Someone's Words May Change Your Life

by Joyce-Anne Locking

In a little coffee shop, where I worked during my last year of university, I met a quiet newspaperman. An elderly gentleman with gray, thinning hair spent time in the coffee shop every evening. He ordered coffee as he sat and read the newspaper. Gradually, I came to realize he was a newspaperman who worked for the city paper. It wasn't until much later I realized the valuable impact his words would make on my belief in my own writing abilities. One day, before my graduation, he asked what I wanted to do with my life.

"I want to write," I told him, in a matter-of-fact way.

"Well, do it. Get yourself some supplies and get started," he said. "Just start writing down whatever is of interest to you. It doesn't make a difference what it is."

Something about his voice filled with conviction and enthusiasm. Something about his eyes flashed and sparkled with belief as he spoke.

"Yes," I said, "I'd like to do that too, but really I meant I want to write music."

"Oh," he said, "I wouldn't know about that." His eyes quickly reverted back to his newspaper and his eager interest in my future soon evaporated.

Over the years I have come to think of him often. I never saw him again, but I never forgot his genuine belief in how easily I could be well on my way to becoming a writer, if only I would begin writing about whatever was of interest to me.

Years later, I did begin writing little stories. Little anecdotes and episodes of my own life, three or four lines long, were mailed regularly to Reader's Digest. After a couple of years of that kind of writing, my stories gradually began to expand. I soon found other places to send my work. A small local newspaper was one of the first. The editor helped and gave pointers on how to improve what I had sent. On my third attempt my work was accepted for publication. I was asked to send a photo of myself to go with the article. Although my article was never published, it was a thrilling beginning and I kept on writing about anything of interest to me and I didn't look back.

It's funny how the words of the quiet newspaperman live on, and how, finally, they did take root in my life and begin to direct my future. "Start writing down whatever is of interest to you. It doesn't make a difference what it is." All it takes is someone to believe in us. Once that becomes clear, we take up wings, so to speak, and fly swiftly ahead in the direction of a dream! Pay close attention to anyone who lets you know they believe in your abilities. This could be a transitional turning point in your decision making. Someone's words may change your life! As for writing music, I can do that too. The process is similar whether one is writing words or writing music. The most important ingredient in completing the process is self belief.