 Print
Why Write?
2-10-2019
Sometimes I’m asked why I write this column. I don’t get paid. I am very busy and have a lot of other demands on my time. It takes me several hours of researching and writing to complete each article. I’m not a professional writer and don’t intend to become one. I don’t consider myself extraordinarily talented or skilled. I’m not an expert in the topics I write about. I don’t claim to have all the answers or to serve as an example of someone who has figured everything out. At times, I get negative feedback about a topic or even about my personal life. With all these drawbacks, why do I continue to write?
At some level, I write this column simply because I choose to. Just like you are reading it because you choose to. There is no pressure other than an internal desire. Of course, it goes deeper than that. Writing, as with any task, fills a need. It serves a purpose otherwise I would have abandoned it long ago. Since one of my goals is to be more reflective and intentional, here are my thoughts on why writing for Al-Ameen ha been important to me for the past 10 years.
First of all, I’m an avid reader. For me, a library is as tempting and enticing as a candy store is for a little kid. I love reading. I read every day without fail. I cherish the written word. The wisdom it holds. The permanency of it. Spoken words evaporate. Written words stay securely in place. I can return to them again and again, searching out nuances that were overlooked the first time. Every sentence is a chance to learn something new; to consider the topic from a different viewpoint; and to peek inside the author’s mind. Depending on the subject, it can be very intense and overwhelming.
For me this is the key – writing a column forces me to scrutinize and analyze what I’ve read. It is like writing a university essay every other week. It’s work. Through the effort, I grow. I become a more competent and flexible thinker. I write because it helps me to discover meaning – for myself and perhaps others. It makes me more thoughtful and alert. More cognizant of how pieces fit together. It forces me to determine what is essential and what is superfluous. Writing makes me more aware of the multiple layers of communication—written and oral. Writing hones my perception, my thinking, and my being.
The routine of preparing for a column every two weeks has turned me into a curator of information. I have the luxury of writing about whatever interests me at a particular time. The topics reflect areas I’m curious about improving in. I don’t claim that what I write is “the Truth.” It is simply a suggestion. An offering to others concerning what I wish I knew before. A few ideas gleaned from my readings that might be beneficial and cause someone to think about things slightly differently. Perhaps most importantly, it serves as a reminder that I too can adapt and change. That I am still “a work in progress.” That I can be, and do, better.
Writing is one of the ways I seek to contribute to this world and I am grateful to Al-Ameen for offering a public platform to express myself. Writing offers a chance to be of some influence. To leave a small legacy. To serve as a conduit for betterment. It may not be much, but it is something. Where can you leave your mark? In what ways can you contribute? What opportunities will not only enhance your own personal development but also allow you to enrich others? Not everyone should be a writer. What can you get involved with?
I encourage everyone to become a curator of experiences. Reflect upon your life. Seek out knowledge. Learn something new each day. And in whatever ways suit you, communicate your learning with others. Choose to push aside your excuses and challenge yourself to grow. It’s a worthwhile endeavour. Give it a try.
Zainab Dhanani can be reached at z_dhanani@yahoo.ca
Footnotes:
|