READ,WRITE & LIVE YOUR TRUTH

Year: 2025

  • Follow Your Heart & Live Your Truth

    “Be You” or “Be Your Authentic Self” 

    Cliché? Not at all.

    E.G. Kardos

    “Just do you” and “It’s nobody’s business but yours” are phrases that we hear and, at best may be well intended but are grossly superficial. If it were that easy, we wouldn’t live in a world of raised eyebrows from followers mostly cut out of the same mold. I say, follow your heart!

    If you strive to be your true self, you know the value of “following your heart.” 

    Although some may think that following your heart is the same as following your dream, they are very different. 

    Dreams are something outside of us that we aspire to be or have. I may have a dream of getting rich and living in a castle. I might dream of being a high-powered lawyer, CEO, or a movie star. I’ll admit, these aspirations are exciting, but they aren’t who we are.

    Sometimes dreams can lead us to make some very unsavory choices. We may cut corners or end up stepping on a few folks to get to where we want to be.

    Dreams, many times, come from wants and desires.

    But when you follow your heart, your dreams come from a different place inside of us. That place inside of us is who we are at our core. When we are true to our core, our dreams are all about what’s most important to us,.

    These dreams are more than wonderful. They are spectacular, joyful, and true to what and all about us. These dreams emerge from our authenticity. 

    When our true self ignites a dream, it can never be misguided.

    “It is simple. By following your heart, you will find your fortune. Your dream matters not, as many dreams are driven by something other than one’s heart.” 

    “Oh, I see,” Elias said with no real conviction as he only heard half her message. Knowing he did not hear the truth in her words, she knew he would have to learn this on his own.

    Nattymama speaking with Elias

    The Amulet: Journey to Sirok, E.G. Kardos

    Why is it difficult to follow your heart or live your truth?

    It’s true –we’ve got to learn this all on our own, but this is why I think we tend to shy away from doing so for three reasons:

    • Society—this is a big one. It’s not just parents or our family who may steer you away from being true to yourself, but society as a whole. We may experience peer pressure, what is deemed “acceptable” to a group, what others claim as “normal” or “fitting in” and it may be difficult to muster the courage to be authentic.
    • Fear is often internal, but anxieties mount as we think about following our own path. Will we lose friends? Or will we be successful? How about, will we be happy? What does my future look like? If I’m successful, I have a whole set of new situations to address and am I ready for that?.
    • Guilt—if we follow our heart, are we taking something away from someone else? Are we disappointing someone else by being true to ourselves? Maybe we begin to spend more time away from those who unintentionally pull us down. Or should we devote more time elsewhere and just give in and live a life the way that others think is best for us?

    There are many questions to consider.

    Social conditioning, fear, and guilt are strong forces to overcome. Sometimes, however, we hide our truth from others or even from ourselves. This is why it takes courage, a personal commitment, and a lot of time to make this journey.

    Fiction and Our Journey

    This is why I believe reading fiction should be part of our journey. Why? I remind myself that as a writer, the best prose written comes from “our truth”.  The best fiction authors dig down to there core and find their “truth” and share it with the world.

    We as readers benefit as the moments about which they write are full of color, emotion, and are real. We are there. The story is very human as we meet multi-dimensional characters. They are characters that could be you and me. That’s why the moment we read becomes our moment as if the book was written only for us.

    Fiction gives us an opportunity to see other perspectives and helps us to interpret our own path. I see a real connection. Do you?

    Not There Yet

    I do my best to live my truth, but I’m not there yet, but it is the path I am on. So these are questions that guide me: 

    • In my own words, what am I like? What makes me who I am?
    • What do I think about when I’m alone? What’s important to me?
    • What is most important to me even if I don’t show it? 
    • What brings me joy? 
    • Lastly, what’s my definition of me?

    These questions have nothing to do with how others perceive me—or you. When we commit to a life we know that deep down makes us who we are, living our truth comes naturally. We’re not always able to do this as we live in an overly complex world and one that may not always be open to what our humanity offers.

    Think about it, humans decide what other humans should be. This is just deplorable. We have one chance at our lives and it isn’t for others to dictate who we are.

    When we follow our hearts and live our truth, we are overcome by joy, and we live a more inspired life. Like I said, I’m working on it. That’s okay because recognizing this and moving forward the best I can is the only way.  

