You might be wondering why I’ve titled my blog In Medias Res. Fair question, considering it isn’t English. It’s a Latin phrase that translates to “into the midst of things” or “into the middle of things”. I first read the phrase during my junior year of high school in my AP Language and Composition class. Mrs. Love had the class reading The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. It’s one of William Shakespeare’s most famous works and the play begins, you guessed it, in the middle of a wild course of events. Without much context or exposition, the reader is thrown into the aftermath of King Hamlet’s death. The country of Denmark is reeling from this significant loss and is looking to see who will step up to lead the people. I am no Shakespearean scholar nor am I one to spoil a good story, so I encourage you to pick up a copy and read it for yourself.
Why did these three Latin words that I read nearly a decade ago stick with me all these years later? I think it’s because In Medias Res is a fitting way to describe how life often feels. Be it meeting new people, beginning new careers, or just charting uncharted territory, many of us can relate to the feeling that we are adjusting on the fly to the best of our ability. Rarely are we afforded the privilege of having the knowledge and wisdom to move through life with each step being rooted in confidence and conviction. Instead, it’s our job as human beings to make sense of things as they are revealed to us. When thrust into the midst of things, it is our duty to uncover the story that ties everything together.
In that spirit, this space will essentially throw you into the middle of things regarding me. I’ll periodically be posting essays, think-pieces, and other types of writing on various topics. It is my hope that my writing will either introduce you to a new idea, resonate with your own experience, or simply be a pleasant read. Till next time.
— kjf
