The  pen is mightier than the sword is an expression dating back to the 1800’s. What this proverb means is that you can solve problems or achieve your purpose better and more effectively through communication with words rather than weapons. Of course, common sense must prevail; if we are threatened with physical bodily harm, our life threatened, then a pen may not be a preferable choice for a defensive weapon. It is our right to defend ourselves. But when we’re not in a survival mode of fight or flight; we can choose to have our words represent us.

We live in a world that is accelerating at a pace that some of us find hard to keep up with. Everything has to be quick, done fast. NOW!!! RIGHT NOW!!!  Why should I have to wait ? And why every time I decide to do something every body else wants to do the same thing?  Go ahead and make the turn! What are you waiting for!  Come on!  I’m late for work!

Most of us can relate to that or other instances where we were in a hurry and left the house at the last minute. Times when we acted out of character, lost our patience. We’re only human. Patience is indeed a virtue. It is needed more and more in this ‘all about ME’ driven society of increasing anger, aggression, and yes, impatience. PARDON ME BUT WHY ARE YOU IN MY WAY?

Unfortunately, there are so many angry people who are lost. They channel that anger and hatred into violent acts against random people who have nothing to do with their situation. We may or may not ever get to the point of holding hands and singing  Kumbaya; however, we can find healthy ways to channel that anger and rage into something positive and wholesome. Thoughts and feelings come and go. We don’t have to act on those contrived thoughts of hurt and destruction, nor allow our minds to be held hostage by them. Writing can help you to let go.

Does it sound like the DPL is recruiting. WE ARE. If you’re not already a writer, think about it. The world needs more POETS and WRITERS.

So we humbly ask you, unless you’re being attacked, to lay down your sword, your weapon and be brave enough to pick up a pen.  If you are angry or on the edge of doing something you may regret, release that anger through that pen. Some of the best poems, raps and essays have been born out of anger, irritability and discontentment.  Be BRAVE. USE THAT MIGHTY PEN!  Show us how tough you really are. You have to tough to be to be a writer, it can be rewarding , but it isn’t always easy to bring out what’s deep inside.

For these upcoming exercises we would prefer you use a pen or pencil, however, if need be type on the computer. In fact, even though we are communicating with you via the internet; we write all of our drafts long hand, pen (pencil) to paper. Then we transfer it to the computer. But for some of us, like a potter with clay, it seems as if something magical happens when we hold an ink pen in our hands. We become transformed into something greater than ourselves. Yet we still remain humble because we know the craft of writing  is a gift we must nurture.

EXERCISE #1

    Write down how you’re feeling this very moment. If you’re happy. Write why you are feeling happy.  If you are sad. Write why you are feeling sad. If you are angry. Write why you are feeling angry. You may feel a kaleidoscope of emotions, good, bad or indifferent all at once. Just write. Be patient with yourself and just sit there until you are ready to write. Be determined. Get it all out. Don’t worry about syntax or if it sounds right or makes any sense. Just write. Write like your life depends on it. Write until you can’t any more. You can always come back  and work on it again.

 

EXERCISE #2

   Write a gratitude list. Write down ten things you are grateful for and why you are grateful for them. See where it leads you. You will possibly find, like most of us, you have a lot of reasons to be grateful. You will realize that you matter.

 

EXERCISE #3

 Write a letter to someone you know. Yes. The old fashioned art of letter writing, not texting. If you’re not comfortable writing to someone else. Write a letter to yourself and mail it to yourself. This may sound ridiculous but interestingly enough you just might impress yourself. You may or may not want to tell someone about this one.  They may not get it. But who cares you’re doing this for you, not them.  (For more on letter writing check out Poets and Writers Nov./Dec. 2018 issue  The Art of Letter Writing, A Forgotten form, by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes , pw.org)

Let us not forget that the pen is mighty. It has truth and the power to write our wrongs. As long as we LET OUR WORDS BE THE VEHICLES OF POSITIVE EXPRESSION we will feel better knowing that we have done our part to spread GOOD VIBRATIONS.