Last week you read what happened when I didn’t “give” proper attention to registration for a workshop I wanted to attend. In the workshop (I did get in!) they described the benefits of giving attention stating that it is what brings us alive. Giving attention connects us to the essence of ourselves.
Another takeaway to incorporate in my work as a memoirist: take extraordinary care when choosing words. Poets do this expertly. Nepo remarked that the meaning of words change over time. He stated that often the word’s earliest definition resonates the most. To further clarify he gave an analogy: “Words, like rocks and mountains, erode.”
I was delighted when Nepo chose vulnerability as an example of a word that had eroded over time. The original meaning of vulnerability was “to carry a wound gracefully.” Nepo commented that this earlier definition reminds us to keep our hearts open.
During the workshop itself, as I continued to give attention to Wagner and Nepo, I noticed how both were modeling vulnerability. Nepo admitted with humility that while his commitment is to live a full-hearted life, at times he finds himself acting from a half-hearted place. Wagner put her hand on her heart and confessed to feeling overwhelmed by the wisdom Nepo was sharing.
As I listened, I was reminded of my hard-earned discovery that a good writer must be willing to admit doubts and shortcomings. I want to carry my wounds gracefully. Thank you, Laurie Wagner and Mark Nepo.
Do you have an example of a word you think has eroded?
IMAGE: Picture of Walnut Creek near our home that shows how stream banks erode. Currently, I can hear the trucks and heavy equipment working to shore up the eroding banks. It’s been fascinating to observe the process, not so much to hear the beeping and roaring.
