Recently, I published my first book on Amazon Kindle. “Unrequited” is a story of life’s ups and downs, told in poetry form. As poetry seems to be a “lost literary form” in this day and age, the Shakespeare in me was jolted into completing it during this time, as I was always home.
During my interview with Mr. Anton Diaz, I was asked about my inspiration in writing the book. It is a conglomerate of various experiences, which may not necessarily be mine. Being an observer of life’s struggles and triumphs enables me to put myself in another persona – what would I do when I am in someone’s shoes? Perhaps my training as a family physician and my exposure to hospice patients helped me develop this skill.
But more than any skill, the key to writing a book is not inspiration or desire – but a determination to finish it. Setting an exact date to finish is key, and scheduling time to write is important. Word by word, page by page, the story comes to life – never mind the grammar, initially. There is a tendency towards perfectionism, but this desire must be rejected, for no book is too perfect (except the bible, and even this is subject to debate).
What is in your bucket list?
Is it written on any piece of paper, or in an electronic file? If not, write it down. Lists or anything in print, which can be seen, has a way of spurring people into action. It also helps us remember. This is why I also love the Notes App on my smartphone. When a sudden thought comes to me and I do not have a pen, I can simply type away.
So what do you put on your list?
The movie Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson comes to mind. It may be an adventure. Or a project. An unfulfilled wish. It may not matter if it is truly attainable – this list is for inspiration. If it becomes reality – great! If not, the fact that it was written may have pushed you to go for it – and you learned through the process. You can revise the goal to something more realistic later.
What must we aim for when creating a bucket list?
Ultimately, we want to be remembered, but there must be something more to that. Extend the goal to something that does not just benefit you. It must benefit those around you. It may sound simple to you, but it may be a big deal for those whose lives you touch.
“Unrequited” is not just for me. It is for those who have struggled. It is for those who have won and lost. It is for those in the depths of despair. For those who have not been given a response. People who have gone through life and wonder what direction to take when things turn out for the worse. Its last part, “Love Is Hopeful”, brings out the goodness in all of us. For where there is hope, there is a way. And the truth is, The Way has always been there, since the beginning of time. And that is The Word.