Original Thought

Originality is Influenced by Experience

I recently watched "A Trip to Infinity" on Netflix and was enlightened to the fact that atoms are fungible in what they create. Put differently, if an object is placed in a box and allowed to remain there for many billions of years, upon opening the box, something entirely different could be present, composed of the same atoms as before but arranged in a novel configuration. Given sufficient time, the atoms would transform into everything they could possibly be. The point here is that if you use your wildest imagination to conjure up something unique that might be in the box after so many billions of years, it won't be truly original, as there is a finite number of things that these atoms can become. This might seem perplexing, but it has led me to a new interpretation: nothing is genuinely original. While this sounds cynical, it's more so because of the premise that, given enough time, all things will be thought of, created, and developed.In billions of years, every imaginable concept will be painted onto a canvas. The timing and choice of what is painted on each canvas are subject to debate, influenced by a multitude of factors. Relating to some of the concepts within Essay 11 [Nature vs. Nurture: The Extent to Which We Were Born This Way], what we perceive as original thought is a product of both external and internal factors (nature and nurture). In this context, "nature" refers to where you grow up, the schools you attend, and the friends you make, among other things. These elements that constitute "nature," combined with your genetic predispositions and the experiences you accumulate throughout your life, amalgamate to form your unique self. All of these experiences that you process are utilized to formulate your own distinctive ideas. Often, it may be challenging or impossible to discern which experiences in someone's life led to what you define as an original thought, but it is more likely than not the product of how they have lived their life.For instance, each of these essays I am writing is the result of something I've experienced in my life. A few of the concepts for the prompts have been the product of profound conversations and dialogues with some of my closest friends. These concepts then evolved into a "Title: Subtitle" format, which serves as the jumping-off point for the internal dialogue that forms the body of these essays. A component of living a full life includes physically and mentally exploring and socializing your unique perspective, which is the accumulation of all your interconnected experiences. The essays you are reading are my attempt at creating "original" content by conveying my perspective on life, including experiences I've had and lessons I've learned.If I were forced to remain in my apartment after writing the 10th essay, it would be exceedingly difficult to come up with the remaining prompts. The next time you have what you define as an original thought, pause for a moment and reflect on the many aspects of your life that may have converged to form such a thought. Be grateful and proud of yourself for piecing them together in such a way.