Being seen and heard is one of the many reasons why most writer’s write. I am no exception. A writer also spends a lot of time listening and observing. While it feels like forever since you’ve heard from me, it doesn’t mean that I am not writing. I have been doing a lot of listening and observing lately.
What Writing Means To Me
Over the years, writing has helped me get my thoughts together, work through a situation, or, more simply, a way to get things out of my system.
But like every other child, I was taught the following:
- If I don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all; and
- I should be seen and not heard.
Sort of contradicts what being a writer is all about, wouldn’t you think? Sometimes you have to say things that others wouldn’t think is necessarily nice. Over the years, I’ve certainly read some not so nice things penned by other journalists and writers. I, however, still live by that rule. I just don’t see the point in not being nice.
Perception
On the other hand, being seen and not heard, is something that bothers me the older I get. In my day job, I am seen every day but admittedly, not heard or shall I say, “listened” to by the many people that I speak to during the week. Recently, I was told that someone thought I was short with them. I’ll admit that sometimes my frustrations leak out, but I did not act in this way. Rather, the person was so angry that when I reminded said person about what I said during our previous conversation, apparently it was viewed as “short”.
Being perceived this way deeply wounded me. Saying things to someone else when you are upset can leave a lasting affect on others. During moments of heightened emotion, I know that one may only “listen” to what they want to hear. So perhaps living by the “don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” motto may not be such a bad thing.
I Want to be Seen and Heard
I just want to be seen and heard. While I spend the better part of my day listening to others, making comments here and there, for the most part though, I am listening. Sometimes though, I have very important things to say to others. When people don’t listen to me, I feel like I am talking to a wall. And that, my dear friends of Today’s Writing Woman, is the most frustrating thing of all.
When people talk to you, they are saying things because they want to be heard. As a writer, when someone reads what I write, I have somewhat of a captive audience. But when I speak out loud, why don’t others listen to me? I’ve had people walk away from me during mid sentence. I’ve had people ignore me altogether and then look at me like why I am even there. Is what I have to say not really so important after all? Perhaps what I have to say is not necessarily what other want to hear at that moment. Maybe what I have to say bears no interest to others.
I Will Always Write to be Seen and Heard
Whatever the reason, I am still going to write. Maybe I will just pen things about what I love. Get back to talking about the things that are important to me, like books, movies and the like. Life will get in the way from time to time, but I will always return to writing. For those of you that read my musings, I want to say “Thank You!” I appreciate all of your likes and for following me on social media. I may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the fact that you opened up this post and took the time to read what I had to say means the world to me. It means you “listened” to me and that I was not only seen, but I was heard. For that I am truly grateful for each and every one of you.
Wishing you moments to be seen and heard,
