Books Don't Change The World

Books don't change the world, people change the world, books only change people. - Mario Quintana, Brazilian writer. poet, and translator

How do I find all the topics I write on?  I don't even really look for them. They are dropped into my lap constantly - every day, every hour - as long as I am connected and have my heart open.  I have had to pause TV shows and movies, send texts to myself when out and about and something hit me, had to pause while reading or even while listening to someone talk to make a note, and had them bubble up randomly from the ether with no prompting. The more I write, the more aware I am of my writing muse whispering in my ear. Unfortunately, my notes don't always remind me where an idea came from originally. Such is the case today.

As a freelance writer, author, and budding poet, I always pause to read any quote on writing, publishing and books. This one by Mario Quintana is powerful.  I began my career interviewing and sharing the stories of interesting people. As I wrote, I held out hope what I shared would have a positive effect on the world at large. What Quintana shared changed my perspective instantly by shifting how I viewed my work.

As artists, we hope what we create will have impact in some way. I now realize rather than thinking of the shifts I would like to create in the world, I need to pull my sights in and focus back in on creating shifts for the individual reader. What I write, the ideas I offer for others to ponder, need to land in the fertile soil of one heart - seeds that, if nourished, can grown and affect change. Hopefully that single reader becomes a few readers, then several, then hopefully many who can step out into the world and have positive impact through their actions. It is people who change the world.

Perspective is everything.  This knowledge has changed my process. In the beginning I wrote simply because the drive to share pushed me through the layers of doubt and procrastination. As I continued to write, the desire to share all the amazing knowledge I had been handed, wisdom that changed my life, drove me. Then I came to a place the simple act of putting pen to paper called me. It is now an integral part of most days.

Along the way I have been urged time and time again to picture myself writing to one single person as a tool.  Now writing to a single person has been forever tied to the quote above. What I write no longer is about the biggest picture I can imagine.  It has shrunk to affecting the life of individuals who need encouragement to embrace who they are, their place in the world, and to empower them to step onto the stage. One at a time. Repeat. 

What a beautiful image.  It connects my heart to every reader who picks up one of my books, and I will do my best to hold it in my mind as I write each day.  It also pairs perfectly with the mantra I learned from my mentor - "One step, one moment, one breath at a time."