Mysticism

"Quotes are nothing but inspiration for the uninspired." - Richard Kemph

Now, obviously I take a fair measure of exception to the quote above. Everything I write begins with a quote from someone else. It is often for inspiration. It's also because I love the words of others. Throughout history, there have been some phenomenal thinkers and writers and I am always willing to allow their words to summarize the emotion I am attempting to convey.

Am I uninspired? Often.

Inspired? Occasionally. Now is one of those times. I'm on fire.

Here's what's funny about that:

I have been trying to tell a very specific story for a very long time. I've toyed with it for months, if not years, trying to find the voice. Then recently, I discovered another story that I would like to tell. Again, I couldn't find and angle.

Shiraz called me and said, "Everything you've been writing lately is crap." And yeah, she was just that blunt. I've actually edited out some of the mean shit she said. (And yes, honey, I know you're reading this and you were seriously a bitch - for shizzle.) But, I needed to hear what she had to say. So, I write a ton the night she says it, but it's all still crap.

The next morning I wake up so inspired that I can barely speak. I don't want to speak to anyone because I'm scared to drown out the words that are pouring out of me - but I'm hopeless and helpless - I can't write longhand anymore - I just can't keep up, and I need privacy and music and my system yo (I'm so street) - but I'm at work, so I'm scratching random thoughts on a piece of paper but it's a challenge to keep up with the thoughts, then try to transcribe them in my wretched handwriting. (I double-dog dare you to come up with a bigger run-on sentence).

Later in the day, Shiraz says to me, "I want more Huda. Go back to that story, I want to know how she got there." And I'm PISSED at her. I hate her at that moment. "I can't tell you what to paint, Shiraz, so don't tell me what to write."

A day passes and I write more shit that means exactly nothing - but at least I'm saving it all -and then...the light comes on - and it is Huda's story. All of it. Shiraz was right. Bitch.

It's coming and I already love the story. I wrote obsessively for four hours tonight. I'm spent, but I want to keep writing more. I can't. I think this is it. It's the epitome of it all.

It will be called "Legacy", and I hope that you'll love it as much as I do. When we wake in the morning, we are who we choose to be on that given day, impacted tremendously by genetics, desires and reality. Our legacies are largely given to us.