Questions by Sierra Zimmer
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Sierra: Hello Leonard! Your new blog post was very relatable. How did you come to this topic for the month’s theme of liberation?
Leonard: Hi Sierra, thanks for asking. I always wanted to write about my anxieties about the future and how my past had led me to where I am now. So with this month’s theme, I thought now would be the right time to do it.
S: So then, what would you say was the hardest part of this piece to write?
L: The hardest part was coming up with the imagery for this piece. I had all these ideas on how I wanted to express myself. I’m a big fan of sci-fi though, so I wanted to channel these images about space and cosmic horror to show how impactful my feelings are.
S: Your imagery was beautiful! And then, you shared with us your belief in what some may call destiny. How do you define destiny? And what does this mean to you?
L: Destiny is undefinable, in my opinion. It may seem contradictory, but I don’t think we can define destiny, at least not under one idea. For me, I would say that destiny is the actions we choose to take, not the ones determined for us.
S: Wow, that’s really fascinating. As a believer in destiny, do you then not believe in choice? As in since everything is predetermined, is anything really our choice? Can you explain why or why not?
L: I wouldn’t say that everything is predetermined. We are capable of making choices, and more importantly, we can change the things around us that make us unhappy. I think that as people we are capable of making ourselves into anything we desire. That drive to change and grow is what I would call “destiny.”
S: You touch on anxieties of the past, especially that of missing out on things or knowing people you could have. Do you have any advice for people whose worries, like these, lie in the past rather than the present?
L: I would recommend that you just have to keep on pushing forward. Keep working on yourself and learn from your regrets. And with that said, don’t see your regrets as mistakes. Think of them like lessons, each helping to lead you to a good place.
S: What is the top thing you want the audience to learn from this piece?
L: I hope that my audience can learn to appreciate their past, look forward to the future, and fight back against their anxieties.
S: That’s beautiful. Well, that’s about all. But first, where can our audience find you? And what will you be working on next?
L: You can follow me on Instagram at @lennyoninsta72, and you can find a selection of my other blog posts here. As for what I am working on next, you can find my future blog posts at the Beyond Thought Creative Arts Journal.