What and how we write tells us about how we think. Rational thinking sets us apart from creatures who rely alone on instinctual drives such as hunger, mating, and thirst, not on insight, cognition, or thoughtfulness.
Inarguably, we are writing less in the 21st century and we are writing less well. “Writing is the most underrated 21st century skill,” according to Dave Stuart, Jr. In 2017, only one-fourth of high school graduates are able to write proficiently.
“A proficient writer is able to journal through mental health struggles, articulate complex thoughts, and communicate in a measured manner. Writing makes us better readers, better thinkers, better speakers, and better listeners. Through writing, we can inform, explain, argue, entertain, and inspire. This isn’t just for teacher/blogger/nerdy types (I don’t know any of those, of course); it’s for mothers, employees, citizens, dreamers, and spouses.”
If we are writing less as well as writing less capably, are we thinking less? Are we little more than creatures of habit? Can we be those who have a fondness for sameness?
Let’s face reality: so many things today are done for us or to us that we have acquired a lifestyle of self-degrading laziness, sluggishness, idleness, and lethargy. We look for shortcuts, quick fixes, and expend the least effort necessary. Rather than write their own papers as required by popular online college courses, even in Religious Studies, for example, many students today pay business firms to write papers for them.
Worse than the widespread plagiarism sighted above is an equally widespread insensitivity to these and other unethical, unvirtuous, sinful acts.
Does the pendulum swing too far in the opposite direction? Is it a problem to attend too closely to the written description than to the matter at hand? Sadly, the answer is in the affirmative owing to the Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
Many physicians today have a “scribe,” a third person in the examining room with the patient. The scribe electronically records the physician’s spoken words regarding the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Unless great attention for the patient’s wellbeing is carefully considered, the EMR can appear more important to the physician than the patient him or herself. Thereby, the healing influence of the doctor-patient relationship may be diminished.
Another problem to be resolved is the patient’s perception that the physician’s commitment to the EMR, with or without a scribe, is more important to the physician than his or her commitment to the patient.
“Writing is a valuable skill that benefits everyone, regardless of profession or personality type, as it helps with mental health processing, clear communication, and critical thinking; ultimately making us better communicators overall, capable of informing, explaining, arguing, and inspiring others.” AI overview.
James Boswell (1740-1795) was a Scottish gentleman, eccentric lawyer, biographer, diarist, who was born in Edinburgh. Boswell was widely known for writing the Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD (first edition 1791), one of the supreme achievements in biography.
Years ago, I discovered Boswell’s diaries and immediately became infatuated with his courageous writing. I soon learned that Yale University was also infatuated with Boswell and set about a world-wide search of all that he had written. Some Boswell writings were discovered in a market in Paris where it was used as wrapping paper.
Boswell’s unabashed honesty first caught my respect. From age 20, Boswell kept an honest diary. Boswell’s thesis was simple: write down everything of note, good or bad, omitting nothing important. He even wrote about his own case of Gonorrhea, called “Clapp” in the 18th century.
Yes, I kept a journal. Thankfully, I had no STD to report or hide. I kept 2 journals: a dream journal in which my dreams were reported and my associations to each dream led to an interpretation I usually found insightful. I wrote about my interactions with my greatest gift, my wife and children.
Thanks to Boswell, I got to know, respect, and admire Samuel Johnson. I also read John Wain’s (not Wayne’s) biography of Samuel Johnson. Some aspects of Johnson’s life brought tears to my eyes. He was the Elon Musk of his day except his physical appearance and multiple tics was more akin to the Elephant Man, only more frightening.
Reading and writing did not come naturally to me. If there were any books in my childhood home it was a Bible unread by anyone until I was well into adolescence. It was opened and read when my mother, a prayer warrior, became a Christian, leading all others in the family to faith in Jesus.
Why not write? Why not thoughtfully read the Bible and write down its meaning to you? Why not keep a dream journal? Why not become a prayer warrior, writing for whom and for what you pray? Why not write your thoughts, feelings, and behavior to understand them? Open 2025 with an open mind, an open journal, and an undaunted will to write!
Robert S. Brown, MD, PHD a retired Psychiatrist, Col (Ret) U.S. Army Medical Corps devoted the last decade of his career to treating soldiers at Fort Lee redeploying from combat. He was a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Education at UVA. His renowned Mental Health course taught the value of exercise for a sound mind.
