Here it is. This little repository has been formulating in my head for at least the last two years. Not in the sense that I have elaborate or oversized plans for it — in the “oh man, I gotta get around to that” but never do sense. There you go. Lesson 1 on Jacob Colvin Walker. I can be a procrastinator.
But riding to my absentminded self’s defense is the fact that starting blogs or writing journals is . . . not pressing. You can always do it another day. Recording thoughts and experiences always seems secondary to actually having thoughts and experiences.
Lately, I haven’t been able to focus while reading the scriptures. Yes, the English used in the scriptures is dry. But in times past, every time I opened them, it would feel like taking a deep drink of fresh water.
Now, it’s just ten minutes of forcing myself to sit and stare because I know I “should”.
I should give myself more credit — I think while I read. Often I’ll get little ideas, see interesting turns of phrases that I hadn’t noticed before, heck, I’ve even gotten direct revelation in my little ten minute sessions.
Can I tell you what that revelation is now? Absolutely not.
Thing is, I didn’t write it down. Even when I write things down, it doesn’t always stick (though it does have the benefit of coming back to my mind when I move apartments or go through my old papers for some reason).
I just met with a church leader and asked him about this. He pointed out 2 things, which are really just saying the same thing twice:
- Scriptures should be a tool, not a requirement
- You need to (or at least he needs to) study for content. This content is what helps him as he teaches and navigates life.
I need to add: I believe that opening the scriptures and glancing over the pages for ten minutes with glazed eyes is better than nothing. Even if you are opening God’s word as a box on a checklist, at least there is the potential for the little bits of direction and inspiration I mentioned receiving as I’ve been “going through the motions” of late.
But when you get hungry? When you get thirsty for more and you’re sick of being undeniably bored while reading God’s word? That isn’t the time to stop reading, it’s the time to find reasons to apply what you’re reading.
This is how we learn. A man doesn’t get nearer to God by reading the Book of Mormon, or the Bible. A man gets nearer to God by abiding by their precepts.
Knowledge works oppositely of things. We use it, it gets newer. We share it, we get more.
Let me say that again: Where knowledge is concerned, you keep what you share.
This doesn’t just apply to the gospel. The world of digital marketing is vast and ever-changing. So is pretty much any field of pursuit these days.
If you want to keep your edge as a digital marketer, you have to constantly learn and practice. Marketers are constantly keeping up with Google’s algorithms updates, the newest EU laws, or Facebook Advertising’s latest cash grab.
You can simply read about these things, but you know where some of the best marketing news comes from?
Twitter.
One marketer shares their take on what it means to “optimize for engagement” on a social media platform, and suddenly hundreds of people are congratulating their insight or vehemently disagreeing. Every person participating in the discussion is learning from every other person’s point of view, not to mention the invaluable benefit of having people question your thoughts.
You want to learn? Converse.
I’m finishing up college this year (hopefully). Is it just meaningless additional work to share what I learned in class that day on my story? (More importantly, is it committing social suicide to share what I learned in class that day on my story? Kidding. I committed social suicide long ago. Not to mention that sharing facts I find interesting is an inextricable part of my personal brand. )
Is it meaningless? Is recording thoughts and experiences — as I said at the start of this post — secondary to actually having thoughts and experiences?
Maybe. I gotta say that I know which I would pick if I had to choose one. (What can you record if you aren’t . . . having . . . experiences?)
But instead of seeing journaling as getting in the way, I need to view it as a complement to the flavor and vividity of life. A way to improve and accelerate my life.
So here we are. A space for thoughts, that I’ve been thinking about for two years.
Keep in mind that these are going to nearly all be first drafts, words hitting the page immediately after hitting my mind. Be gentle with me, even if you want to be incredibly rough with my opinions. I actually welcome the latter.
Here’s to sharing.
