I am re-posting one of my first posts, not because I am lazy, but because I had about 5 readers at the time and I really like this post. I hope you can relate!!!
Perhaps my quest for deeper meaning will be propelled by the constant reminder that I am not original. This is not a bad thing. Barbara Grizzuti Harrison said, “There are no original ideas. There are only original people.” Perhaps this is what I am really trying to say. I realize there is no other person out there who is exactly like me – every person in the world then becomes unoriginal in their originality (if we are all original, doesn’t that make us all unoriginal????)
I do not like that my IDEAS do not seem to be original. I want to have that one AMAZING idea that really motivates someone (even me), sparks an interest, catches someone’s eye. But NO, my ideas indeed are not original. Need some proof??? I really thought I was being clever and unique with my 400 Days ’til 40 blog…. apparently some others did as well:
400 Days Until 40: http://400daysuntil40.com (blog on health and fitness before turning 40)
400 Days Until 40: http://400daysuntil40.blogspot.com/ (not kept up, she already turned 40, hope it was good!)
400 Before 40: http://400before40.wordpress.com/ (blog on 400 things to do before turning 40)
400 Days to 40: http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/400daysto40 (health blog on Everyday Health site)
40 Days Until I’m 40: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/40-days-until-i-m-40 (a blogger from New Zealand, now 40 – congrats!)
400 Days to 40: http://cecilyjackson.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/my-healthcare-myself/ (blog started in Dec. 2011, not kept up)
The Final Countdown: http://christy-gets-fit.blogspot.com/2011/11/enough-is-enough.html (counting down to age 40 – while working on a fitness goal)
You get the idea, I am sure there are individuals in cyberspace who could find even more blogs for me that reinforce the notion that my idea was NOT original.
This may lead someone to ask the question, “If there are no original thoughts, why think at all?” This is a good point… Perhaps the greater question is, “If there are no original thoughts, why open our mouths to express our lack of originality?”
Maybe the key is to think less and act more? Can I make my actions more original than my thoughts? Maybe I don’t have to – maybe my actions just need to have an impact. (Please note: A fist in someone’s face is technically an impact – I am NOT referring to this type of impact.) If somehow my actions can make someone’s life a little better than perhaps it does not matter if they emerge from original or unoriginal thoughts.
I am NOT original, neither are you. We still matter. Get over it.
400daystil40 (not to be confused with “400 Days Until 40” or “400 Days to 40” or “400 Before 40”)!
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
Anonymous
August 9, 2012 at 01:03
There is no one like you and the McKenzies love you.
400daystil40
August 9, 2012 at 20:13
Why, thank you so much! It is mutual!!! 🙂
Sid Dunnebacke
August 9, 2012 at 09:14
I’m reminded of the very similar line from The Incredibles about everyone being special. And I can totally relate to wanting to re-post some things from before I had any readers – and in my case there are loads of such posts!
400daystil40
August 9, 2012 at 20:13
Hehehe – yea, I have some good things that no one read…. I will not do it often though, seems like cheating!!! 🙂
viveka
August 9, 2012 at 14:53
Tell you …. it would be a blessing at time if … there was no thoughts *smile
400daystil40
August 9, 2012 at 20:15
🙂
Another Thousand Words
August 9, 2012 at 19:04
The old adage, “Actions speak louder than words.” applies here quite succinctly. It is not ‘original’ to be kind, but doing so makes that person somewhat ‘unique’, especially in today’s ‘dog eat dog’ world.
Our seemingly original thoughts fly through the universe faster than the speed of light…what is said to be original had been, at some point, eons ago, but somehow (?) our own egos demand that we be ‘original’…yet what we really do is follow the crowd.
I hope this all made some sense, 400…it’s a bit early in my day to be so philosophical!
400daystil40
August 9, 2012 at 20:20
Thanks for your great comment! It is true…. we are really just following the crowd.
Another Thousand Words
August 9, 2012 at 20:53
Thanks for the support on this, 400! Keep up the great work…I truly enjoy reading your wise views re: this world of ours and the energies we can project upon it (if we just get up off our bums and make an effort!).
400daystil40
August 9, 2012 at 22:53
🙂 🙂 🙂
Shawn
August 9, 2012 at 22:23
i have been thinking about this since i first found your blog and read this post,
so sorry if this is long…
when i first started a blog… (heard that sentence before?)
i thought about calling it “an argument for staying alive”
subtitled (as all blogs should be): “i find myself endlessly fascinating”
because we do dont we… and thats ok.
instead i choose a different title and was surprised to find that google had no knowledge of anyone else putting the 2 words i chose together,
i was not trying to be original (i know that i am not and it that would be a mistake to try to be)
nor is the idea complicated (makes me wonder if the two words just don’t belong together.)
because it seems that any and all combinations of words, notes, colors, shapes, etc. would have been tried before, yet i stumbled on something a bit different and that felt cool (though it also means no one else puts those words together and accidently finds my blog)
i am constantly confronted and amazed at others creativity (originality).
someone has probably done a thing before but our first experience of it can leave us awed
so in a way everything is always new (to someone)
are we original? – meaning special or superior … no
but maybe sharing our creative impulse could be the action that helps someone else’s
day and also brings a bit to our own
…so after all of that, i think in the end, i am just restating what you said (for originalities sake!)
and the best i can come up with is this combination of clichés:
there is nothing new under the sun and yet every zebra has a different set of stripes
and that’s really something.
thank you for sharing your stripes.
400daystil40
August 9, 2012 at 22:53
Thank you so much for sharing all of your wonderful thoughts….. I like your take on originality (or lack thereof!) 🙂
The Presents of Presence
August 10, 2012 at 05:17
Love your Blog ~ You are awesome ~ just wait until you are FABULOUS and FORTY! You’ve already got the fabulous down…now just the countdown to 40!
400daystil40
August 11, 2012 at 23:16
Thank you so much! Your comment made me smile!!!!! 🙂
knitxpressions
August 10, 2012 at 06:32
Some things may have been said a million times before in a million different ways, but being human we forget so it’s good to be reminded of certain ideas and be provoked and stimulated in the mind….food for thought, so we call it =) I enjoy reading your posts (original or unoriginal) so I just want to say THANK YOU for your thoughts and reflections; by reading them, I also reflect upon myself and strive towards becoming a better person.
400daystil40
August 11, 2012 at 23:15
Thank you so much! 🙂 And keep up that reflection (I try to do the same).
Hawkruh
August 10, 2012 at 17:28
If there aren’t any original ideas, wouldn’t you think it would be easier for me to come up with something I’d really like to do for my next job in life? I’m not trying for something unthought of, just something that fits me. Kind of like all the different versions of your title.
But on a different note, picture this … All of these individual people – yet inside their heads are some similar or same ideas, even if they don’t know each other! I’m picturing it on a giant white board being diagramed. It’s something like the 6 degrees of separation theory. Ok, I’m starting to blabber now LOL
400daystil40
August 11, 2012 at 23:14
This made me laugh because I can completely relate!!!!! 🙂