Life is all about choices. If there is a common theme in my writing, it would be that. In fact, my curiosity about why people do the things they do, is why I write.
Certainly, the three main characters in my novel The Brevity of Roses must each face a major choice presented to them. Ironically, one of my characters, whose field of study was cultural anthropology, least understands herself and becomes emotionally imprisoned by letting others make choices for her.
A few days ago, I looked through an old file folder and found this poem I wrote in 2005. It’s theme? Choice.
Risk
I have stood on the brink,
but did not leap.
Could not.
I have stepped back
and fled to live
in fear.
To exist.
Forgetting.
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Linda Cassidy Lewis 
I’m not smart enough to wonder why people do the things they do. Or even why I myself do the things I do. So writing for me probably didn’t offer as much interest or challenge readers like other writers want to; just another reason for me to set it aside and take deep breath. Can’t play in the wading pool forever.
Take the fork to the left; it looks less traveled, and a really cool poem I read once says that’s the better decision. 😉
Hope you’re doing great!
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I don’t believe a word of what you said, Darc. You’re plenty smart. I also don’t want to believe that you’ve given up writing. That, sir, is NOT taking the path to the left.
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The very wisest woman I know once told me that, as a minister, she had the opportunity to hear and listen to many people’s stories. And that when she listened, really listened, long enough to a person’s story — every single choice and decision that person made, no matter how outrageous/destructive/good/bad that choice might seem to be from the outside — every single choice made perfect sense from where the person was standing at the time he or she made the choice.
I try to remember that when dealing with the people in my life — both the real life ones and the ones I’m creating in stories.
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Thank you for contributing this thought, Natasha. I guess it only makes sense that we tend to do what we think is best for us, it’s only in hindsight that we rue some of our decisions. I think we see this in action most painfully with our children.
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Ouch. You are definitely right about seeing it painfully with our children.
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I could argue this point. I have certainly made bad decisions in my life to spite someone. 🙂 You know what they say, youth is wasted on the young.
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Absolutely!
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On the plane on Sunday, I was sitting next to a man who was reading. I twisted around until I could see the title. How We Decide–3 ice cream cones on the front: chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, I presume. Intriguing…
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Of course, I had to go look up that book on Amazon. And I saw this quote from the author: “Life is ultimately just a series of decisions, from the mundane (what should I eat for breakfast?) to the profound (what should I do with my life?).” Looks like I got something right in my post. 🙂 This is the kind of book that could easily distract me from writing. But no! I must finish this round of editing.
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