I write because I cannot waste time
Writing is not a luxury for me. I do not find time for it. I do not make time for it. It is part of how I do things.
I write because I cannot waste time.
I cannot waste the time that I spend learning something. If I do not write, if I do not share, it stops with me. If I share what I’m learning, other people can build on it. I learn from what they can do. We all grow.
If I do not share, it stops with me. Six months later, I’ll need to relearn. Two years later, I’ll spend time explaining the same things to different people, things I’ve long forgotten. I’ll wonder where the days went, where the weeks went, where the years went.
I cannot waste time, so I must write.
If I take a few minutes to write a note, if I explain it to myself or to others, it becomes a seed that can grow into something bigger. As I revisit it, as I understand it better, I help it grow. And someday, someone might come across it and find it useful.
But if I do not share, it stops with me.
My frustration then, is not about finding the time to write. My frustration is that there are so many stories and so many thoughts that I am too slow and unskilled to capture.
But even so, I can share something that sparks people’s imagination and inspires people to learn. Imagine what could happen if you started earlier, knew more, learned more. What I share becomes the launchpad that others can use to take flight.
On one hand, the scarcity of time drives me to share. On the other—far-reaching possibilities! Even now, I learn more from the unexpected ripples of my life than I have ever shared.
I stand on the shoulders of giants. I write so that others can stand on mine, and so that I can learn from the heights we lift ourselves to.
(Thanks to Dror Engel for the nudge to write about finding the time to write)
Short URL: http://sachachua.com/blog/p/6937
@sachac, I have (as I see you do) various levels of recording content on the web. I wouldn’t call all of it writing.
I bookmark content, as news items with commentary on Google Reader, as pages without commentary on Delicious, and as pages with research commentary on Diigo. This creates an interesting distinction for me: whether I think others may be interested, or I just want to remember for myself, or I have something to say about the content (either summarizing or remarking).
The logging of interviews and lectures takes a bit more time … but has helped me recall spoken content (as compared to text content that is indexable).
I was recently surprised by the statistic that nearly 40% of people can’t find their digital photos from last year. Recalling text and voice is even less of an issue than images.
I once asked a student in my class why he was taking notes, when I would provide him with the slides afterwards. He said “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand”. The student explained that writing is doing.
You continue to inspire me through your writing Sacha. Thanks! Happy New Year!
Wonderful! I’ll share with my friends and colleagues at edusol.info.
I’ll send you an e-mail when my translation get done.
Thanks, it’s very inspiration.