Details
“…to
the soul, the most minute details and the most ordinary activities, carried out
with mindfulness and art, have an effect far beyond their apparent
significance.”
Thomas
Moore (Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in
Everyday Life)
In her
book, Almost Everything, Anne Lamott says to be a good writer, “We
have to cultivate the habits of curiosity and paying attention, which are
essential to living rich lives…” And if we don’t lead rich lives—at least,
rich in imagination and soul connection—then we are unlikely to be grounded
enough to write believably. Details are the meat and potatoes of both life and
writing. How much do you pay attention to what is around you? Are you so glued
to your phone that you miss the details of your own life?
Sometimes,
I wonder about myself—not so much because of being glued to my phone, but
to being lost in my head. In my earliest report cards, the teacher’s comments
were always about “daydreaming.” Being a daydreamer is useful for writers, but
it’s not so good for students or parents. When my sons tell me things that
happened when they were growing up of which I have no memory, I wonder, “where
the heck was I.” Unless you write fantasy or science fiction, you must keep
your feet planted on the earth and pay attention to detail.
I am
working again on the stories from the town where I grew up, which I call “Old
Crazy Town,” because, well, it was. I find that my memories are just that—my memories.
They may not jive with anyone else’s who was there at the same time simply
because memory depends upon one’s history and circumstances. I considered
interviewing other people for the stories just to make sure I was getting
things right, but quickly found that their recollections caused me to question my own and
that made me uncertain in my writing. Memoir is not documentary, so I’m left
with my own interpretations of the goings on in “Old Crazy Town.”
Whether
you are a writer or not, it’s a good idea to pay attention to details and spend
some portion of each day mindfully focused on them. It will sharpen your powers
of observation, keep you planted in the present, and improve your memory. When you
get older, that will matter, believe me. Cultivating a habit of curiosity makes
the whole world come alive. It’s soul work in its purest form. The soul is here
to absorb the sensory experiences of life that all of us take for granted. Don’t
waste your brief time here staring at a screen. Watch the birds. Notice the light.
Talk with your friends and listen with interest. Tell them stories about your
crazy aunt and Old Ned, the barber in your hometown. Don’t leave out any of the juicy details.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
No comments:
Post a Comment