More Me

Why so many quotes, why not more of my own stuff? I don't know if I know. Maybe it is because the chief editor of this blog (me, for those in the dark) doesn't think my stuff is up to snuff. He thinks there are men and women that he considers to be much smarter than me, and so their words appear here much more often than mine. They have incredible things to say...things he could never imagine me coming up with, but things that I identify with on a deep level nonetheless. I like to share it when something touches me that deeply, and sometimes, most times, I don't know what more to say about the quotes that they haven't already said for themselves.

Here's what I know: I'm scared to write for an audience. I lack the confidence that I will have anything interesting or intelligent, entertaining or inspiring to say. And if you can't do one of those four things, why say anything at all? (I think that's a direct quote from my editor). What is it that I could have to say that would hold your interest? I also fear that I'll say something that I won't have any clue how to back up. I don't know why, but being in that position makes me uncomfortable.

Maybe my editor is missing something. If I can't be intelligent, interesting, entertaining or inspiring, maybe I can at least be honest. I think I read somewhere that all those things, those qualities we consider appealing in an author's work fall into line when honesty is achieved. When universal truth is tapped into, it strikes a chord with everyone. Perhaps the aim should simply be honesty, maybe that's the answer to my confidence problem.

Based on a suggestion from my lovely wife, (which for me served as a reminder of sorts, since I originally told her this is what I intended to do with the blog all along) I will make an effort to at least comment on the quotes I post, to do my best to clarify how I interpret their meaning, and maybe take a shot at explaining why they mean what they mean to me. So, hold on to your butts...