    Here’s a related post about being true to yourself.

    What do you think?

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • Hero’s Journey Monomyth

    A Spiritual Quest & Search for Identity

    E.G. Kardos

    The Hero’s Journey Monomyth is a story structure where the main character, or the hero, reluctantly goes on an adventure from an “ordinary” or everyday world to a “special” or different world.

    “The journey of the hero is about the courage to seek the depths; the image of creative rebirth; the eternal cycle of change within us; the uncanny discovery that the seeker is the mystery which the seeker seeks to know. The hero journey is a symbol that binds, in the

    original sense of the word, two distant ideas, the spiritual quest of the ancients with the modern search for identity, always the one, shape-shifting yet marvelously constant story that we find.”

    ― Joseph Campbell, The Hero’s Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work.

    The hero must overcome challenges and if successful, they come home a changed person.

    There are typically 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey, but they may vary and differ to some degree. Occasionally they are combined. This manner of storytelling is not just good for plot points in a story but an excellent way to develop characters.

    It blows my mind that humans have used the Hero’s Journey to tell stories for thousands of years and humans have done this in every corner of the globe. How did humans who lived thousands of miles from each other and who were separated by oceans come up with the exact blueprint to tell a story? Could it be that humans are hardwired to tell stories? It shows that deep down, we all think and feel in similar ways. 

    The Hero’s Journey Monomyth overlaps cultures simple as that.

    Some of the earliest recorded myths, legends, and folklore from cultures around the world, date back a few thousand years which suggests that the monomyth has been a part of oral traditions well before Joseph Campbell coined the word in the twentieth century.

    In recent times, books that follow this model include The Alchemist, Jane Eyre, The Fault In Our Stars, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hunger Games to mention a very few. 

    The pattern is not only a format for books, myths, or fables, but the Hero’s Journey is a common model for movies. Star Wars is an example as I understand that Jim Lucas spent time with Joseph Campbell to ensure that the films followed the pattern perfectly. Other movies include the Harry Potter movies (and books) as well as Moana and many animated films such as Lion King. Come to think about it, it is more difficult to find movies that don’t use some version of the Hero’s Journey.

    The Hero’s Journey Monomyth – Here’s a look at how it works:

    These are the most commonly used stages or plot points identified by Joseph Campbell of The Hero’s Journey:

    Departure

    1. The Ordinary World
    2. The Call to Adventure
    3. Refusal of the Call
    4. Meeting the Mentor

    Initiation

    • Crossing the Threshold
    • Tests, Allies, and Enemies
    • Approach to the Inmost Cave
    • The Ordeal

    Return

    • The Reward
    • The Road Back
    • Resurrection
    • Return with the Elixir

    Here’s my take on each of the stages of the Hero’s Journey:

    DEPARTURE

    Ordinary World: One way to look at this stage is ordinary people doing ordinary things in an ordinary life. The “hero” really isn’t a hero just yet but then something falls into their lap—that’s coming up soon, but first, we need to get to know our soon-to-be hero. Sometimes we find out that they are a lot like we are and the more we relate, the better.

    Call to Adventure: As our character goes about their daily business they receive some sort of message, or they stumble onto something, or they find themselves being called to do something unusual. All of sudden things are getting more exciting as the character struggles to make sense of the change they are experiencing. The reader is being pulled in too. 

    Refusal of the Call: In my mind, this is more of how the character reacts to being thrust into a new and scary situation. At this point, the character is reluctant to go further. Many times the character makes excuses for why they need to put blinders on and continue to go about their own business. Don’t we do this when confronted with the unexpected?

    Meeting the Mentor: Business as usual, however, has gotten very complicated for the hero, so they seek out a wise and experienced person for help. They may be a professor, their grandma, or the low achieving high IQ friend. Whoever it is, the mentor gives our character what they need to respond to the “call” with some confidence. Many times we may hear the mentor simply say something like, “Go for it, what do you have to lose?” I usually need to run things by someone I think is smarter and wiser than me.

    INITIATION

    Crossing the Threshold: After some preparation, the hero is ready to go and step into a different world. Many times this is an enchanted world, like when Harry Potter and Ron Weasley run their trolleys into the brick pillar to get aboard the train headed for Hogwarts.

