Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Blog Chain - Nurture vs. Nature?


Michelle is the first link in the chain this round, and she posed a question that brings to mind the whole Nurture vs. Nature debate:

Do you choose WHAT you do because of WHO you are? Or is who you are determined by what you do?



First of all, I'm not embarrassed to say that I do believe in fate. I think that everyone has a path laid out before them and they are subconsciously pulled in the direction they need to go. As for me, I believe that I am meant to write because I am by nature a story teller. I've always had a more than vivid imagination and I am also a self-proclaimed drama queen. I'm a daydreamer and fantasizer and often find my mind wandering while I play out mini scenes and scenarios; pieces of stories (or short stories) while I'm driving, doing dishes, folding clothes.....

I think that because of who I am: a daydreamer, I could have followed the path of theater, or art or music. But, my life took twists and turns that took me away from drama. I can't draw or sculpt or paint. I don't dance anymore. I don't play an instrument and my singing is probably just above average. So, I have come to the conclusion that I was meant to be a writer because it is the artistic outlet that I excel in.

Now, I suppose there are those who would say that I have nurtured this artistic talent one way or another and it has nothing whatsoever to do with my nature or "fate". But I wasn't nurtured in an artistic household. Neither of my parents are artistic per se. I have loved music, art, dance, the written word for as long as I can remember, with no coaxing, or outside influence from anyone. I honestly believe that I was born this way. I was born to create, and I was led to writing. I didn't choose it. It chose me.

I could go all philosophic and address the choices we make. Do we make these choice by free will, or are we pre-destined to make these choices? Everything happens for a reason. Do we lead the way, or are we led? Every event in my life, from my love of old musicals at age 6 to my pregnancy at age 16 led to my writing. If I hadn't been pregnant, I wouldn't have immersed myself in books. If I hadn't developed that love of reading, I wouldn't have been prompted to write. This was not the path I would have chosen voluntarily, but it is the path that was laid out before me.

Check out Kate's post before mine, and look for Sandra's post tomorrow!

15 comments:

Unknown said...

And that path is the right one! Can't wait to see those books in print!

Unknown said...

This is one of those circular queries - predestination vs. free choice - that endlessly fascinates and frustrates me. I tend to agree that there is a path already mapped for us.

Eric said...

This is an interesting - and different - take on the question. I like how you explain in depth your answer. Nice post.

Tere Kirkland said...

Interesting post! I was definitely raised in a creative environment, my creativity nurtured by my mother, but she is a creative person herself. Did I inherit her love of music through her chromosomes, or just from listening to her sing?

And I believe in fate, too. ;) And that everything happens for a reason.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Your Shakespeare quote ties nicely into this topic! I also like the part where you say you didn't choose writing; it chose you.

Christine Fonseca said...

And I am so glad you are on this path! Great post!!!

Kate Karyus Quinn said...

Oooh, I like how your brought the question of fate into the equation, and the way that all of your experiences have brought you to where you are today. Great post!

Michelle McLean said...

I feel the same way about writing being an artistic outlet. I can't paint, though I'd like to, I can't sing, though I'd like to, I do play piano, but not very well....writing is the artistic outlet I excel at. Good thing I love it so much :D Hmmm or do I love it so much because I excel at it? LOL

Ooo my word verification is "focus." Very nice :D

Unknown said...

Great answer, and I really feel like I've learned something about you. I was raised by two highly creative people--one born that way and the other who discovered it along the way. It makes me very curious as to how my own children will turn out as I'm a hyper-creative, disorganized type and my husband's the logical, grounded type.

B.J. Anderson said...

Great post and it makes you stop and think about how your life has turned out and how it could have turned out if things had gone differently. Hmmm. Very interesting!

Kathryn Hupp-Harris said...

You're right. We need to nurture what nature intended for us.

Great post.

Anonymous said...

Very cool post, and very introspective!

I have always written something, just took me till I was 35 to think about doing anything with it. Here I am seven years later, wishing I'd been more proactive! :)

Shaun Hutchinson said...

Nice! I have a friend who believes that her stories are gifted to her by the universe. I guess it doesn't really matter what you believe, just so long as you write the best you can. It's just so cool seeing how other people get to the same place.

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

i feel the same way - its fate!

willow said...

I, too, believe in fate. Thought provoking post!