An existential undercurrent has been running through books and magazines
I've been reading lately, even in television shows I've been watching.
This undercurrent is the same question in various forms:
What is the point of...?
Brian Gresko in his article about poet Donika Kelly in the current issue of Poets & Writers wrote,
"As in many conversations among writers during these dark days, we have shifted from craft to the perplexing question of what, in the face of the world's ongoing and advancing horrors, is the point of writing in general, and writing poetry in particular." ("Singing the Sublime" by Brian Gresko in Poets & Writers Magazine, Nov/Dec 2025)
In the Nature Conservancy Magazine people around the world are asked
what is the point of continuing their environmental work against seemingly overwhelming odds.
In Philosophy Now young people are asked what is the point
of moving forward with their lives when the state of the world and their futures appear bleak.
Even in one of my favorite tv shows, Homestead Rescue,
Marty Raney ponders why he continues to help homesteaders,
returning to some homesteads a second time, during increasingly difficult weather challenges.
What is the point?
Why persist during a difficult time?
The answers provided in my references all touched
on similar ideas to the answers I've found in my own life.
The point is, I persist because:
Because giving up is giving in,
and giving in leads nowhere but down.
Because we can find strength and purpose in helping those in our lives.
Because we can feel joy by being present in the moment.
Strength, purpose, and joy are powerful antidotes to despondency and hopelessness.
One person can't save the world, but one person can make a difference in his small corner.
His tool might be a garbage bag, an excavator, a guitar, a pen, even a simple smile,
but it can make a positive difference.
Ordinary people around the world are not giving up or giving in.
They are finding strength and purpose in helping others and improving their surroundings.
By being present in the moment, a person can reduce anxiety and stress.
There is joy in listening to the laughter of a child, in scratching the ears of a purry kitty,
in baking a berry pie, in watching a cloud drift by, in painting a starry sky,
in the hug of a loved one, or in a call from a faraway friend.
My Cousin Claire Serves Her Homemade Pie While Martin Anticipates
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 3, 2024
Writers and poets persist in a difficult time by creating,
and their creations have the power to lift their readers and themselves up.
Little is more immediate and present than struggling
with the words in sentence or paragraph
to express what is in your heart and mind.
And the universal themes explored by writers and poets in their works
can inform, inspire, and challenge the readers who engage with them.
The point is to write for the sheer joy of creating,
the point is to escape from worry and stress while creating,
and the point to find strength and purpose while touching the hearts and minds of others.
Love, family, friends, and nature fill my soul.
If I were to give up, give in, I would be giving up on the people I love,
especially all the extraordinary young people in my life.
I'd be giving up on their lives and their futures.
Extraordinary
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Family ~ Peter, Martin, Sue, Barb, Donnie, Roy, and Bertie (front)
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 5, 2025
What is the point of your writing?
Why do you persist during a difficult time?
Till next time ~ Fundy Blue
30 comments:
Hi Fundy Blue - you've put it so succinctly for us all - we are alive, we have hope in our hearts and we all love helping others ... I so agree - great post - thank you - cheers Hilary
I write because it's in me. We are blessed with technology to help us get our writings out to the world. Depression is being doled out in all media. I see it and say, hell no. not giving in to it. I count my blessings, pray to God, and find reels on social media to make me belly laugh. Remember the Reader's Digest's Laughter is the Best Medicine? I medicate every day
What it boils down to in almost anything is because you enjoy it. That is the main point. I'm not saying I'd enjoy cleaning up a disaster multiple times, but can't just roll over indeed.
This is a beautiful post. I agree with you that we must persist in life and enjoy all the good in it. And writers write for the joy of it, though I'm finding my joy in other pursuits right now.
Loved this post! Writing saved me once upon a time. Helped me heal and grow and discover myself when I was at my lowest. It was the best thing I picked up and took with me in this journey of life that I've only lived 15 years. It's joy, peace and hope...
One person can make a difference and inspire others to do the same. Things might seem bad now, but what if we were poor and living in the middle ages during the plague? That would be really bad!
The point of my writing is to create. Yes, I persist, but I also just go with the flow. Wishing you a happy holiday season!
Thank you, Hillary! Yours is the first comment I've read on this snowy Colorado morning, and it brightened my day. Enjoy our IWSG Day!
Hi, Leigh! The Reader's Digest was a fixture in my Grandmother MacDonald's bathroom for at least 50 years. I sometimes read it in the bookstore now. Laughter is the best medicine, as is gratitude and prayer. Have a great day!
No rolling over for sure, Pat! Enjoyment is important. We need a good dose most days. Have a great day, my friend!
The point is joy in whatever pursuit you follow! You give so much to the literary world. Happy IWSG Day! ❤️
Your comment is inspiring, Rida! I'm really glad that you found writing. You are one of the extraordinary young people who matter greatly in our world and to me. Hugs to you!
And you create very well, Sherry! You are a woman of strength and courage. I need more go with the flow in me! ❤️
That would be really bad, Alex! Humanity has gone through countless difficult times, and I'm betting we get through now. 🤞 Meanwhile thanks for all you do to make our world a better place. ❤️
A wonderful post for the season and every day. I write as catharsis, exploration of events that hurt and/or awed me, and to use the bodacious vocabulary that being a reader has given me - oh, the joy of self-expression!
Do you need a point? Even there is no success, it's better to try and continue than to think of what if and if only I had done this or that.
Have a lovely day.
Oh definitely your vocabulary is bodacious and you spin great humor with it, PJ!
This is such a thoughtful and grounded reflection. Your words capture something essential about resilience — that continuing on isn’t about denying hardship, but about choosing meaning over surrender. I appreciate how you connect personal purpose with the simple, everyday moments that keep us steady: helping others, noticing beauty, being fully present in the here and now.
Your reminder that one person cannot save the world, but can make a meaningful difference in their own corner of it, is deeply encouraging. It takes strength to hold onto purpose when circumstances feel overwhelming, yet your examples show how small acts — a gesture, a tool, a shared smile — can ripple outward in ways we don’t always see.
I especially love how you name joy as an antidote to discouragement. Listening to a child’s laughter, feeling a cat purring, baking a berry pie, watching a drifting cloud — these moments may seem small, but they anchor us to life’s goodness.
Thank you for sharing this perspective. It’s a beautiful reminder that persistence isn’t about grand victories, but about choosing compassion, awareness, and presence, one day at a time.
I can think of someone from 2000 years ago who was just one person and He changed the world. We can never give up that we can make an impact.
Thank you, Neuer! Your kind and understanding comment means the world to me!
I know that person, and He did change the world!
Oh, the cyber world ate my comment to you, Lissa. You don't need a point! No regrets ~ That's the way I want to live out mom life. All the bet to you!
What a perfect post for the time of year. Thank you for saying in words what I think. I wish that hope and persistance for everyone in 2026. Keep going. Forward is the only direction we can go.
Thanks, Susan! Your comment means a lot to me!
What a well-written, inspiring post for all of us. Never give up. It may seem impossible, but together we can offer support and look ahead. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, JQ! Together is really important! All the best to you!
I like to think we should persist because these rough times won't last. If you look at history, stuff like this has happened before and ended. Just keep at it and do you best to survive.
Thank you! I love this post. All the best to you. Never give up!
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