The Struggles Of Writing From Scratch | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Struggles Of Writing From Scratch

Your blank slate awaits.

13
The Struggles Of Writing From Scratch
Gift of Writing

It all starts here. The blank slate stares back at me. The ideas lie stalemate in my head. "What can I write?" I could do one episode where I discuss how humanity is slowly entering a repetitive state of denial of law, or I could write a list about all the daily struggles I have as a college student. I cannot do either. This blank slate expects more than a series of rambling thoughts and confessions. I can write about what is familiar or I can write about something foreign. Foreign is always the best option for learning. Let's start with Hawaii.

Ahh, yes. The glorious oceans of Hawaii... In Hawaii, there are some people who can navigate the vast ocean by the feel of the currents on their fingertips and the sun's position in the sky. They can travel from island to island without worrying about losing their position on a map or whether they should consult a compass of whether they are heading east or west. I met a man like this who could tell the location of the island by the birds in the sky or the tides in the water. These brilliant navigators understand the complex mathematics of the natural world without using a single calculation. They don't have to face the blank slate in the middle of mathematics class. They don't have to stare at a bunch of numbers, variables, divisions, exponents, logarithms, and roots. They could just work it out without staring at this blank slate.

In college, we read about ancient societies who are built off the backbone of agriculture. They developed large cities with population of thousands, hundred thousands, and eventually millions. They never had to go to school and learn to read and write. Most importantly they have not stared at this blank slate. They didn't have to be thousands of dollars to understand that you can make money off of the product you create. We, now, can create a whole world off the backbone of a blank slate. We divide the ideals of this world from the realities. We give those ideals priority over that which is only temporal. We ultimately define life and its meaning by using a few choice words to describe our theories and hypotheses. We don't just dip our fingers in the water or plant thousands of seeds to learn. We submerge ourselves into that water and plant a giant seed within ourselves. We learn by seeing the world as a blank slate. A blank slate that we fill with words, calculations, chemical equations, theories, and testaments. We enter an inescapable contract with this world. "Fill me," it may say and we must do its will. Now, I filled my slate with the testament of the inescapable contract.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

2174
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

448746
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

21210
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

44287
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments