August 2024

ALL IS SETTLED
     This is a poem — “I’m nobody, who are you?” (Laughter) Any hands of recognition? All right. That’s the cry of everyone, “I’d like to know who I really am.”
     Remember, we discussed several people going on inside of you alternating in conflict? And I have to end now, but I want to say one final thing. When all the strangers inside of you as a writer and as a human being, when all those stranger have disappeared through the strength that you find that is higher than yourself, when you find out who you really are, all is settled. All is settled. You have it now. No more fear of the future of what is going to become of you — you have it now.
     There’s the statement that when you face the sun the shadows are at your back. You take that with you: “When you face the sun your shadows are at your back.” All right, as a human being, and as a writer, too, you live with that truth in mind. What it’s saying is turn toward what your heart knows is true and decent and clean.
     Clean! This is a dirty world and it’s getting worse, and you know it! Save your soul for eternity by turning toward the light, and all the shadows you might have — either as a human being or a writer — will disappear. There will be no more problems whatever because you have achieved the only success that’s worth having in this life.

GRATITUDE ALONE
     Insights are preceded by upheaval. Without challenges, we wouldn’t grow. Thankfulness alone can take you all the way. Gratitude alone can take you all the way out.