    The hero doesn’t have to be headed to an enchanted world as it could be any major life change for instance something that prompts them to move from the city to the country, the first day at Boot Camp or being “discovered” by a Hollywood agent—that would be pretty cool. The world they are about to enter is far and away different from what they are used to.

    Tests, Allies, and Enemies: The hero finds out pretty quickly who their friends and allies as is the hero is tested along the way. These are not life and death tests, but they can be grueling events giving the hero some pause and regret that they chose to answer the call. Think about the last time you second-guessed a big decision.

    Approach to the Inmost Cave: As the hero gets closer to the most dangerous part of the journey, true and loyal friendships are solidified. The hero knows who to trust as they approach the uncertainty of their calling. Many times, however, the hero is on their own but knows their allies have their back. Now that’s a good feeling.

    The Ordeal: This is the part of the story that we often think is the climax, but it’s not the “real” climax after all. Our hero has much more to do—and prove later in the story. The hero may confront a life-or-death situation, or they may be facing the greatest fear they had in the ordinary and now it appears in this new or special world. They might come face to face with the hideous power that has stalked them throughout the journey. This “hideous power “can be found in other characters as well. It can be found in situations or events too in both real and symbolic ways. 

    As the hero goes toe to toe with the villain, they find out that they are not exactly ready to take on this evil force. This challenge is like no other and the hero plummets to their lowest ebb. Their spirit is broken. Don’t worry, it’s not the end—it’s upward and onward and the hero finds a way to mend their broken spirit. By doing so, our hero is reborn, but that’s coming up.  

    RETURN

    The Reward: The hero now finds that missing piece that could have made the difference earlier in the story when they were crushed by their nemesis. How do they find it? The hero is somehow rewarded with information, a special weapon, or something they previously overlooked—this reward or the “missing piece” will propel them to victory. 

    The reward is not something new to the story, but it has something to do with the story. It could be knowledge, profound insight, a powerful gem, a book, or another object that will be needed as they confront their enemy one more time before heading back to the ordinary world. 

    With the reward, they are now ready to conquer the dark force that had stripped them of their power during the Ordeal. This is the hero’s rebirth and is key as this transforms the hero into a better version of themselves and ready for anything that comes their way. 

    The Road Back: The hero must, once more, approach the Inmost Cave—the most dangerous part of the journey—to face the villain. This time, however, our hero has all they need to accomplish the call. The hero defeats their archenemy and holds in their hand the elusive treasure. Again, this can be something physical like the Holy Grail, or it can be the treasure that the hero has internalized—a superpower, or maybe even knowledge that will create world peace. 

    Resurrection: When the hero is victorious they are symbolically reborn and at that moment the hero emerges transformed. At this point, the hero journeys home to their ordinary world with their treasure. The Resurrection represents the ultimate transformation of the hero both physically and spiritually. 

    Return with the Elixir: Joseph Campbell termed the treasure as the “elixir” where the hero shares his bounty with his ordinary world. They return home but life is now different—it’s better and the hero has been forever changed.

    Here’s a more in-depth look at a story that follows the hero’s journey.

    A Spiritual Quest & Search for Identity

    Whether fiction imitates life or life imitates fiction, I am convinced that we are all seeking the meaning of our own lives. In the stories that were told thousands of years ago or written yesterday, we are trying to make sense of who we are to our core, where we belong in the world, and if our lives make some kind of difference. The hero’s journey is a spiritual quest and our search for identity.

    I love this quote as it sums it up…

    “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder. Fabulous forces are there encountered, and a decisive victory is won.” Joseph Campbell

    If interested, here’s more on Joseph Campbell from Bill Moyer’s perspective.

    As you read your next book or watch your next movie, think of this pattern. Not all stories have each plot point outlined above. Some may be combined, but generally, the stories we love, follow this pattern.

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • Seizing the Day

    The Write Stuff

    E.G. Kardos

    I attended an all-boys Catholic prep school in the 1970s. At that time, most of our teachers were monks who dedicated their lives to the Order of Saint Benedict. They were mostly older, stern men in black robes. Even though some taught Latin, “seizing the day” was not always top of mind.

    Most were very good teachers. However, looking back I’d have to say the teacher who inspired me the most happened not to be a member of the monastic order. He happened to be one of the few laymen who taught us—Mr. Storino.

    Our Introduction

    It was the end of August and marked the beginning of my sophomore year in 1975 when twenty-five of us, or so, filed into Mr. Storino’s English Literature class. He sat at his desk, nose down reading a thick tome.

