I didn’t notice life was a funnel until I looked back and saw the light grow fainter and fainter. Each decision made reduced the infinite possibilities of youth as if I were living in a “choose your own adventure” book.
I never felt I had finished one of those books until I read each ending.
I hate the idea that decisions made at twenty can extinguish the light from other paths forever.
I’m ready to shine a light on all those other paths. While I wish I could see the ending before choosing, those paths are still there to take.
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I’m linking up with Lance’s 100 Word Song prompt at My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog. The idea is to write 100 words, inspired by the song. This week’s song was “See A Little Light,” which reminds me of my youth. In the hopes of finding my writing mojo, I’m not grinding over this. I wrote until there were 100 words and I’m not massaging it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnNr6lNxvc
Wow. This has always been my mantra. I (stupidly) told my husband the night before our wedding that by choosing to marry each other, we were un-choosing ten million other things in our lives. Who says that? Anyway, this obviously resonated with me.
Ironically, the only decision I’m not concerned about is a big one–the husband. I’ve always been sure about that one. The career on the other hand, not so much! Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
Well-written!
Thanks for reading!
“I’m not grinding over this. I wrote until there were 100 words and I’m not massaging it.”
I love this, and I think this is an amazing post. I have to start taking that advice myself. And for the record, it’s never too late to be what you might have been. Go for it, girl.
Thanks for the pep talk, I’ve been working on inspiring myself. My grad school decision was made at 19 and created a domino effect for the rest of my life. My oldest nephew is about at that point in his life and it awes me to think about him making such a big decision at his age. But that’s what I did.
It’s not my usual process to just write and publish without a ton of editing, but it felt good not to obsess over the words forever like I usually do. I want to do that more.
I like your process. I hope this helpd your writing from here on. The stream of consciousness is lovely. The message s brilliant.
Thank youf or doing this for 100 word song, Leeroy the robot and I are both very happy.
Thanks for starting this great new link-up, Lance! It did help me break out of my obsessive grind of writing/editing/writing/editing, and then yet still more editing.
I’ve always wondered how each major decision in my life affected other aspects, and how if I chose differently how my life would have played out. Your 100 words explained that feeling perfectly.
Thanks, Tara. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately.
You really nailed it with the funnel image! I pictured myself in my mother’s funnel, which I mostly associate with her making homemade cranberry juice.
But then, my imagery shifted as you described the possibilities still open, and I imagined a Dr. Seuss version of a funnel, with the loop-de-loops of the unknown places life takes us before spitting you out dead. Oh shit, dead. Well, that’s where you took me…
Great post!
Whoa, easy there! Not ready to get spit out of the funnel dead just yet…