Empowerment. Engagement. Authenticity.
Emotion in Writing - A Break from Reality
Sunrise tips the chilly mountain air with warm
promise and bathes the lake in muted peach. Dewy treetops nod good
morning to cotton-puff clouds and there is the reluctant flutter of
wings in their branches. A squirrel tsks in annoyance and skitters
deeper into the forest. A drowsy stillness persists, punctuated only by
wing-beats and water-ripples. Standing at the railing of the small pier,
I inhale the crispness of peppermint bushes and gaze out to the horizon.
No boats, no swimmers.
I almost regret disturbing this natural awakening with my human
presence. But in nature’s serenity, I find my own. For blessed moments,
my mind holds nothing of consequence. I take time to look, listen, smell
and feel. City life leaves little room for such luxuries. I’m always
rushing for the bus, standing in impatient lineups, working towards
deadlines. It’s the stuff reality seems made of these days so I cherish
my summer escapes to Lake Joe. For two weeks, I am miles away from
skyscrapers and smog alerts. As soon as I arrive, I can feel the corset
of life’s obligations fall away.
I revel in sun-drenched days of canoe trips, endless swimming and
outdoor picnics. Here, laughter and play flow, unchecked by the regiment
of age. Yesterday, my friends and I played tag through the woods,
spraying each other with paint-filled Super Soakers. Last night, we sang
bawdy camp songs till our throats got raw. Yes, my student loans will
take an eon to be repaid and I’m not covered by my parents’ medical
insurance anymore and someday I’d like to have a place of my own. But
right now, I am as carefree and content as the birds exchanging their
morning gossip.
(c) Kristy Kassie, 2006
Emotion in Writing
Showing the emotions of characters in a story or in an essay involves your reader in what is written. It is better to show than tell. In the piece above, peace is shown in the quiet beauty of the setting.
