Using Their Mockeries to Fuel My Passion

I've been mocked long enough. It's as if I have an army of personal mockers following me everywhere, working with a 24/7 dedication I wish the rest of the world's workforce possessed.

I'm thinking of a specific man from school. At a wedding years ago, he decided to make me the butt of a public joke.

I suspect his venom stemmed from my refusal to engage in late-night chats years prior - that intuitive No we use to protect ourselves from the discomfort most women know all too well.

At a formal banquet, he shouted across the tables, mocking my career as an esthetician. He acted as though squeezing pimples was beneath him, wearing a look of staged disgust.

Does he not have a face like everyone else?

It was as nonsensical as telling a surgeon their work is gross for saving a life.

The people around him looked visibly uncomfortable yet stayed seated because we were in the middle of a formal dinner.

He laughed alone, supported only by another man who had previously tried to smear my character because I wouldn't give him my time.

It's absurd: you protect yourself from unwanted attention, and they feel entitled to attack. In that moment, I truly wished I could have told him to keep my name out of his mouth - Will Smith style.

Those two mad barking dogs…

Since mockery seems to be my most bottomless resource, I've decided to put it to good use. Here is the mantra of my writing life, written in 2024:

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

I know that there will always be people who would critique and nitpick what we do, no matter what path we choose. Writing is no exception.

Part of me wishes that I can share my work with people who understand and encourage me, instead of facing those discouraging reactions in my real life.

But I'll try to use those jabs to motivate my writing journey.

writing is not just a hobby
or something
just to pass time
it's a life passion
a calling from
deep within
where we pour
our words onto
those pages

not many
would understand
the passion that
drives us to create
there are those
that question us
and doubt us too

they would belittle us
comparing us
to the dead poets
poking and joking
about what we earn
compared with
the rich and famous ones

but we don't need to
heed their mockeries
for our words
are our voice
we'll continue to write
pouring words
from our heart

we'll write
of our struggles
and our triumphs
of the moments
that shaped who we are
for our stories
belongs to us

so let them be
with the noises
that they make
let them be
our motivation
to write on

let the words
flow like a river
for we find purpose
in our writing
and in sharing
our stories

©Britt H.

Thank you for reading this.

More about the person behind the writing in My Introductory Post