Approval
Human beings always seek approval for the things they do. As we are validated, we gain confidence and feel we are on the right path. When choosing topics for my own writing, I sometimes find myself hesitating, almost waiting for that same approval. This is because my pen tends to step away from the current global agenda, focusing instead on my own inner journeys. I often ask myself, "Should I write more about the news and similar topics?" Yet, for some reason, putting my intellectual journeys into words always wins. At that exact moment, I turn inward and tell myself: "Just be who you are and write. Otherwise, it would have no meaning or distinct value anyway."
Regarding this concept of "approval" that I mentioned at the beginning, Jean-Paul Sartre’s book Nausea gave me the strength to validate myself. I truly struggled to grasp what Sartre wanted to convey in this two-hundred-page book. On the surface, the book seemed tedious and the subject matter quite depressing. But I did not give up. I told myself, "If the world has recognized it, he must have something meaningful to say." In the end, I finished it in a week. The protagonist of Nausea was sharing a slice of his life through internal monologues. As I wandered through Sartre's long inner dialogues and tried to enter his intellectual world, I realized this narrative was taking me on a profound philosophical journey.
Ultimately, this entire reading process served as a mirror, allowing me to approve of myself. Yes, I know that I mostly do not write about gossip, history, or current events. But just as I struggled through Sartre's long sentences to finally understand the situations he wrestled to explain; with an optimistic mindset, I realized that my spontaneous, internal, and thoughtful writings carry meaning too. I came to the conclusion that not everyone has to write about politics or celebrity gossip.
In fact, the other day, I experienced a day that was deeply meaningful to me, even if it held no news value for the general public. But that day, I realized once again that every branch of art, especially the art of writing, is vital. The most beautiful part of September 28, 2026, was meeting writer friends in Tel Aviv, whom I previously only knew through their work.
That day, I met the lovely Sara Yanarocak. She gifted me her book, Letters to My Grandchild. When I returned home and started reading, I realized this book is a beautiful work that reminds us of human values—a gift not just for a grandchild, but for all of humanity. This book will now be my bedside read, and I will pass it down as a gift to my children.
Furthermore, Letters to My Grandchild gave me immense inspiration to keep writing. We live in an era where even books and authors have "trends," and certain names are inflated for commercial concerns. For unassuming people like me, who live in their own shells, reaching a genuine reader feels so difficult, almost impossible. I often find myself asking, "Why do you even put in this effort?" In times like these, Sara’s book reminded me once again how valuable the writings of us unassuming people truly are, and how much value they add to our lives. And I repeated to myself: "So, what's the verdict? Keep writing. Keep writing as if no one will ever read it!"
I want to end my piece with a line from Sara’s book. This is what dear Sara wrote to her grandchild: "...as I wrote to you in my very first letter, the greatest faith is Kindness..."
The arrows of kindness we shoot will one day surely reach their target.
Thank you, dearest Sara, for this wonderful book.
Rahel Çela Behar
IYT dip not:
İfade edilen görüşler İYT web portalının editöryal politikasını yansıtmayabilir.
Yazarların düşünceleri sadece kendilerini bağlar.
*Daha önceki yazımı okudunuz mu?*
Have you read my previous post?
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