Writing is Thinking

SCRIBERE EST COGITARE

(translation: Writing is thinking)

One of the numerous aspects of homeschooling that my children and I have enjoyed together has been the inclusion of a little Latin in our learning. Over the years we have become familiar with several Latin sayings, each of us having our own favorite. My personal favorite Latin saying is SCRIBERE EST COGITARE, and it means “Writing is thinking”. I love that!

The practice of writing calls for our minds to process our thoughts through words–living, moving, swirling words! Taking information we have absorbed through reading, listening, and experiencing, and organizing into words what we believe from that information. Writing partners the mind and heart with the hands–the mental, emotional, and spiritual with the physical. It’s active, it’s engaging, and it’s creative.

Our Nonie is a writer. Now, if you were to research her name you would not find a lengthy list of published novels, poems, or articles. However, she is a writer. For as long as I’ve known her, she has written. On everything! Over decades she has filled an impressive stack of spiral notebooks with her ideas, meditations, poems, and prayers. Additionally, she has jotted notes on just about every other paper source that’s handy at the moment: notepads, napkins, her Bible, and coloring books. Yes, coloring books!

Apparently, when a person reaches a certain number of years, her loved ones begin to bring her coloring books and crossword puzzles as a way of keeping her hands busy and her mind sharp (yes, I’m guilty too). During one particular visit a couple of years ago, I commented to Nonie on her growing collection of coloring books, to which she replied, with a chuckle and a knowing twinkle in her eye, “Everyone keeps bringing me those coloring books! I guess I better get busy since they’ll be checking back to see how I’ve done!”

While Nonie has indeed taken pleasure in the leisurely activity of coloring and word puzzles, her finished work offers a little something extra. She goes beyond assigned expectation and completes each piece with her noted thoughts of the day! Offering nuggets of wisdom with a sprinkling of her legendary humor, her writing is relaxed and to the point.

This is just a small sampling of Nonie’s writing (I have it typed at the end of this post for easier reading). I’m pretty sure that if you took all of her writings from over the years and bound them into books, the number would rival that of many accomplished authors.

And while Nonie is not on the speaking circuit, as is the popular trend with writers today, I would rather sit and listen to her over all other polished and promoted speakers on any tour. Some of my favorite visits with Nonie have been when she has shared with the kids and me her latest musings. Listening to Nonie is a rich blessing! Sure, she might repeat the same comment or share the same story more than a few times in one single visit, leaving some to scratch their heads, wondering if those highly acclaimed crossword puzzles are doing their job in keeping her mind sharp. But upon deeper consideration, when reading what her hands have put to paper, there’s no denying her mind is employed in greater thinking. She IS in her RIGHT mind—her thinking and writing mind.

Nonie turns a glorious 92 this month! I’m convinced that her ongoing writing has been one of the keys to her longevity and zest for life. She’s thinking, pondering, questioning, reflecting, appreciating, and even teaching.

I leave you with some of Nonie’s thoughts, pictured in the photograph above, from one of her coloring books. This is the work of her hands and mind.

JUST BE! 

Just be yourself.

Be a friend.

Be a Christian.

Be a helper.

Be clean.

Be one who cares and shares.

JUST DO! 

Just let yourself go.

Color—sing—pray—eat—read 

Be a teacher to someone!

Walk the dog!

Just be busy! Get things done!!!

Be less noisy— Sh..Sh..Sh

Be kind to others and yourself 😊

*****

Now go do some writing and thinking of your own today! Happy Thursday, my friends!