A Small Group Teaches Me About the World

Posted on February 5, 2005 in Compassion Hope and Joy Writing Groups

In my writing group, I make two promises: First, I will never ever tell another person to stop writing. Second, I will never ever tell a person that they can’t choose to write on the subject they chose to write. (Sometimes, it is wise not to present a piece to the group because of the feelings of others, but asking them to show a little discretion about what they bring is not the same as telling them not to explore this subject on their own.)

Yesterday, I thought about this code which has served me well in the group and expanded it to life in general. First, I will never tell another person to stop living. Second, I will never tell a person that they can’t choose to live the life they dream of well as long as they do not deprive others of food, shelter, safety by their actions*. As I chant the mantra to the writing group and myself, so, too, I shall chant this new code to myself.

* Perhaps I have been redundant in this sentence. When I think of living well, I mean it in the sense of feeling well. I’m not endorsing hedonism. I am calling for health. A healthy person doesn’t not stand on the backs of others, drain their blood, allow their contributions to go unrecognized.