APPRECIATION

A brilliant mind once said that if you want to be remembered even after you're gone,do something worth writing or write something worth reading. And he knew exactly what he was talking about. As I ponder over this, Im surprised to realize that it all boils down to the one basic and much understated human need - appreciation. Whether we are baking a cake for our kids or trying out new recepies for our hubby, treating our friends to their fav restaurant, or meticulously tending to our garden, or simply writing annonymous blogs on abstract ideas, its the appreciation that we are really looking for, or rather asking for.

Most of the times we tend to consciously fool ourselves that the recepients' response is immaterial to us, although on rare occasions we are genuinely unaware of how eagerly we await their response. I guess that our denial of the need for appreciation is based on the subconcsious fear of rejection or the guilt of having an ulterior motive. Lets just say that doing something solely for the joy of doing it is something only the saints and sages can boast of. The rest of us mortals had better accept the fact that we are devoid of this virtue. We crave for a dose of appreciation way more than we would like to believe. Imagine a young lover who gifts his lady a lovely flower, but is met by a cool indifference. Any guesses what happens the next time said lover has an opportunity to present a gift? By my reckoning, there simply wont be a next time. Its vaguely on the lines of Newton's 3rd law. Every well-meant and selfless act of ours needs to be met with heartfelt appreciation. Think about it- our joy stems not just from the act itself, but from the acknowlegement of that act, from the appreciation of the effort. Ironic as it may seem, self-satisfaction is too intricately woven with appreciation.

Writers are no different. It doesnt matter whether they are amateurs or professionals. They write because they have the urge,the skill and ofcourse, the will to write. A sporadic writer friend of mine [thats the way he likes to call himself] once said to me that he writes only for himself, solely for the sake of writing. But at the same time he bears in mind that it has to be something that the reader can relate to. I like his funda, although im not entirely convinced by him. What beats me is that if we are indeed writing only for ourselves,why are we not satisfied by merely writing a personal diary? Why do we publish books or put up blogs? Why do we care to read the readers' comments? Why is the critics' approval our ultimate pride? What is it that truly motivates us, moves us? Sure, its the power of the pen that compels us. But deep down, its the promise of appreciation that propels us. Honestly speaking, none of us nurtures a magnanimous desire to write regardless of the feedback. Believe it or not, its our passion to be noticed even as amateurs, an ambition to achieve excellence and win appreciation, or perhaps its just our humble desire to be appreciated even if we do not excel.