How We Change the World One Word at a Time

Writers give their best so we may become our best.

Dark clouds may hover over us. Our hearts and the earth may heave with sorrow. Or, joy explodes waiting for an audience to share and celebrate.

These feelings demand words. Writers give voice to our fears, longings, and desires to live our best lives. I invite you and all writers to change the world one word at a time.

Mary Pipher describes writers as “people who care enough to try to share their ideas with other people.” When Mary considers writing for change, she focuses on connections.

1. Good writing facilitates the making of connections in a way that inspires openheartedness, thinking, talking, and action…The way to promote social and economic justice… is by telling the truth, and by encouraging civil, public discussion.

2. Good writing enlarges readers’ knowledge of the world, or empowers readers to act for the common good, or even inspires other good writing.

3. Good writing connects people to one another, to other living creatures, to stories and ideas, and to action. It allows readers to see the world from new perspectives.

Timothy Key issued a challenge, or the big ask as he referred to it. The challenge was simple but speaks to the importance of connection.

“…I encourage you to pay forward the concept of highlighting the work of others. Please consider choosing another writer (or writers) and creating a story that emphasizes aspects that you appreciate about their work.”

From the beginning, our challenge as a community of writers centers on creating serendipity for ourselves and one another. But there was one critical difference on how to do this. Serendipity doesn’t begin with us.

“…The more you give, the more you receive is the principle we must follow. However, as leaders, we need to initiate the process by giving first then receiving later.”

Through this process, I met writers of many genres from around the world and some who lived near me. Through their words, I have honed my own. They have seen in me what I sometimes could not see in myself. My words spoke to these reader/writers in ways I never expected.

Sometimes, I learned about blind spots in my thinking and writing. Hard lessons, but who wouldn’t want to learn from some of the best writers?

Writers Who Brought Me Inspiration

Ten new or fairly new writers found their way into my reading on Medium. These individuals inspired, taught, and connected me to new perspectives because they cared enough to share their ideas. I hope you enjoy their writing as much I have.

Rachel Sample’s insightful story resonated with me. I am a talker, too, albeit an introverted one. I’ve learned the closer my writing mirrors my speaking, the closer I get to my voice. When you have spent much of your writing time in academia and business, that shift takes time — at least for me. Not sure if I’m entirely there yet, but a work in progress.

As a clinical nerd regarding all things relationship and trauma, Ryan Breen tells us just how he sees things. Bryan wrote about how we must look at the stories and lives of people who live with the travesties of police brutality and the inequity of our systems. We must do more to change this narrative and the dehumanization of others.

Lucy Milanova embraces helping people understand themselves. Her words pushed me to reflect on my own lack of meaningful words this past week. She shares her conversation with her mind and begins by pointing out:

“This is the issue with our minds. That they create a problem when there’s none.”

In one of the first articles I read from Noah Levy, he reminds us To Stop Scrolling, Remember That You’re in Control. I needed to hear that. I loved the metaphor from his Mom, “…we can look at technology like a knife. You can either use it to make a delicious salad, or you can use it to stab someone else or yourself.”

Noah’s story of what he learned in high school starts with simple lessons, but draws us into a serious discussion of equality for women. Noah is on a journey to learn and use his words to change the world.

We all want to live a meaningful life. Laura Bongers points us in the right direction with five ways we can add meaning and purpose to our life. While it takes work on our part, the reward blesses us and those around us. Her conclusion says it all:

“Find your values and virtues, learn more about yourself from books and other people, cultivate relationships with people who make you a better person, and help others as much as you can.”

Tochukwu Okoro E. got hooked on writing using his phone. He found what moved him. Sometimes, we feel like giving up. We question ourselves and our writing. What if we go back to what sparked our need to create and share ideas?

“Keep asking yourself why you decided to start writing in the first place — that’s what will drive you to keep going.”

Sandra Szubert’s self portrait revealed her beautiful way with words. Simple, elegant, touching insights into her purpose as a writer and as giver. I will be looking for more of her writing and learning how to use language to speak to the heart.

My background in continuous improvement always leads me to articles that on how our thinking contributes to our best work. That’s why I found the suggestions and analysis of Kunal Walia so intriguing. He hits on an important point — start with the problem needing a solution.

All too often, individuals and teams, dismiss the problem. Because that takes more time and thought. We start with, “Let’s come up with new ideas.” That thinking sidesteps the issue, and we end up with more that solves nothing. We can learn new strategies for generating ideas from Kunal.

In the past two years, I became interested in minimalism as a lifestyle but also a philosophy. Twisha Rohan took the concept to a new level for me when she wrote about a minimalist mindset.

“This minimalist mindset casts contempt on materialism, pointless consumerism, and sporadic pleasures in an effort to make the non-ephemeral the main focus of life.”

My actions reflect my commitment to this mindset. More reflection, new ideas, and reading will help me in adopting this mindset.

John Cunningham spoke powerfully when he wrote:

“Rather than looking for distraction and a world far from reality, art gives you the opportunity to explore your own feelings and build your skills of considering the thoughts and feelings of others.”

Art, music, writing, drama have shaped my life in more ways than I can explain here. My husband, the artist, takes me on art treks. His insight teaches me to see — really see the artist and myself.

Why do we need art? John will tell you and give you a new lens to see art and yourself.

One of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver, concluded A Poetry Handbook with these words:

“For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something as necessary as bread in the pocket of the hungry.”

Charlotte Zobeir Ali lights fires, lets down ropes, and gives us bread to feed our hungry souls. Her poetry inspires, challenges, and sparks our imagination. Here are two of my favorites from her recent offerings.

Stretch Your Out a Hand

You and I become better as we reach out our hands to others. To each of the writers highlighted in this article, I encourage you to connect with other writers and “give more than you receive.”

Hope

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.”

— Anne Lamott

Be and become your best!

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Kathryn A. LeRoy — a relentless seeker of excellence, kindness, learning, and believer in the strength of the human spirit. My why — inspiring your potential to be and become your best.