Be Creative and Fun, Not for You, But for Others

Why do I have a Blog? It’s not to monetize it or become famous. That might happen, but it’s not my “why”.  My “why” is because I like to write and be creative. My audience might be ten people. Might be 8 people. Maybe a bit more or less, but mostly I write for 4 people … my wife, two daughters, and son. I wish I remembered where I read this writing advice, but the advice was to write everything as if you were writing it for one person. Keep that person in mind and make sure whatever you create and whatever you do, will make that “one person” happy and they’ll enjoy it.

Sometimes I write for my Mom (gone for almost 20 years) because she was my first editor and a voracious reader and always so proud of me. She would definitely read my Blog. Or I’ll write something to my friend Matt (gone 5 1/2 years).  Sometimes I’ll write for specific friends or family members, thinking that if only one person happens onto that particular Blog entry, they’ll get a laugh. Then other times, I’ll Blog for just my wife and kids, and if only my wife and kids read what I write, and not necessarily now but maybe a long time from now …that would make it all worth it.

A book deal and thousands of readers would be nice. But that’s not why I do it. Maybe I should be a little more serious and if I’m about sharing stories, making people smile, and entertaining them, maybe I should work a little harder.

Jeff Goldblum agrees (actually he agrees with George Bernard Shaw and I agree with Jeff Goldblum agreeing with George Bernard Shaw).

Here’s a link to him on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talking about what inspires and motivates him and he quotes George Bernard Shaw that his life belongs to others. I don’t always live my day-to-day like this and I do act selfishly more than I would like, but when I’m at my best, I’m burning brightly for others and future generations …even if only 8 Blog readers at a time.

Watch the entire interview, but if you only want to see him talk about this quote, start at the 2:53 mark.

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

― George Bernard Shaw