“If money was no option, what would you do?”
In a special meeting for our local Morningstar Toastmasters Club, members were working on Table Topics skills or their impromptu speech technique. While the question I received was one I have pondered several times, what came out of my mouth took me by surprise.
“Blood splatter specialist for a crime scene investigation unit.”
Wait? What happened to “writer?” CSI? Where is the real Weegee?
I could tell by the lift of the inquirer’s eyebrows that we were having the same mental thought train.
However, upon reflection, I did say “writer” . . . just of a different type.
“We have a choice about how we take what happens to us in our life and whether or not we allow it to turn us. We can become consumed by hate and darkness, or we’re able to regain our humanity somehow, or come to terms with things and learn something new about ourselves.” — Angelina Jolie
At every crime scene, a choice was made. Someone determined that this was the best course of action; this needed to be done. This was the pathway needed to head down.
One moment became the summation of a series of choices, actions and effects.
It is up to the CSI staff to look at the end result, and work backwards. What led to this moment? What was the emotion behind this? What choice was made? It is their job to start with the tragic ending — and build the true crime story.
“Every man builds his world in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escapte the necessity of choice.” — Ayn Rand
Our choices are a reflection of our personal history, status, relationships and perspective. Each one of us would have a different viewpoint on any given situation and our end results would vary. That is what makes people interesting — from how they handle the stresses life throws at them to whether they see themselves as the victim, the hero or the villain in their own personal novel.
Each choice is the end of a story . . . and the beginning of the next chapter.
CSI is just a writer who creates backwards in the true crime genre.
What Inspires Me 