Reading and the Words of a Writer

Because I'm so scattered brain that I post bits and pieces of myself in different platforms, I wanted to collate everything (or everything I can find, that is) and place them here.  This is one of those old pieces, a blast from the past from June 28, 2010.  


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Image Credit:  CopyWritingOnline

After reading for decades, some of you might think this is highly unusual, but I only realized this one nugget of knowledge last night.

Last night, I was taking a bath when I realized, how blissful would it be to sink into a tub full of hot water. We had bathtubs in our old apartments in the US and Saudi, but never in the Philippines. I continued playing with the water, when it suddenly hit me: after reading “The Samurai’s Garden” by Gail Tsukiyama, I wanted to purge myself into a steaming tub of water.

See, in Samurai’s Garden, the main character was a sick man. He was urged by their helper to sink himself into a tubful of hot water. The character then described the experience as blissful, and he was able to drift off into a beautiful, uninterrupted sleep.

Then again, it could just be my unconscious side telling me to get some rest. I shrugged off the thought that by reading novels, somehow little parts of the story would tickle my fancy and I would want to try it out for myself. 

Then today, it happened again. I was reading in bed, when I remembered a similar scene in Chelsea Handler’s “Are You There Vodka? It’s me, Chelsea.” I was suddenly craving for McChicken Nuggets, which Chelsea apparently dropped while giving to a homeless woman.

Oh-oh. The flags and signs are there. Am I turning into a person with no identity but what I read in my novels? 

As a writer, I realized the importance of my words and thoughts. I might be writing a simple fiction, but I have no idea how my readers would react to my words. Take for example an old manuscript I wrote back in high school. I was very surprised when an old boyfriend passed it around to other people and said, “Maganda kasi yung story. Pakiramdam ko ako ung bida.” 

True, the pen is mightier than the sword. The wisdom and knowledge imparted by other people will always remain with you forever. But what you do with that wisdom is yours only to answer. Will you exploit it, or nourish it to something greater?

I’ll have to end this pointless blah now, for my current book is waiting for me at the bed. So good day to you all, and I’ll lose myself again in a world of words and comfort. 

P.S.

For those who read my old story "Is it really me?", do you happen to have it? I lost my copy. :(