Illumination|Medium|And other Platforms

I See You …

The immense power of recognition

I first became really cognizant of the term, I See You, after watching the movie, Avatar, about 6 times. Seeing those amazing creatures, living a life in an idyllic setting, practicing a form of spirituality that I have yearned to do for decades and being able to fly those dragons — I was hooked on the concept. I See You, was not simply a greeting or a way of making another feel at home — it was a deeply personal acknowledgment that the other’s person’s existence mattered.

That who they were, what they were and what they could contribute to the group, was immensely valuable to every member. Without them, the group was less.

I cried at the idea that something so beautiful, albeit in a heavily CGI’d movie, was even possible, and it gave me hope. That rush has lasted a few years now, but has begun to wane of late, but I am hoping the sequels will provide another jolt that will last through 2029, or thereabouts.

Recently, as our publication has grown, and our outreach into the Medium community has grown as well, I have come to re-realize the importance of this phrase and how we could use it to help each of us as writers.

Recognition is a universal concept. It stretches across every aspect of human existence and along every endeavor imaginable. As a fine artist, having a piece placed in a gallery or an office lobby or perhaps best of all, a museum, means that there is an awareness of who you are and what you are capable of doing. It also means that your years of effort and intense study and application have paid off. People now see you.

A writer feels this desire no less than a fine artist, a singer or a composer. We all yearn to be heard. To have our words and melodies appear in the hearts and minds of others — even if it’s only for a few minutes.

Every writer has something to say.

Perhaps it’s vanity; perhaps it’s a major leaguer hitting a home run and flipping his bat at home plate while the nation watches. I’m not sure it matters. Achieving recognition is not a strictly spiritual endeavor. Yes, it feeds the soul and helps us all to continue, but on the real-world side, in those part of the universal that have closer connections to life, material needs, branding and all sorts of other things we must contend with, getting a leg up, a little support from friends, goes a long way in helping others achieve success.

When we acknowledge other writers, when we read and comment on their articles, stories and poems, when we promote them in some way, share their links with our friends, we are not just promoting that writer but all writers out there who are trying to make it in one form or another. And that includes us.

Every writer has something to say. A message, a theme, a point of view that’s funny and puts the ups and downs of life into perspective. Each one of us are important in our own way, not simply because we write, but because of the people who read what we write. They have needs and wants and reason to crave a little diversion and, well, that’s what we do.

Getting writers seen and recognized is difficult. It’s like trying to recognize a single face at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. When in a crowd you need to stand out, and yes, the writing should do most of the heavy lifting, but when you read something that you like or that moves you or makes you laugh or cry. Let it be known. Let that writer know.

Read. Comment. Share.

It’s a simple but effective system that will help all the writers on Illumination and Medium achieve the goals and objectives that they have set for themselves. And let’s not forget that in the process of doing this, you’ll have read hundreds of great stories, poems and articles on every subject imaginable. Not bad for a few hours a week.

Thank you for coming by to read this. Thank you for your continuing support.

Joe Luca is a published author and writer of children’s stories, short fiction, non-fiction articles, screenplays and poetry. Publications include Child’s Life, Children’s Playmate and others. There are some other articles below — have a read. And thank you for stopping by.