...from the heart.

Have you ever written an essay where you had no idea what you were writing, what you were supposed to be writing, and how you were supposed to continue writing it? This might be one of those things that 'only those who have experienced it' would know.

There are two things that I dislike about "writing".

One. Writing that is going to be read from another person's point of view, and
Two. Writing something that obviously doesn't wish to be written.

Let's start with the first one, "Writing that is going to be read from another person's point of view."
Now see, most people would probably say something like, "Of course, if you're writing something to be read, the person reading it is going to be thinking from their point of view."
However, I'm not talking about a regular-kind of "let me read your paper" here. I'm talking about situations such as "Oh? You wrote about why --insert sensitive topic here-- should be made legal? Allow me to give you a lower grade because I don't agree with your argument."

That my friends, is what we call "bias."
"Bias" is often a result of personal opinion. Of course, everyone has a right to their own opinions. However, "opinions" create an issue when they take part in "judging".
Perhaps that paper on --insert sensitive topic here-- was actually really well written. But due to bias, it failed be considered a "good paper" because of a simple "I don't agree". That "I don't agree" however, was directed towards the --insert sensitive topic here--. Similar to the saying,

It's not about how much work you've done. Rather, it's about how well you've done your work.

and all other says similar to it, sometimes,

Judgement really shouldn't be made based on what you wrote about. Rather, judgement should be made based on how well you wrote about it, regardless of what it was.

So from this point of view, you can see why I don't like "writing that is going to be read from another person's point of view."
[Note: This debate on writing/reading/grading-bias does not apply to certain cases where you actually are being graded on content.]


As for the second one, "Writing something that obviously doesn't want to be written."
Personally, I hate forcing ideas out of my head. I hate having to write essays about topics that I don't understand, and topics that I have nothing to say about. How am I supposed to express my thoughts about something if I have none?

I believe that the best way to write, is to write the way you think.

BE the characters in your story. SPEAK the way you would speak if you were them. WRITE how everything would turn out if it was you living their text-on-screen, ink-on-paper lives and experiencing their stories.

So, to all the writers out there, this is what I want to say.
Writing is a gift, unique to every single one of us. We all have our own ways of writing, our own ways of choosing and using certain words, our own ways to express our ideas, our thoughts, our selves.
Write what you want to write. Say what you want to say.

Writers, unite and express yourselves the way a true writer is supposed to express themselves.

Tell the world the words that are coming from your heart!

Labels: advice, bias, experiences, judging, opinion, To all the writers..., writing

...but you can't see yourself.

I think that humans have the tendency to judge. We judge the people around us and deem them as either [in the most general sense] "people we agree with" or "people we disagree with". "Agreeing" or "disagreeing" with them simply means that we think their actions and behavior is justified, or that we think their actions and behavior is not justified for the situation.

Have you ever had anyone tell you not to do something, and then have you turn around and find them doing exactly what they had just told you not to do?

For these situations, there's that [harsh in some ways] saying:

Why don't you go look at yourself in the mirror?

It's rare [and I think even hard] to always look at and judge yourself while standing in the shoes of another. We like to think that we are "right" and they are "wrong", and it's human nature [I guess you could call it] to be ambitious and desire to win. However, I think that it is good to try to stand in the shoes of another [even if you think the shoes don't fit] and try to understand the acknowledge their point of view. I'm not saying that you have to agree with them - just try to be open-minded and accept their differing views on things.

At times, our parents might nag us and tell us not to do certain things and that it's "for our own good". As someone who has experienced that in the past, I personally don't think that "it's for your own good" is a very good reason to 'do' or 'not do' anything. I mean, what if someone told you to jump off a bridge because "it's for your own good"? You're obviously not going to do it, even if they actually "told you the reason" for doing it.
I think that some things in life we just have to find out for ourselves. Some day in the future, we might think back and say "I wish I had never done that," or "I wish I had done that differently", but that's the process of life. Throughout our lives, we'll make decisions and make mistakes, and build up on regrets for the future. There are times in life when you just really don't, can't, and won't take someone's word for something, but that's okay. If you make a bad choice, then you'll suffer the consequences. It's your life; live it your way.

Even if someone says that something is for our own good, don't let someone tell you what to do with our life and let them live it for you. It's okay to live you own way, make your own choices, do what you want to do. Sure, you'll make mistakes and have regrets, but as I said before: that's life.

Labels: acceptance, advice, controversies, experiences, judging, living life, reminders