My Life Really Is "Writing"

I have a cracker of a headache today. In recent times I have been getting headaches often, but this one is pretty bad. Have you ever had the back of your head smack against a concrete floor? It feels kinda like that. But I have taken some ibuprofen and it’s helping, a little.

So I am being tortured by my body’s amazing ability to self-inflict an awesome amount of pain on itself, and I can only think about one thing – writing!

I have several projects all simmering away in the background, as well as a few different blogs I am getting off the ground. It’s all going slowly, but in the context of my having somewhat of a life, I can say I am making sound progress.

But beyond this, it has struck me deeply, that my whole life revolves around writing, the written word, text…

In one form or another, my whole life is geared towards communication; documenting, recording, relaying information and ideas.

I write a fair bit. I don’t publish most of what I write. In fact I don’t even save most of my work. I delete it, in a manner I’m sure could be likened to Da Vinci or any great composer of artistic creations, with flair, temper and even a touch of disgust.

I write blog posts and articles. I write copy for use on websites. I write fiction. I write when I tweet and when I update my facebook status. My “day job” requires I consistently and accurately record and document. I send and receive sms messages. I write notes to myself, and even keep a private diary, not for public consumption. I make shopping lists.

And I read. A lot. I read the occasional book, a lot of news articles and many “how – to’s” whenever something new catches my attention and I want to learn more. For example, since beginning my new life chapter by writing with wordpress, my head has been spinning with tutorials and reviews.

I read my “snail mail” and the synopsis’ available for programmes and movies on Foxtel.

I read and write most of my waking hours, and occasionally dream about words too.

Language and communication fascinates me. It always has done. When I was very young, at primary school, a big deal was made of my very advanced reading ability, and my seemingly precocious vocabulary. My parents both read a lot, and get much pleasure from doing so. For a child, seeing both parents always with a book, has an immeasurable affect that can’t be escaped.

It’s shocking to me, then, when I find there are still people who are without even the basic grasp of reading and writing. It scares me to even consider what it must be like to be illiterate, to not have such a powerful skill, however much we seem to take it for granted.

Just think if you couldn’t read what was in a can at the supermarket, or if bills and official letters and documents meant nothing to you. Do you think you could still do the job you do, if you couldn’t read? For most of us, at best, it would be extremely difficult and awkward.

Of course, there are plenty of people around who can’t read, and a lot do very well. Not having this skill is not a measure of intellect, it simply reflects how limited your opportunities in life have been.

Approximate figures show just over 1% of people in the UK are illiterate – that’s over 60,000 people who can’t read or write. I was surprised to see that 10% of United Arab Emirates’ population were illiterate – affluence of a country and education of it’s people seem not to be proportionate. The lowest levels of literacy, however, do seem to appear in some of the poorer African countries. For example, Niger has only an estimated 28% of the population, who are literate.

I haven’t lived in a country with a very low level of literacy, and so can only imagine there are many socio-economic factors contributing to, what I see is, a limit on freedom.

The global culture is in flux, and the world, in terms of community, really is getting smaller. I’m sure literacy levels will improve, even if it is slow progress.

I’m very content with my lot in life, and having the gift and ability of being able to read and write is something I will endeavour to never undervalue.

If you know someone who might need assistance with their literacy, of if you want to find out more, these links might be a good starting point -

Australia -

Oz Read And Spell

U.K. -

National Literacy Trust

U.S. -

Department Of Education