    His classroom was on the second or third floor of a century-old building and as we learned in science class, heat rises—it was hot. There was no air conditioning. The large windows were raised as high as they would go letting in a periodic breeze here and there. 

    Moments passed and we continued to sit quietly as we heard classical music coming from an old record player. We didn’t dare say a word.  

    Colorful Posters

    His classroom felt alive and there was an energy–a vibe. It was unlike all other rooms in that old building. The other teachers were “old school” and probably didn’t see the value in creating a cool learning environment. Their classrooms were barren besides the occasional cracks in the plaster or a crucifix. But, Mr. Storino’s walls were adorned with colorful posters of Impressionism or Abstract art among many other provocative wall hangings. Against the walls were bookcases that overflowed with all kinds of books.  Sitting in my seat, I looked around the room and all I could do was smile.

    Letting the Words Take Us – Seizing the Day

    More than a decade before Robin Williams gave life to Mr. Keating in the movie Dead Poets Society, Mr. Storino was all about seizing the day—carpe diem.  He wanted us to grab hold of the words of a story and let them take us somewhere other than that old classroom in that hot archaic building. 

    For those of us who took advantage of his enthusiasm, and I did, we became equipped to appreciate the required tenth-grade literature with open eyes.  

    His assignments made us think—and feel. Mr. Storino wanted more from us than what most fifteen-year-olds typically wanted to give in class—being vulnerable wasn’t in a teen boys’ lexicon. 

    He talked with us, not at us. He wanted my thoughts on what I read? Really?

    Not until many years later, did I realize just how much he awakened me to literature. He inspired me in so many ways, and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to learn from him. At that time I began to realize it is okay to like, or maybe even love, literature and to seek it out.  I looked forward to his class where we could discuss The Metamorphosis, Brave New World, Catcher in the Rye, or… the list goes on.

    Time Presses On

    That was fifty years ago—wow! After that year, Mr. Storino took a position at a local public school, and I have not seen him since. Recently, I learned that he had a long teaching career and was heralded as one of the finest English teachers in his district. 

    Learning that about him made me feel even more fortunate.

    When my novel, Cutting of Harp Strings, was published a friend helped me to locate him. As if I were fifteen again, I was a bit shy asking him to read it, but he was delighted and read it at once.

    Since my best grade on any of my compositions in his class was a B+ (but mostly C+s if I’m honest), I was worried about how he would evaluate my latest work. However, I was pleasantly surprised—more like elated—by the “grade” and review he gave the book on Amazon.

    Teachers have so much to give. They have an awesome power and he played a major part in my love for reading and writing fiction.

    He is a true inspiration.

    Thanks, Mr. Storino!

    Who influenced you the most? 

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • Magic in a Simple Message

    The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – a review of sorts

    E.G. Kardos

    Paulo Coelho wrote The Alchemist and published it through a small Brazilian publishing house in 1988. The initial print run produced only 900 copies. Few copies were sold, and Coelho went on to find a larger publisher. The book took off due to word of mouth and Coelho’s innovative approach to marketing. I don’t know the specifics, but in a short time, the world wanted to read the book. It is, indeed a story of magic in a simple message.

    Since he and his book were gaining momentum, HarperCollins became interested in the book and struck a deal with Coelho. They decided to publish the book in 1994. Soon thereafter, it became a global phenomenon and an international bestseller. By some estimates, it has sold nearly 250 million copies and is among the top books ever sold. Incredible!

    What’s it About?

    The Alchemist is a fantasy and adventure quest. Some think of it as a myth or fable. Santiago, a young shepherd boy living in the hills of Andalucia, Spain travels the world for his treasure. He travels to Egypt and encounters the old alchemist. His adventure and specifically what and who Santiago encounters along the way allows him and the reader to grow. We learn the wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning from the omens along our way, about our own “personal legend” and following our dreams.

    If only all of us could listen to the wisdom of our hearts…we may find that our dreams are not so elusive. 

    Masked in Magic

    Coelho’s simplicity of storytelling inspires the reader to search for the wisdom that will lessen the burden of the complexities of life and potentially make our lives a masterpiece. This is why I think the book has found reader after reader for thirty-six years. Coelho’s “truth” gives the story life.

