Freestyle Friday: Just Do It

We took the tourist bus tour of Glasgow on Thursday, an great overview of the city. Then walked up the hill to the Catholic Cathedral, just as a VE Day service finishing.  

In breaking news, 

The new Pope, was one of Sweet Bears classmates at Villanova. 

The lifeguard at the pool was talking one day about what he wants to do when he is done lifeguarding. The daytime, middle of the week lifeguards are adults, guys in their 30s and 40s.  For most lifeguarding ends in early adulthood.  These guys have stuck with it, or returned to it when other opportunities faded away.  

But I digress. He said his certification runs out next year, and he might let it lapse to force himself into doing something new.  He asked me about some of my writing, I had talked with him about a book chapter I wrote a few months ago (on identity theft and scams.) He would like to try his hand at writing. He is a storyteller, usually about the 101 oddities he encounters as a lifeguard. He said he has enough stories to fill a few books. I asked if he was writing the stories down, and he said no. Hmm? 

If you want to be a writer, the first step is to start writing.  Make a commitment to yourself to write.  As Nike urges us, "Just Do It!" Forming thoughts, getting them into words, getting them on paper-paper, or electronic paper. For some meticulous composition is what works best, for others getting a dirty first draft and then editing works best. You really don't know what will work for you, until you practice it. Writing is an art form, and like all art forms it takes practice. Lots of practice.  

Like many bloggers, I blog, because I want to write, to record "the unimportant things that are too important to be forgotten". Blogging has improved my writing. I suggested to my lifeguard friend that he create a blog, that he make a commitment to post one well written story each week.  He went to University on an athletic scholarship.  While a college degree is no guarantee that he learned to write, practice will hone his skills. 

Like many things in life, the hardest part of is getting started. Pick up the pen, open up the computer, pick up the camera, pick up the paintbrush. If you want to do it, Just Do It.