Transit Dialog has published my essay entitled 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 ‘𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙜’. Read it here:
“𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 “𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨”.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 ‘𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙜’
𝘉𝘺 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴
I was recently at an event when a colleague approached me to ask if my job as a writer is all there is to me. To be exact, “𝘠𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘸𝘢 𝘮𝘰?” was his question.
I replied that I am a published author and a freelance writer with my own website. And yet, this colleague did not seem content with my answer. Was it because I was a woman, and he was a man? Or was it because I was at an event, having the time of my life and enjoying myself without a care in the world?
To be fair, I did not take offense at his question per se, but I found the “𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨” part bothersome. I have always been seen through the lens of the overachieving people in my life. I know that I cannot please everyone, especially those whose idea of success is unrealistically limited.
I took advantage of technology to learn how to write and to diversify my career. I made the leap into being a published author during the pandemic, which was a teachable moment in history. I carved out a career for myself, which was vastly different from the expectations and perceptions of society at large. I am not going to change my career path because I am happy as it is.
Of course, I am not closing my doors on opportunities that will come my way. I have built a career on saying yes to opportunities offered to me due to my hard work and preparedness. I think that it is crucial to be prepared for every opportunity, and I believe that while I am lucky enough to do what I love, I also did everything to be ready for this life.
I have worked in the corporate world for many years and learned how to thrive in a competitive and structured environment. This led me to job-craft and upskill, and I am thankful that I did. Now, I write with ease because of my years of training and experience. And I can say that writing is hard work.
There are many skills involved with writing a book; I am enjoying the journey because this is what I really want. I do not think that there is a reason to say “𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨” to someone who exercises creativity, measured execution, and discipline on the job. Writing is an honorable profession, and it is my duty to continue educating myself and the people around me that this is a job that merits respect and acceptance.
I am a writer, a published author, and a woman. There is no room for “𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨” in my life and career.
It is not just writers who get looked down upon by society. I can only speak for myself, but I have observed many creatives undergo the same treatment. This is especially prevalent during gatherings and reunions. This is the part where I would like to appeal to everyone to stop judging people for what they do. Instead, talk to people about their interests, causes that they support, and the values they uphold.
It is no longer proper to say “𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨” to anyone. People are enough with the way they are. There is no other way to say it, and there is no work that will justify the usage of the word “𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨”.
I believe that the “𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨” mentality reflects on people from another time when there was only one straight path to success. I am glad that today’s youth is changing how success should look like nowadays.
Not everyone is born to be in the corporate world. Not everyone is cut out to have a professional license. And not everyone is expected to meet the expectations of those who came before them. Life happens. Change happens. In the greater scheme of things, there is no room for “𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨”.
When you see me or another writer, you should stop asking if “𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘰”. Instead, just ask me how I am. I will gladly answer you with a smile.
Source: Transit Dialog
