Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If you’re a writer, you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary act–truth is always subversive.
(Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird)
The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
(Albert Camus)
There was a day, not long ago, when the idea of telling the truth or knowing freedom scared the hell out of me because I knew such would be subversive and rebellious; that I would be experienced as subversive and rebellious. That was then.
This is now. Now subversiveness and rebellion are desired qualities; traits I hope consistently define me. And truth and freedom? Non-negotiable.
The process of getting from there to here, from then to now? Long. Arduous. Painful. Fraught with heartache and struggle (with hundreds of blog posts in the midst). But so, so worth it. There’s no turning back.
Playing it safe. Counting the cost. Editing, censoring, shoving me down. That was then. Risking everything. Living out loud. Always choosing desire. This is now.
Telling the truth matters. Freedom matters. Subversiveness and rebellion are hardly just means to their ends; rather powerful and provocative ways of being that make my life more rich, more passionate, more beautiful.
Indeed, there’s no turning back.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I hear you. Thank you.
It is interesting though, especially as I wrestle my own writing, painting, creating to open fruition–that I find my truth-telling is not nearly as volume loud as when I felt silenced. As I set my true voice free–it is more solid with strength than decibel. I wonder if this is mostly so I can hear the other voices rustle under mine as I speak. Those other voices of sheroes and heroes who are walking their own roads of freedom.
.-= Julianne Fuchs-Musgrave´s last blog ..Epiphanies from the Sea =-.
I adore Anne Lamott. (I posted a quote of hers this morning as well!) The quote you have shared has stuck with me ever since reading Bird by Bird. I usually think of it as a call to tell the truth about what we see and feel. Today I’m thinking about the obligation of telling the truth as it applies to ourselves. We owe ourselves honesty: saying no when we mean no, saying yes when we mean yes, telling the truth about what we see when we look inside.
Thanks, as always, for the food for thought.
.-= Kristen @ Motherese´s last blog ..Do You Know How to Say No? =-.
So beautiful, Kristen. Sometimes I think telling ourselves the truth is the only way we can ultimately tell the truth externally. The internal truth is far more risky and scary at times, but matters so, so much! Thank you.