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Tuesday, July 26, 2005

External Validation

I was talking to Frank who said he needs external validation for his writing. I said something stupid and thoughtless like "everyone needs external validation."

Frank's reply: "Do you?"

I am officially stumped. I have absolutely no idea. Maybe I don't. Surely having a blog means that I require some external validation, although it wouldn't bother me if no one read this. I would still write if no one read this.

I guess for me writing, painting and all types of creating are internally motivated. I do these things because I want to. In some cases because I need to.

It is like my conversation with Poetry Girl. She wants to leave behind a grand creation when she dies. I'm not like that. I don't care if my creations are grand or if anyone ever sees them. I do not want to make my mark on the world.

So if I need external validation, and it is not for any of my creations, what do I need it for?


Comments:
Manda,

hmmm...self esteem... I am cewtainly lacking in that area, but not with regards to my creative output. I love it when people love my creations, but I don't care if they don't. I used to care. I'm not sure what changed.

I need to think about your second comment....
 
manda: yes...I agree that validation is exterior. But I don't require validation for some things.

I guess that "external validation" could just as easily be "validation."

wrt self esteem. Validation helps. A lot.
 
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