S. R. Leach Writes

    There is a one-word question that drives everything we do. It may be the most dangerous question in human history. It fuels everything that we put our energies into. It can come from a place of confusion, pain, or utter relief. It is the first word off the lips of the forsaken lover and a constant plea from the grieving parent. I remember uttering it in disbelief as the State Trooper let me off with a warning after pulling me over for doing 85 on a county road soon after I got my license. Why?

Why is a question I think is too often overlooked in our three-second sound bite, attention deficit, distracted, info-tainment-soaked culture?  

It takes courage to stop and look deep inside ourselves and examine the drivers of our actions… even though we know that sometimes we may not necessarily like what we find. As painful as it may be to unearth the truth behind our motivations- the consequences of ignoring our Why can be far more disastrous. The past ten years have taught me that I can embrace and believe in my Why and live into the story of my life, or I can choose to ignore it and have others write it for me. The commentary from the cheap seats is neither kind nor honest and often has far more to do with how the rock throwers feel about themselves than it ever does about their target.At the end of the day, you are the only true authority of your life. Nobody can ever know you better than you know yourself. Believing means taking in an unflinching holistic view of ourselves, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and understanding that although there are things we would like to change, it all has value because it makes us who we are.

Why is the starting place for me when I begin working on a project? I am constantly surprised by how writing always brings me closer to those internal places of my mind and my heart that, although I am often scared to go, I always come away with a deeper belief in the Why.

Sam  Leach Former Teacher Portland Public Schools