Word-in-a-Word Wednesday: "Request"

If you are a regular reader of Keitharsis, you are used to the long-standing Tuesday/Thursday pace.

Well it's time to change things up.  Sort of.

In addition to my regular Tuesday/Thursday essays on creativity, roots and the portfolio life, I'd like to introduce a series on Wednesdays for those of you interested in PRACTICING creative thinking.

Yep, practicing.

It's the way to Carnegie Hall, right?

I'm calling this new series, "Word-in-a-Word Wednesday".

Here's how it works.

I will introduce a word, then point out a word within it.

Your challenge is to take each word in a word and figure out a creative way the two words connect.

For example, the word "art" is in the word "earth": eARTh.

If this were the Wednesday word, I would ask you questions about how art relates to the earth, for example.

You can either respond in the comments on this blog, on my Facebook page for creative writers & artists, in your head, on your blog or where and how you like.

Make sense?

Today's word is "request".

The word "quest" is in the word request:  reQUEST

Are requests from others quests?

Can they be?

How has someone's request become a quest in your life?

(I hope you enjoy this!  I hope it challenges you.  And, don't worry, Word-in-a-Word Wednesday posts going forward will be VERY short!)

Comments

[Eileen]

I like this idea.

How has someone's request become a quest in your life?

The first thing that came to mind was Christ's ongoing and daily request that I come follow Him again. He pursues me every day. Sometimes I run to Him and sometimes I drag my feet. His only request is that I let go of the things I think I need and grab tightly to all the things He's offering. This is my quest.

[Keith Jennings]

Eileen,

You are the first official commenter on "Word-in-a-Word Wednesday". I should have come up with a prize!

My hope is that this little series will be a quick brain exercise for us writer types. Get the juices flowing. See the familiar in unfamiliar ways.

And related to your comment, you are so right. Any request from God is, indeed, a quest.

Thank you for taking the plunge with me!

[LarryTheDeuce]

Usually a request involves you helping someone with their quest. What would be awesome is if we took joy in receiving others' requests. Often we look at them as a bother.

http://deuceology.wordpress.com

[Jason Vana]

I love this idea, Keith, and the fact that you are posting on Wednesday now, too!

I believe requests from others launch us into a quest, if we take it, that is. If you think about it, most requests ask something of us that we aren't doing at the moment. They require us to change plans, do something differently and may take more than they give. Requests have the potential to change the course of our day, hour, even life. Sounds like a quest to me.

[Keith Jennings]

Larry,

Well said! "Each request is someone's quest."

[Keith Jennings]

Jason,

What I love about what you are saying is that there is an inherent tension that exists. And I am drawn to (and study) natural tensions!

There is a natural tension between our own quests and the quests of those with whom we're connected. Or obligated. Or responsible.

And this is directly related to how we align our values and lifestyle. Are we pursuing "balance" and trying to perfectly juggle our own preferences and priorities? Or are we pursuing "harmony" and trying to creatively connect our quests with those of others?

[Adrian W.]

Whoa. Too cool.

My wife's request: Get famous and rich so we can take care of every orphan we ever meet.

My quest: become a published author and blogger while pursuing my chosen profession of Marriage and Family Therapist.

[Keith Jennings]

Adrian,

Funny! For me, my wife's requests have become my quests! Sort of.

If you don't mind me asking, what have you published in the last 12 months? Do you have any work currently under consideration for publication?

Email me if I can help you strategize about where to publish.

[Nissi]

What an awesome idea--not only for writing for growing one's gray matter. Keith, I ask you permission publicly to give these to my students each week for their journal writing. My high school seniors will LOVE this. My 8th graders will sweat.

I think often during our own quests (either our general journey through life, or when we are onto very specific goals) people will derail us with their own requests. Then, our own quests change and take on a different direction. Our whole lives are a question of "Do I continue upon my own quest?" Or do I let my goals get derailed for the sake of somebody else's requests? It's often hard to tell the answer.

[BrettRWilkes]

Sometimes, I'll try to solve a problem or reach a goal – that is, I go on a quest for a solution or an answer – but I don't succeed on my own. So I get up, and I go ask somebody to help me out. When they join in and help me at my request, in a sense this is round two, and I am re-questing. Sometimes, making a request is your backup plan.

[Keith Jennings]

Nissi,

Great, great comment! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this.

And, of course, you can use these posts in your classroom. I'm all for anything that teaches creative thinking and helps kids learn how to practice it.

Please share updates on how it's going!

[Keith Jennings]

Brett,

I like your alternative approach! Instead of others requests becoming your quests, your quests become requests of others.

And, you're right, quests take teams. They're too big for any one person.

Thank you for your comment!

[Nissi]

Thanks Keith! I love your stuff.

[Jean Cook Braun]

When I hear the word ‘quest,’ in a flash I am leaning over the ramparts of a castle in a far and long ago land. (Is this my former life?)

Below, a knight. I am requesting his help in seeking a treasure, guarded by a fierce dragon. My request – and his quest – is to bring the treasure back to the kingdom, and NOT to slay the dragon (as this dragon is the last of its kind). He asks, “Which way, kind princess, shall I head on the quest?”

“Est,” I reply, pointing toward the rising sun.

[Keith Jennings]

Welcome to the conversation, Jean! Thanks for sharing!

I've gotta ask. Fiction writer? Or creative commenter? Or both?