    We all aspire to something greater …

    Santiago’s quest is masked in magic and fantasy but is very much like our daily journey. Coelho uses the format of the “Hero’s Journey” to tell a story that resonates with our human spirit. We all aspire to something greater in our lives, but we may have difficulty getting there. Instead of only envisioning the end, like Santiago we should continue to keep an eye on the road as well. If we do, we may see the potholes or help someone who may need a lift along the way. There are times that we all need that lift… or get the nudge to take that next step. 

    The reason this book rose from humble beginnings is not only because of Coelho’s persistence to create awareness of his work but also because of the magic in a simple message. It is soul-searching and beautiful.

    Have you read The Alchemist? Thoughts? What other books contain magic in a simple message that is meaningful to you?

     “A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

    –Chinese proverb.

    About E.G. KardosI

    am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • Why Write? What Does It All Mean?

    Article published in Boomer Magazine, May 21, 2023

    Read more: Why Write? What Does It All Mean?

    E.G. Kardos

    My solitary path that I journeyed to reach “Cutting of Harp Strings” (2021) began in late 1994. One word led to another and after many rewrites over many years, the story became real. I could touch it, see it, hear it, smell it, and feel it.

    This story celebrates life and its many paradoxical but inseparable forces in our universe – some may call it the yin and yang. We all experience such forces both outwardly and inwardly. It’s unimaginable to think of life without this duality,

    but life as we now know it would cease to exist. such duality, we learn about ourselves and attempt to find meaning. I’m not the first to say this, but we are perhaps more interested in the meaning of our life than the meaning of life. I must agree with Socrates as he said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. We are reflective by nature but we, many times, overlook or are unwilling to find meaning from our introspection. Just look at history and how we, humankind, seldom heed its message.

    “Know Thyself”

    Also attributed to Socrates is the phrase, “Know thyself.” If we are willing to peel back the layers that humanity has heaped upon each of us, we may actually like—and love—who we are. It is up to us, one by one, to dig deep within our core to find a beauty we all possess. The core is always where answers live as they are seldom floating like a flower petal upon the surface of a pond. It takes reaching our hand below the murky surface to find what is truly there.

    “Cutting of Harp Strings” celebrates, most of all, our relationships with those who matter most to us. We yearn for acceptance, affirmation, and intimacy. There is no one right path to find this in our lives. There are, however, inevitable detours along the path that impede our progress. Such detours, like denial, trick us and point us in different directions. We may have little or no clue of how we managed to be deceived—but it happens. Sometimes we are misled, urged to fit in, or discouraged from asking questions for any number of reasons. Some of us find the answers but continue down a misguided path. Could it be because we’re humans? Just a thought.

    Our existence is about the many extraordinary connections we all experience. Those connections sometimes come in the form of shared moments. Like words, moments when collected and strung together, tell the tale of our lives. Our reality is made up of more than the big moments but made up of those intimate, fun, quiet, scary, insightful, quirky, bizarre, and mystical moments as well. If you are like most, you have experienced such moments.

    Starting With that First Word

    When I wrote the first sentence of this story, I had no idea what kind of journey I was on, but once in motion, there was no turning back. Eli, Aiden, and others told me who they were and where they were headed even though they were not sure themselves—such is life. I learned so much from their adventure as they invited me in. Writers don’t know the answers, but they do ask the questions.

    Writers don’t know the answers, but they do ask the questions.

    When I wrote the first pages, I was someone else. I concentrated on the “rules of the road” and what was “supposed to be” in every novel. Life isn’t like that, and neither is this story. What I came to realize was that this journey is far more important to tell today than when I typed the first letter many years ago… no “spoilers” here as you will have to read it to find out.

    What I Learned

    As I wrote this story, what I learned most of all is that humanity is all about belief systems and ideologies, and because of this, humanity creates its own reality. If you will, our world is all imagined even though the sun shines, the waves of the oceans slap the shore, and the lightning strikes at will. However, life as far as I can tell is all about what goes on in our hearts. It’s how we feel about and engage with each other, our world, and our creator. More importantly, we shape our life as it springs from how we feel about the one person for whom we should love first, no matter what—ourselves.

    Why do you read? Or write? What does it mean to you?

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write. Here’s more about me and my books.

    Latest Posts

    Most Viewed Posts

    All Posts

    Please notify me when you publish a new blog post.

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