If you read this post’s title and automatically imagined a red-haired girl holding hands with her raven-haired best friend, you are my kind of people.
Bonus points if you read the words and immediately started to sing the song from the famous Charlottetown musical …
Anne Shirley (of Green Gables fame) cherished kindred spirits. For her, they were the only true kind of friend, and the only relationship that really mattered.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines a kindred spirit as “a person who has the same opinions, feelings, and interests as you.” In a particularly charming move, they also describe the phrase as “old-fashioned.”
The Anne of Green Gables Fandom website describes a kindred spirit as “someone who understands Anne Shirley very well, well enough to know what she is thinking.”
For those of us who grew up reading (and singing) about kindred spirits, this definition hits closer to home. It’s not that hard to find someone who shares your opinions and interests. There are entire clubs, websites, and movements devoted to such communities.
But finding someone who understands you so well that they might even know what you’re thinking, well, that’s at the heart of finding a kindred connection.
It’s about a similarity of the soul, a shared passion for living. It’s the kind of thing that can be felt more than explained.
In our own kind of way, writers are kindred spirits.
We meet the basic description. In addition to our obvious common interest - writing - we probably also love reading, bookstores, libraries, and a host of other bookworm pursuits.
But just like Anne’s definition, our connection is deeper than just a common interest.
Now, not all writers will be your particular kindred. Genre, lifestyle, age, and worldview are things that naturally separate us. We tend to feel more in tune with people who look, act, and think like us.
On our more negative days, we can find even more division. We allow envy, ego, and imposter syndrome to blind us to any potential connections around us.
Anne Shirley thought that way sometimes, too. Anne is an open heart and yet, along the way, she dismisses people based on the way they act, the things they say, or worst of all, the way they make fun of her hair. But as she learns patience and grace, she makes a life-changing discovery:
“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”
(L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables)
My writing friends, we are so much more connected than we sometimes think.
When we start to see other creators as kindred spirits, and not as competition, we find freedom from the shackles of jealousy and bitterness. We discover that encouragement is as beneficial to the recipient as to the giver. We’re reminded that there is space for all voices and all stories.
We discover that we’re all committed to the same wild idea: using letters, words, and sentences to inspire, educate, influence, and heal.
In finding our kindred connection, we are filled with even more love, even more grace, even more compassion, and even more hope.
And in that moment, our writing can’t help but transform for the better …
Who are the kindred spirits in your writing life?
Singer, songwriter, and worship leader, Allison Lynn, is drawn to the power of story to grow hearts and communities. Allison and her husband, Gerald Flemming, just released their 9th Infinitely More album - The Sum of All Love. Publications include The Anglican Journal (national newspaper), Taste and See (journal), Love STC (Niagara Tourism Blog), and four stories with Chicken Soup for the Soul. www.InfinitelyMore.ca
Thank you, dear Allison, for creating a respite to enjoy this morning. All things Anne are awesome. I felt less alone when I read the Anne series. Her passionate personality helped me accept and celebrate my own. Sometimes the best kindred spirits are characters in the books we read (and write).
ReplyDeleteI love these words: "We discover that we’re all committed to the same wild idea: using letters, words, and sentences to inspire, educate, influence, and heal."
Blessings.
Thank you, Wendy! I also find so much comfort in the Anne stories. And thank you for your comment on that sentence! My Dad is a writer, and when he read the draft, that was his favourite sentence, too :)
ReplyDeleteHi Allison! Such a warm hug post. Your mention of Anne of Green Gables caused me to think right away of "Matthew Cuthbert," a character in the story whom Anne considered a kindred spirit. When I watched the TV series years ago I was drawn to Matthew. I could see Matthew and I hanging out together and staying away from crowds.
ReplyDeleteWith my writing and especially my poetry I sense a kindred spirit with Rainer Maria Rilke. I love the tone and indeed spirit of how his words gather on a page and jump into my heart.
Allison, this is a wonderful message. I have indeed met a few kindred spirits here in our beloved InScribe. Please keep writing and allowing us to hold on to the voice of your heart's words.
Thank you, Alan! I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement. I've heard of Rilke but I'm not very familiar with his writing. Just took a few minutes to read a few of his poems. So lovely! I'll definitely need to read more...
Delete"When we start to see other creators as kindred spirits, and not as competition, we find freedom from the shackles of jealousy and bitterness." this is such a powerful observation! It's one that we must embrace as writers and dare i say, even as Christians. We need to foster a sense of being "Kingdom Minded" in our faith, which spills over into our writing, too. Thanks for this great post. (And I love Anne!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the concept of kindred spirits, Allison. I have found such a kindred spirit in our InScribe and especially in our blog members. You so ably wrote how finding kindred connection impacts us:
ReplyDelete"In finding our kindred connection, we are filled with even more love, even more grace, even more compassion, and even more hope. And in that moment, our writing can’t help but transform for the better …"
I love Anne Shirley and her search for "kindred spirits" throughout her (imaginary) life. The words "we discover that encouragement is as beneficial to the recipient as to the giver" resonate in my mind. There are great encouragers in Inscribe and I love the way people encourage each other. Thank you, Allison.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Allison. Very thankful for groups like Inscribe where deep connections can be made with people you may have never met. In our necessarily solitary endeavours, kindred folks provide a path to know that we are not alone and someone ‘gets’ the words we put together. Thanks very much for this warm and thoughtful post.
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