I’ve never fainted from excitement while reading, but I must
admit the image fascinates me. A woman was said to have had this response when
she read French Renaissance essayist Montaigne's work. I love the possibility
that people can experience such strong visceral reactions to what they’re reading
that they faint. New ideas are thrilling, and they should energize and excite
the writer and the reader. Why don’t we have more excited readers? Maybe it’s
because we don’t have more excited writers.
There are a breathtaking number of possibilities and experiences
in front of us each day; yet we often find ourselves thinking the same thoughts,
seeing the same things, and responding in the same ways. An excited writer has
the power to awaken us to the possibilities, breathe life from the page, and encourage
us to live like the bases are loaded—with enthusiasm, intense curiosity, and passion.
As an excited reader and writer, I’m fascinated by ideas and
simple concepts under complex surfaces, and I’m always looking for connections
between disparate things. Being a student of life is required if our words are
going to have the power to shock into truthfulness, help others to see things in
different ways, and create a highly reflective surface that shines others’
brilliance back at them.
One of my favorite quotations is from Ram Dass, who said, “We're all just walking each other home." What a lovely journey that can be when we’re walking with those who reflect and enhance our brilliance. Don’t forget your smelling salts.
