Maung Wunna - I'm so tired.

I hear a cat.

A year ago, I ate and slept like crazy, slept and ate like crazy. I read a lot of books and chatted with people who were in the right mood. My friend Ko Kyaw Swar (Teacher Chit Oo Nyo) asked me to write for his Shwe Pyi Tan journal. So I didn’t refuse, so I wrote some articles for the Shwe Pyi Tan journal that Teacher Chit Oo Nyo had started last year. Teacher Daw Kalyan also always encouraged me to write. The poetry magazine that I myself had been involved in was also very active. The teacher didn’t blame me. Ma Hay Thi Teacher U Khin Maung Myint also asked me to write whenever I saw him. Teacher Maung Myint Myat did the same.

Ko Win Nyein, Ko Myat Khaing, and Ko Aye Kyu Lay also asked me to write. It's not that I'll use it every time I write. But they encourage me to write. There are many people who encourage me like that.

Thirty years ago, I wrote day and night just to get a manuscript in a magazine. I had many manuscripts rejected. The more I wrote, the more I wrote. I don’t know why I’m so lazy now. I’ve been making excuses like, “I read a lot, I’m afraid it won’t be useful to the reader, I’ll be useless.” The truth is, I’m lazy. There’s a saying, “A beggar sleeps when he’s full.” My wife runs a small shop. (I don’t need to explain that I’m not sure about my income.) The film industry makes a decent income. So I’m lazy. My living is pretty comfortable. What does that mean?

I read an article in Shuma Wa magazine written by Master Ngwe U Daung (U Kyi Maung). One day, Master U Kyi Maung came to Thabin Wan U Nu. Master Thabin Wan U Nu was writing. Master U Kyi Maung said

“ Where are you writing to send it to, Master?” I asked. Master Thabin Wun U Nu replied.

“ I’m not going to send it anywhere. I’m writing because I want to write,” he replied. Writers are people like that. How can I be considered a writer if I want to write or sit around and write because I’m bored? If I’m not a writer, what am I? I’m nothing. I’m a person who makes a living by writing and making movies.

I met with the artist San Toe yesterday. San Toe suggested that we should write down our memories as a record. He also wanted to write them down. (He said he was humble and said he couldn't write. I know he could actually write.)

“ Say what you want to write as you say it and record it on a cassette,” he suggested again. Teacher San Toe said that Teacher Ne Win Myint did the same. That’s commendable. I’ll start practicing it too. Either on a cassette or in a notebook. I don’t know if I’ll do it or not.

I thought about why I was writing. I answered that I wanted to write. I asked myself, "If I want to write, why am I writing whatever I want to write?" In this case, what good is it if I write what I want to write and end up writing something inappropriate? So, write with caution. Be careful. Only wise people can judge properly. I am not wise. I write what I think is not poisonous. The reader will choose and read it with caution. "The reader is the one who writes. Don't let this happen. The writer is responsible. So take responsibility and write appropriate writing. That's it.

Older people often talk about their life experiences. We, the middle-aged and the young, are long-winded. The drama has begun. We think it will not end soon. In fact, the older we get, the more we want to talk.

Why? Older people want to pass on to the younger ones what they should and should not do. It will take a long time, but the listener should be patient and remember the things that will benefit you. Forget about the things that you think are not important for a while.

( I think it's not important, but sometimes very important things are included in the words of the elders and the young.)

We also want to share our experiences and thoughts. That's why we're writing.

When I was young, I met young people, when I was old, I met old people. The elderly have a lot of experience. Great writers write about their experiences and their thoughts for the young and middle-aged people of the past. I think great writers don't care much about their own interests anymore. They give away their inheritances before they die. Some will be useful now. Some will be useful in the future. I also want to include things that are old and useless. (Even though they are old, they will accept that antiques are valuable.)

I have come to a new century and a new millennium, so I have read books that are both contemporary and old. I am also grateful to the teachers who want me to be modern. But I feel that when I read the books of great writers these days, the more I think about them, the deeper the meaning becomes.

What kind of letters should I write? I just write down everything I think and ponder. It's not fair to do it in a dishonest way. I think that if I try to impress others, the only reward I will get is to be looked down upon. (A special thank you to all those who encouraged me to write.)