Thorny Rose by Bibiana Krall
“To survive, you must tell stories.”—Umberto Eco
When was the last time you read a book and said to yourself, ‘Me too,’ or actually for real cried?
It happens on occasion for me and it always makes me realize how important words are to developing a better world for all of us. The way lyrical or soulful writing can take us to the highest heights and the lowest corners of our minds is astounding.
To live a creative life, first you must decide to pluck the “Thorny Rose.”
What does this mean? It means that you must be willing to be exposed, to say aloud or attempt to do something that will potentially garner ridicule, gossipy speculation from strangers and friends or just receive plain old criticism.
This occurred to me yesterday after a friend shared what the #writerslife means to her, the good, bad and ugly.
Think on the artists of any medium that you deeply admire. Ask yourself why?
Is it the raw emotion, the deep honesty, the earnestness? For me it would have to hit all three of these levels to tune me in. Writers and artists are instruments of something fantastical: a siren song, The Muse, the whisper of our inner souls, a memory of someone who was cruel or incredibly kind…however you might package it, to me it’s all from the same place.
There is an expectation that an artist gives everything to their craft. They must share their secrets, their pain and their excruciating lessons. As consumers we demand that they express themselves and show us who they are, which in turn offers us the reflection. This is incredible to witness when it happens and to me it feels spiritual and rare.
The breakdown in code and the hyper-negative of this are the people who look to destroy and break others down just for the sake of it.
I am not talking about someone who comes from a place of sincerity who takes their ego out of it and has something to offer that another creative can learn from. Sure that always stings, but critical feedback isn’t fatal. In fact it can be quite useful, if it comes with clear examples and logic.
Nor am I talking about the person who simply doesn't vibe to it or feel the same way either. I'm not a big fan of country music, but I could spend a whole day listening to Puccini or the new song "Watermelon Sugar" by Harry Styles. Undoubtedly you would feel differently and that's actually kind of cool right?
What I am talking about are people in the world who are grossly unhappy and seek to deliver a poison apple to others, while still demanding and expecting art and beauty to bloom in the darkness that some people call civilization.
I’ve concluded that being a writer is masochistic to a certain degree. All of us have to decide whether or not we are willing to handle the thorns in order to deliver the roses. If I were to compare my writing style to a rose, it would be a crimson tea rose. Fragrant, lush, bold and sometimes fragile. It’s brave for anyone to be totally open, then to be aware that we are vulnerable to carrion afterwards.
Nope. I haven’t changed my mind about being a writer; I’ve wanted to do this since I was four. Sometimes though, I wish that more people understood how difficult it is to be open in a world that always seems ready and willing to crush the very same qualities that most of us secretly long for in our stories, our world and our relationships.
Thank you so much for reading and subscribing. Thank you to the Literati, for your incredible loyalty, friendship and for reading and enjoying my stories.
Until next time, find your Peace, Love, Hustle, then Read or write. Xox Bibiana