This blog exists for two reasons. One, because I love writing. It helps me process my thoughts, form my own opinions and communicate them better.
Two: I believe that people, including those within the creative community, could stand to help each other out a bit more.
Humans have this idea that if others get ahead it means that we have to fall behind. If a coworker or close friend becomes successful, we become anxious. If we receive important information or learn a valuable skill, we keep it to ourselves so we can get a leg up. We instinctively look out for ourselves and often pursue our own interests at the expense of others. As if there’s a well of good fortune that might run dry before we get to it.
Letting others stand in the spotlight does not mean we sit in the dark. If the people who surround us are happy, we will be happier. When we choose to share knowledge and kindness, we receive greater joy than when we keep good things to ourselves. Jealously and fear, on the other hand, only hold us back. This is no revelation; we all know it from experience.
I do not pretend I am not privileged. I do believe that sharing my knowledge, my skills and my ideas with others can be a small start to pursuing equality, at least within this niche circle of my online friends. When we speak of privilege and tangible resources, where consequences of imbalance are greater and can even mean life or death, the solution may not be so simple. Sharing what I know about design may not save lives or fix injustice, but it might help someone else grow and be better in some small way.
In my writing and in general, I strive to be useful. I live by this rule. Often I am qualified to do little else but offer help. So I try to help, however small the impact may seem. I hope that my musings on life and work and happiness can open a door to conversations we may not typically have in this community. Conversations that lift you up so you can do the same for others, for those inside and outside of your circle.
There is plenty of good in the world to go around.
We just have to share it.
Have a wonderful week,
Tobias
