My Journey with Words

27.12.2019

A somewhat shy person in nature, it took me a while to admit to myself that I liked writing, because I realized quite early on, that this interest is something that you cannot quite hide. And that it is also something that everyone will be curious about, and will also have varying opinions about. And if there was one thing I hated, it was being the centre of attention.

The first time someone peeped over my shoulder and proceeded to tell all and sundry that, “Navya's writing a poem!” I decided to stop writing in public, around people I knew. All those curious eyes: some genuinely interested, others looking for something to poke fun at; were too much for a person who was just getting comfortable with a pen and paper, to bear.

And so, I became a closet writer.

Now, this is a bottomless abyss, one that took me years to resurface from. But at the same time, it was a very rewarding experience, because you are more often than not, your harshest critic.

You read, reread, and scratch out. Ruthlessly.

Sometimes it’s a game, sometimes a matter of life and death. 

Writing is sometimes abandoned, but never discarded.

You are the learner, and you are the educator.

You are just as much a distraction for yourself as you are an inspiration.

At least that was how it was for me. 

It could have gone badly. I could have limited myself to only what I knew. Instead, I discovered so much by way of expression. Simply mulling over a word somebody used, or something they said, could kick-start so much.

There was so much awe, and wonder; so much appreciation and experience involved, that I could never ever be lonely or empty when I had words and tools to use them.

Then, unconsciously, I switched to the next stage. The daunting task of sharing what I had written. Feedback and discussions became few of the new experiences I now looked forward to.

This journey still progresses, and I hope it always continues to do so. I still learn hundreds of new things about myself, everyday.

As I write, I have realized, I deal with worlds rather than simply words. Each word is an expression, each expression, a world. And wielding them all in the palm of my hand makes me feel so relevant and significant. But, at the same time, being balanced between all those worlds, makes me feel extremely humble and grateful to be alive and to be able to write.

They say that in each one of us, there is a storyteller, just waiting to be summoned. I believe that all you have to do is look inwards, and you will find not only your inner storyteller but also your own journey of words.