Originality and Honesty
I’m starting off the New Year with a guest post by Alana from Sewn Stories. I came across Alana’s blog a while ago and fell in love with her style of writing. She writes a lot about one of her great passions which is sewing, but she also writes about a wide range of other topics – all which I greatly enjoy.
I decided to open up the year with her piece because it comes along with a wonderful message. Be honest because that makes you original. Being original is the key to success. Originality will take you a long way, and so, I believe this is exactly what everyone needs to remember as they start a New Year. Having said that, I hope everyone had a lovely evening last night and all the best in 2010.
Several years ago I was a young undergrad, majoring in Philosophy. The first philosophy paper I wrote – the first serious essay – I was expected to demonstrate not just an understanding of the material I had chosen to discuss, but to provide my own argument, to demonstrate original thought.
The concept of ‘original thought’ terrified me. I was adept at understanding difficult concepts, and I could demonstrate my understanding, but making that final leap, offering my honest and balanced opinion on an issue someone much smarter than me had obviously spent a lot of time considering, seemed impossible.
What could I offer? I read several different viewpoints on the topic my paper was to focus on, and there were viewpoints I agreed with, but I found it difficult to summon the courage to move beyond the ideas of those I agreed with. They had written what I believed, and that was that. All the thoughts had been thought.
Thankfully I had an extremely supportive and understanding professor, who gently explained to me that I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. I didn’t have to prove the others wrong, or produce a radical theory never before offered.
I just had to be honest.
My professor told me to be patient. He told me to read, and think, and write, and eventually the answer would come to me. He said eventually my understanding would grow enough to allow me to make the leap, and I would discover through reason my honest and justifiable opinion. He said my opinion would likely be similar to the opinion held by many who had considered the topic before me, but because I had put serious thought into the issue, my argument, or the way in which I would justify my opinion, would be original. It would be my honest opinion.
The idea of originality resulting from honesty has stayed with me. It gives me comfort when I feel discouraged. I am currently going through a period of growth and learning. I suppose it can be argued that we all are always growing and learning, and if we’re not, we’re stagnant. However, at this time my focus is on learning, my intention is to grow, and I am actively seeking change. My focus is on discovering my voice as a writer and improving my skills as a seamstress. I require vast improvements in both areas, and I’m not sure what I have to offer. I started blogging in September as a way to hold myself accountable and tease out the direction I want to take. Blogging has helped me in many ways, but some days I wonder why I am doing it. I wonder why I am writing stories no one reads, why I am making dresses with crooked seams. Will any of this ever provide me with an income? Will I ever be published? Will my blog ever lead me to greater opportunities? Will I ever be a skilful craftsperson, creating quilts and clothes and other items that others would want to buy? Is it enough to do these things only for myself?
What can I write, what can I make, that someone else isn’t already writing, or making, only better?
The answer is that I can write and I can make what I write and what I make. I try to remember that I will never accomplish anything if I don’t try. I try to be patient. If I am honest in my attempt, if I put in the work and I learn from my mistakes, I will grow and improve. Even if millions of others have written similar stories or sewn similar quilts, it is still worthwhile for me to try my hand. In time my abilities, my understanding, and my self will make the leap.What I create, whether it is a short story or a summer dress, a non-fiction article or a quilt, will be original and unique and an honest representation of who I am.
So this is my advice to you, if you ever feel the discouragement I sometimes feel: always be true to your self. Be honest. To be honest is to be original, to be uniquely you. Keep trying, keep learning, and eventually you will make the leap.
5 Responses to “Originality and Honesty”
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I write about self-improvement. I write about my conception of beauty and love. I write about happiness and traveling. I write about cherishing the old. And I write Monday - Friday.
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Hooray, Alana! And I agree 100%, I don’t think I would have come nearly as far as I have if not for being honest.
Candice´s last blog ..How Do You Define Home?
Oh Candice, you’re so humble…hahaha
What a fresh post! Honest. As the best writing is. One kind of sewing.
A “seamstress” is far more than the term. As this writing hints. She may be joiner of separate identities. The mender of ideas. The cutter of taste in ANY sphere.
The sewn product is her way to express love, loyalty and other value. A needle is her metaphor.
What else does “sew” mean? What else can be threaded onto the needle? Pearls of happiness? Smiles. Who checks crooked seams when there is lovability around? It is primarily lack of confidence. Ability has been proved. Perhaps the danger is being narrowed by a chosen label. That can be scary. The solution is to walk through the walls of the prison.
Anyway, thank you Alana for a revelation.
Alastair Lancaster´s last blog ..Loving Thursday 4
@Candice – thanks!
@Alastair – thanks so much for the kind words and beautiful ideas, such a beautiful comment to receive. You’ve given me something to think about :)
Karina, thanks so much for having me write a guest post!
I must apologize to all for my delay in response, it took me a couple of days to settle back into life after the holidays and my trip. Back to writing soon. Thanks again for all the kindness!
Alana ´s last blog ..The New Year’s Eve Dress
This was inspiring… I love the idea, being honest is to be original (and successful!) We need more of this.