however, kept interspersing thoughtful questions about the writing process. Finally, the author looked directly at the gentleman and asked, "Are you a writer even though you didn't raise your hand earlier." He firmly responded that he was not a writer. Ms. Shortridge then asked, "Do you write?" The man said, "Yes, I write sometimes, but I've never been published." "I didn't ask if you are a published author," she shot back. "I asked if you are a writer. You ARE a writer, and it shows." Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all recognize the abilities and characteristics in ourselves that are glaringly obvious to others? We could call ourselves gardeners without having to be horticultural experts or professional landscapers. We could refer to ourselves as dancers, singers, or actors without ever having performed on stage. The new year is a perfect time to take a look in the mirror.
© 2006 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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