We're all poets but we don't know it

I just saw a definition of poetry (thanks John). "Poetry is that which arrives at the intellect by way of the heart". R.S. Thomas. What a wonderful definition! But I would be the first to stand behind changing the first word from Poetry to convincing communication, or something similar. The way I see it, you always have to go by way of the heart if you are to reach other people with any message that you would like to have accepted, understood and remembered.

Simple as that.

There's a hole in the wall and words are leaking out

I did a great thing last week! Okay, someone else actually made the suggestion but I'm so glad that I acted on it spontaneously and diligently. What I did? I simply went along to a workshop on writing for business, writing from the heart and writing to truly reach people. I just turned up there and as someone (Woody Allen?) once said, the greatest part of success is just turning up. After that I just did as I was told. The workshop leaders did the rest.  John Simmons and Jamie Jauncey from Dark Angels in the UK managed in one hour to do things for my interest in writing that about 30 years of my career have not, to put it simply.

Just to mention one exercise we did. We introduced ourselves to each other starting with the opening "I am from" but without completing the sentence in the usual way, by naming a place or any other expected follow-up. Suddenly an introduction actually says something about the person. It was wonderful for a quick assessment of what really makes the person. What are the most formative experiences that you have? Which are the directions you have taken and the motivation that always works? What aspects of your character are most typical?

Here's what I quickly put together, now in a different and better order:
I am from cosy Welsh villages and narrow country lanes.
I am from constant contacts and spontaneous chitchat in a village that's really a family.
I'm from hills and valleys and woods and fields, always either uphill or downhill. 
I'm from close horizons and distant mountaintops.
I'm from movement, and moving, new starts and new things.
I'm from outdoors, always outdoors.
I'm from a place quite far away and fairly different.
I'm from outside, always outside.
I'm from somewhere else but I'm right here right now.

I'm constantly amazed that, if you put me on a stage in front of a bunch of people I have no trouble whatsoever in being creative and open and spontaneous but give me a pen and paper and it's like the Great Wall of China suddenly sprouted up between mind and paper. Funny that. So I would just like, for the record, to say a special thanks to John and Jamie for making a Great Big Hole in the wall. I'll try to keep it open until I meet you again. 

Hasta la vista guys.