I write; therefore I am
By: Pedro Dalmolin
Tags: Writing Life, Daily Blog, Creative Writing, Creative Process, Writers On Writing

I write; therefore I am

The Y generation, mine, of people born between 1982 and 1994 are questioners of the status quo about everything that happens around us. Generations change because society changes. It is not a question of which is the best, but how each one adapts to new realities. We question politics, music, the environment, religion and the way the world acts in the 21st century.

The questions don’t just cover the collective society. The questions are also internal. We ask ourselves if we are on the right path and if this path exists. We live in a world of possibilities. We can choose between being a carpenter, a musician, a writer or a designer.

Descartes’ half-truth

What is the basis for our existence? René Descartes once said: “I think; therefore I am”; I take this as a partial truth: our presence does not need to be around our thoughts. I can’t believe Rene was wrong, but I want to leave my upgrade in this sentence: I write, therefore I exist.

I’m not a thinker or a philosopher. My head orbits around connecting the past, bringing it into the future, and perhaps, adapting to a different reality. I think; therefore I am appeared in a time when the great men of the moment were the thinkers. His visions were to share these ideas in a time when visibility was limited.

Even Descartes had never seen the success of the book, “Discourse on the Method”; which talks about our existence. The author went beyond the dressing, so I exist; he recorded everything that his imagination created him to believe.

I write; therefore I am

I caught myself thinking about it the other day, this hidden idea that this phrase shows us. Let’s leave the year 1600 and go back to 2020. Have been many changes since then, but I will focus on the essence of this text: be noticeable.

Inventive figures don’t stay hidden at home producing their songs, writing their poems or drawing architectural projects. Those who feel the desire to make their “art” don’t want to leave it to themselves. It is even selfish to think that way. Other people will benefit from your work. The globe is diversified, and all diversity has admirers.

That’s why it’s almost impossible to create something that doesn’t exist. What we do is mix things that already endure with others. Add our individuality. How many books about trips that ended up going wrong at some point, then there was a turnaround? Several! Each story was different in the eyes of those who wrote it.

The face of its authenticity

Being authentic does not mean being revolutionary. I follow the profile of a Danish painter, Daniella Jones, who does some incredible work. What she does others do, have done before and will continue doing. The difference is in her attention, in her brushstroke, in each emotion she puts in each picture.

However, she doesn’t do it with closed doors. She shows the world her art. Daniella knows the value her work has, which would be selfish with herself in leaving it locked in the closet. People know her picture because she decided to show it. That painter decided to stamp her legacy in the world with her art.

“Thoughts that materialize become gold for society.” — Me

There are ’n’ ways to live in the world. Some are devoted to religion; some are there for a relationship; some like to accumulate wealth; each one’s choice is unique. Is it wrong? No. Each being makes his existence according to his reality and desires.

What makes more sense to me, which is neither right nor wrong, is to leave a legacy in the world. That is why I chose writing. The phrase, “I write; therefore I am”, fits on me because I feel comfortable writing. Other people will change for their craft: I draw; therefore I am; I sing, therefore I am; I dance, therefore I am.

Action plus its existence is the materialization of Descartes’ catchword: I think, therefore I am.

Legacy shapes the future

Existing to leave the legacy in the world, even if only for one person to benefit from it, drives me to want to keep creating as much as I can. I consume books from people who have already died but left their legacy somehow. Alexandre Dumas with his stories, Da Vinci with his personality and paintings, Napoleon in his sagacity, each historical figure was a real character in his time.

Their legacy keeps in vogue even after death. The world seen by my vision makes sense. I always felt connected to the works and teachings of those who no longer walk on earth. The legacy I want to leave for the beings in 200 years is: be remembered and have my ideas linked to the purpose of a person of the future.

Hemingway’s living came about through writing: I write; therefore I am. The existence of Shackleton was through navigation: I navigate, therefore I am. Steve Jobs, a recent case that will keep in history could be: I innovate, therefore I am.

Currently, we have the tools to boost our existence. In 1600 it was hard to be noticed. Just a small portion of the population had this possibility, educated and knowledgeable personalities, but this premise has changed nowadays. The Internet and technology became accessible for people.

I’m not going to talk about the population that doesn’t have access to these technologies, but on a comparative basis with the 15th century, we are making progress.

If I had been born at the same time as Descartes, I would hardly have written anything. I wouldn’t even know how to read at first. Today is different. We have this opportunity, which also comes with obstacles, to show our work. Our existence contributes to the world with our skills.

Someone is waiting for you on the other side of the door.

As I said before, we live amid diversity. For every skill you develop, an admirer you will conquer.

Today I lapse my existence through writing. Day after day, I leave a small footprint on the world. What I do, many people do. The way I accomplish my craft only exists by me.