Literature's Calling
Sometimes it takes being forced to slow down to realize what speeds we should be chasing.
Dear Reader,
How have you been feeling lately? The past week has been tough because I'm ill, hopefully I will be better by next week. But being away from daily work has given me all the time to reflect on my priorities and passions — especially the ones which I should not lose sight of. And one thing stood out: literature. Literature has always been something of a sweet escape for me and has been a compass pointing to what truly matters. I've browsed and came across a few opportunities and platforms through which I can pursue literature seriously, maybe even as a serious hobby.
Today I picked up one of my favorite books! To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee! Got nothing else to do other than rest and read repeats. Haha! This is where it all began: my love for literature! 🤎 There are books you read. There are books you remember. And then, there are books that remember you. This was the first book I ever read seriously and the one that made me fall in love with literature. It doesn't apologize for believing in goodness. There is something in it which broke through my shell and made me realize how words can stir and share thoughts within. Even now, Atticus Finch remains at the top of my favorite characters list, as if he is the ethical compass in a broken world. This book for me is not just a simple story of good and evil, but a portrait of human contradiction and growing up under the weight of injustice. And something about Scout's narrative is very impressive, as if asking the right questions before the world taught you all the wrong answers.
And oh! I'm going on this psychological journey of Fyodor Dostoevsky's works after this. I've collected about 14 of his books, and I'm both excited and intimidated by what will be left of me at the end.
Since I last wrote to you, I've had such revelations and came across a song called "The Calling" by The Amazing Devil that feels eerily apt for this moment. If you like psychedelic music and haven't heard it yet, I strongly recommend giving it a listen.
Some of the phrases from the song's lyrics I loved the most:
"I'd burn so bright it blinded, now I know that light guided me here" — past passion that may have led to self-neglect. It could also mean that past strengths may have been sources of blindness.
"I walked into the rive, to wring those embers from my broken heart" — it's about immersing themselves or looking at the reflection in a river. Sounds like cleansing oneself of past pains.
"Shoulder the sky" — meaning the huge weight of personal burdens. When I did a bit of research, this is kind of referenced from A.E. Housman's poem "Last Poems IX". Such a beaut!
I loved it very much because it is an individual confrontation with the past and seeking liberation from the confinement of our self-imposed expectations. It screams about the inner voice urging change and acknowledging our authentic self. Especially the human spirit's capacity for growth and the courage it takes to face our inner truths. At the end of the song, it speaks about the commitment to move forward and the importance of listening to our inner calling.
Sometimes it takes being forced to slow down to realize what speeds we should be chasing. Literature isn't just something to fill free time anymore — it's calling me to pursue it more seriously, maybe as more than just a casual hobby.
Until next time,
Yana