#404 Up and down we go

Your best writing can only happen when you’re writing.

Your running PR can only happen when you’re running.

And your most cherished moments with friends can only happen when you’re with your friends.

You can try to time life.

But the only foolproof way to live your best moments do is by showing up in the moment.

If you knew you’d always feel unsatisfied with what you write, would you still let satisfaction play a role in your writing process?

If you knew your writing would always be criticized by others, no matter how good it is, would you still let their criticism determine whether you should publish?

If you’d take the fear that stops you the most and rob it of its power, would you write and publish more?

When the best story in the world has already been written… why do I write?

Because writing is not a choice – and neither is telling stories.

Because stories are never finished.

Because the best stories in the world are written over and over again.

Because a story well-told depends on who you’re telling it to.

Because we all tell the same stories anyway, but that one little change, that one new interpretation can make the difference between touching someone or missing the mark.

But what IS the best story in the world?

I don’t know.

I do know they don’t have to be very elaborate to have impact:

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Ernest Hemingway

When someone, sometime, stumbled upon six words that can evoke so much… How can I NOT continue my own search for stories and the words to tell them?

P.S.: Credits to Jony Mitchell for writing the best song in the world.

P.P.S: Extra credits for singing the most heartfelt version even after suffering a stroke and having to relearn to talk and sing.

P.P.P.S.: Credits to The Tallest Man on Earth for showing that a new interpretation can make even the best song in the world reach new heights, and providing the inspiration for this post.