Exposing the weak WIZARDS

I’ve been consistently journaling since 2007. Recording my thoughts and feelings on paper has been a source of stability and comfort that has helped me navigate life’s many valleys and mountains. I really enjoy journaling and have probably written over 300 pages but the weird thing is that my masterpiece has always had an audience of one — me.

Writing has always scared me. It involves risk, hard work, personal discipline, and a fine balance of creativity and precision. So I’ve always journaled where my thoughts are kept safe from the critique of others and I can enjoy them in the comfort of sheltered cognition.

This brings forth the question, why start writing publicly if it’s uncomfortable? I’m writing to force myself to be vulnerable. I have a lot of dreams, ideas, and ambitions but the easiest way to not pursue them is to keep them caged up inside like wild animals at the zoo. When I communicate my dream, I invite others to join me in the journey. But in any adventure there is always risk and every writer should be aware of that risk.

In the book Into the Wild, Chris McCandless writes a profound quote in his journal before he dies. “Happiness is only real when shared with others.” If I could change this quote slightly to fit my story, it would be “Adventure is only real when shared with others.”

For much of my life, I’ve kept all my dreams, goals, and ambitions inside myself. It’s easier that way because if it doesn’t work out and no one finds out then failure is avoided. But is this really adventure if there’s no risk of failure? That is exactly what I fear the most — that someone would rip away the curtain of my life and find a pathetic, weak wizard.

I’m inviting you to join me on a risky adventure! I hope that we can all benefit on this vulnerable journey by ripping away the curtains and exposing the many wizards in our lives.