Inktober Day 26: Share Your Jabberwocky

I was recently given a hard copy of Alice in Wonderland – what a great book! I started reading it and was reminded of how the imaginative ideas and characters have impacted so many things in this world. We were watching a movie and one of the characters used the word jabberwocky to describe something…everyone laughed as we all knew exactly what was meant. A Jabberwocky was invented by the author of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll. I had to praise him for writing and inventing such a powerful story and inventing such clever characters and words.

This quote from Jhumpa Lahiri reminded me to give thanks for creative people who share their voice. People who stopped listening and started sayings, “Listen to me!” Writers and creatives who have found the strength to get out of their heads and onto paper or canvas the incredible, mind blogging ideas that only they could imagine. Their courage has changed our world in ways they might never have been able to comprehend. The only way that happened was for them to stop pondering their ideas and muster the courage to share them with the world.

I was speaking with a writer who was having trouble thinking their ideas were good enough to share. They had started a blog and were no longer sure they had anything to say. In sharing with me the story they wanted to tell, I asked, “Why that story? Why share it now?” Then they told me the why and I as encouraged. I then encouraged them to write it down and keep blogging. They indeed had a story to tell, lessons to share and people would be made to think.

Sometimes we all need bit of encouragement, a kind word or even a kick in the pants to get us moving closer to telling our story or sharing our gift. It can feel arrogant or foolish to think what we have to give is worth giving. It can be very selfish to let the things we have to say stay dormant, it might even be stingy. How would our world be a bit duller if Lewis Carroll or Jhumpa Lahiri never wrote what they thought they had to give? Dare to believe that what you have to say, give, share will touch people. I believe everyone has a story to tell…have the courage to tell it. Share your Jabberwocky!