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| Photo by Mariana Riccio |
No one yet has ever
thought the power and influence writing can make; from mere textbooks, to
newspapers, magazines, novels, and even the varied types of blogs written in
the world wide web.
Some people write for personal purposes like keeping a
journal (for daily updates) while others write for business purposes or like
maintaining a job whatever that is.
It goes without saying that some people react even to
the most ordinary caption we make on photos or whenever we send them a simple
hello. Whether they feel enamored, entertained, flattered, or saddened, it still
gives a clear proof that they get affected by what we write. Perhaps it's not
the printed letters that essentially affect them but the message conveyed
behind every words that ignites and captures their human minds and hearts.
Just like when I got myself bored and idle at home one Wednesday afternoon. The temperature felt like
it reached 40 degrees Celsius and I couldn’t manage another hour of sitting on
the couch. It seemed like being cooked inside a big oven. I stood up and helped
myself with a glass full of iced coffee and remained standing before the fridge
that was widely open, hoping for an instant relief^^.
As I finished the glass of iced coffee and two other glasses of water I still
couldn’t help the high temperature so I took a bath, changed my clothes, and
walked a few distance to the high way and waited for a ride to a 15-minute
drive mall.
The book encounter
I went window shopping and looked through some place to stay until the heat’s
not too scorching outside. Not to mention how I was hugely relieved from the
hot weather by the air-conditioned mall. I had a delectable affair with a
regular size of Zagu, a pearl drink that comes in three sizes with prices that
fits accordingly, imbued with different flavors such as crème brulee, hazelnut
cappuccino, choco caramel (that sound and taste really good and are by far my
most favorite flavors of Zagu) and different others exquisitely blended with
tapiocas.
I had the chance to drop by the National Bookstore. I accommodated myself in the novels section, then to the featured books section,
to the recipe books section and to the self-help books section, phew! And, okay, here was the real story: as I looked over the shelves I came across a book that said, “Men are good speakers, Women are
bad listeners”. I didn’t know if I would laugh at the line or get mad with
it, all I know was that it really sucked having have to stereotype one gender
as being good and the other as being bad. Or do I have to mention that I
perfectly belong to the gender that the line utterly quoted in the negative
context?
My big disappointments heightened. I kept throwing in words
of disgust leaving a bad impression on the author of the
book (but peace to him whoever he is^^). Doesn't the line appear too
discriminating on my part as a woman to be able to read something that coins
the entire feminine gender as the complete malfunction of the masculine
species?
Surely, other women especially the feminists would somehow react
in the same way I did, wouldn’t they? The line was like a total crap. I felt
there has to be a space for gender equality somewhere in that moment. So junk was
that line, ditch was that author. I was pissed off and I was in total mess.
But that was long before I realized on my way home, how that very
simple line influenced my emotions and made my day so bad. I was affected by
the writing. The author made an impact on me. I thought to myself, writing
really makes wonders. How it can turn a perfectly happy mood into an entirely
opposite one; and how it can possibly touch other people’s lives.
I became more motivated for that reason, to be able to write
things that would surely inspire others. I longed to make feelings work for
them through the power of words.
It’s not as though I’ve been eager to do it for monetary intentions but rather
the pure thought of influencing and making an impact on others through my
write-ups.
On another note, I remember one classmate back in college who used to tell my
other classmates how I am able to subtly touch other people’s lives and
amazingly inspire them whenever I do speaking in school or whenever I do
counseling on them. I wouldn't have known until
a someone else told me. I was completely inspired to do more speaking and
counseling to others, and who wouldn’t be?
Humans as we are, it is a natural reaction for us to go far from what we used
to do when somebody else we personally know or not appreciates our being able
to help and move them in ways that we do. It’s our human behavior to do it in
order to appeal to the impressions of others and prove it in our system.
Consciously or not, it charges up our batteries when somebody caters to our
ego. But right through my heart, to be honest, it just made me realize the
sense and worth of the things I have been doing.
To speak and to counsel are the things I always love to do. But to have inspired others by doing these things is something I don’t quite expect.
Hence, I thought exploring other ways to inspire people--- this time, through writing. To put
into words the stories that represent and encourage them, and to hopefully be
able to reach out to others who, if God so will, would be able to read my
writings and become my regular readers and if it isn’t much, my
blaudience.
There’s nothing more fulfilling than to be able to succeed in things we love to
do.
No one yet has really ever thought the power and influence writing can make.
Whether you agree, partially agree or totally disagree with the former
statement, it’s still sure fire that you had something to say in mind; you had
your own back talk or opinion perhaps. Thus, you were affected by the writings.
After all, writing is another thing that I’ve been dreaming of achieving. I want to
write things that people want to feel!
