There is always time for brevity
But only if you dare try
Hello friend,
We’ve all heard these proclamations:
“Make it quick.”
“Be brief.”
“Hurry, I don’t have all day.”
“Can you just get on with it?”
I’m not good at brief. I enjoy stretching out a story until it winds around itself back to where the thought began.
As much as I search for the exact words, trying to be concise and to the point, I find myself falling into the murky mire of verbosity. I love the sound of language.
Experiences and stories want the space to expand and explore all the possibilities within the who, what, when, where, and how. Sometimes they long for attention and importance. Our history is messy, and our recollections are faulty.
Memories defy brevity. They want to meander in and out of our thoughts tying us to the past, even when that past no longer serves us. Sometimes, we must say, “Enough, let’s get on with living.”
I like to challenge myself to capture a feeling, a moment in time, an experience as briefly as possible. That’s why I like poetry. The form pushes constraint and preciseness of communication.
Earnest Hemingway allegedly accepted a bet to write a story in only six words. He wrote: “For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.”
I wonder how many six-word stories I can tell this week, and then . . . stop talking. Now that is a worthy challenge!
Give it a try, please do.
I’ll start with a few below.
Are you there? I am waiting.
You stand out—but never alone.
No one told me—wear red.
Live life to the fullest, now.
Stacey Hanke shares the impact of brevity in work and life (in less than six minutes).
I discovered a thoughtful song with a lovely piano introduction . . . “Brevity” by Davis John Patton.
“Brevity is the soul of wit.”
—William Shakespeare
If you want to read more from me, visit my website. I’ll be there waiting for you.
With gratitude,
Kathryn
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