thoughts on originality

i don’t usually like to rant, but the concept of originality is an itch i have to scratch. and i feel like if i type away my thoughts, i can move on with my life. so here’t goes: my thoughts (ramblings?) on originality.

ok, is it just me, or does it seem like everything worth anything has already been thought of or done before in some way, shape or form. i see something cool, something new all the time– but then i remember, it’s probably just new to the mainstream. some little artist living in a cottage in whoville (who probs doesn’t know how to properly market themselves or copyright their work) probably published something before the hip blogger stumbled upon the idea.

it makes me wonder if there can ever be anything truly original anymore. it’s just people spinning through the same channels of inspiration and stumbling upon similar ideas. take a basic blog post for example, like my post about spring cleaning. i bet there are thousands of blog posts, magazine articles, tweets, instagrams, facebook statuses, tv episodes, etc., about spring cleaning. and they all say almost the same exact things. so is *new* content even original? if it’s the same ideas, just spun in different words? and how many ways are there to really “spin” spring cleaning?

blog posts about things like spring cleaning are kind of funny when you think about it. how things that are so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things become trending topics for a week, then vanish for 12 months. like, what?! how do so many people, have so many things to say about spring cleaning??? and why do they care?

i want to believe that there are still opportunities to be original out there…they’re just way harder to find. i think the best bet for embracing originality is being yourself. even if you have the same idea as someone else, their idea won’t be nearly as YOU as yours is. i know, that’s cliche, but seriously!! it’s all about taking the inspiration you have for something and finding ways to channel it … everyone has that one person they follow on instagram that you see and think to yourself, “uh, GOALS!!” so take those goals, and improve upon them (aka learn from their insta-failures). being original doesn’t have to mean it’s the very first time anyone has ever thought of or done something. it can mean replicating something you like or a style you admire, in your own way.

i guess what made me think of this is that recently i’ve been doing my darnedest to be original. but writing this made me realize, i already am original. so what if every other blogger on the west coast wrote a post about spring cleaning? i wrote about my OWN thoughts on it and how i think it should be done. if someone else has a similar method, then great!! we can celebrate our cleaning methods together over raspberry scones and swiffers.

xo,

moll nell

reflection and inspiration

as the term comes to a close, i’ve been reflecting on the classes i took, what i’ve learned, and what i’ll take away with me in future classes. winter term was about a thousand times harder than fall term for me, both academically and emotionally.

academically because i decided to take five classes this term, one of them being calculus. which is so. hard. winter term was emotionally challenging because it was hard to get back in the groove of school after being home for a glorious three weeks. i made matters worse for myself by wallowing in my homesickness and negativity about school, but by week three i pulled myself together. what really inspired me was my friends (hi guys!) and my favorite class i took this term, j100 media professions.

my friends all seemed to be on a health and exercise kick at the beginning of the term (maybe because everyone had access to scales over the break… freshman 15 anyone?). so naturally, i found myself encouraged and motivated to do the same. let me tell you – exercise has low key changed my life. when i don’t go to the gym or get outdoors for a brisk walk, i’m more negative, sluggish, unproductive, and just a whole slew of things that would make you want to cancel plans with me. but when i’m active, i’m more motivated to tackle my day and GSD!

as for my favorite class, it inspired me because it gave me some of the best advice i’ve ever received. never have i felt more capable to reach for the moon, and actually get to the moon. instead of land in the stars. the class consisted of lectures given by either professionals or professors in the journalism and media field twice a week. i’ve collected a couple pictures of their presentations and some of my favorite quotes from the class to share with you and motivate you to go out there and achieve!!

• “ideas over ego.” – deborah morrison
• “it’s not what we say, it’s how you tell each other.”

• “have creative courage.” – deborah morrison
• “study the traditions.” – hector tobar

• “failure is a beautiful tool.” – deborah morrison
• “research your options. it’s your life. maybe take up kayaking.” – bill ryan

• “be brave and generous.” – deborah morrison
• “find a place [to work] where you’re still learning.” – kathryn kuttis

• “it’s all about calculated risk.” – john spelich
• “just because you’re the center of the map doesn’t mean you’re the center of the world.”

• “don’t bring dirty laundry to an interview.” – steven asbury
• “you don’t need permission to do stuff… be dogged, resolved, make sacrifices.” – bill ryan

a slide from bill ryan’s presentation

a slide from bill ryan’s presentation

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happy thursday! it’s raining here in the eug (no surprise), so i’m off to cuddle up with a cup of chai and watch an episode or two of friends.

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xo,

molly nell

twenty facts

 here’s twenty things about me. they’re random, yes, but true nonetheless! comment the number if we have something in common!

1. i love the wind. it makes me feel so alive and like the sky is dancing and twirling and the clouds are the sky’s skirt as it spins.

2. i get super into the food i eat and make happy noises when it’s extra good. all about that yum.

3. i traveled around the world for nine months in fifth grade while being homeschooled by my parents. it was just us: me, my mom and my dad and our three giant suitcases that we lived out of while we traveled. where we went: mexico, costa rica, ecuador (including the galapagos islands), chile (visited patagonia way down south), new zealand, australia, bali, thailand, india, italy, germany, austria, england, france and switzerland.

4. i’m a big list maker and like to color code anything and everything. my planner is my diary and sometimes even my best friend. people say, “oh, wow, you’re so organized!” …sure…and i’m just really good at procrastinating.

5. kate spade is my absolute favorite designer.

hi how are you

hello friends and family!
it’s molly!

welcome to the humble beginnings of my very first blog, i’m so happy you could come. feel free to click around and make yourself at home, and even share with your friends!

after many months of procrastinating and deliberation over different blog names, i’ve finally decided on the personal url of “mollnell” and the title of “mollycoddled.” and voila! the blog was born.

my goal with this blog is to share all the pretty things i stumble upon as i feel my way through young adulthood and to inspire others to share their finding as well! i hope to feature: fashion forward looks, yummy recipes, at home spa treatments, travels, some DIYs (for my crafty readers), and maybe even a few personal anecdotes along the way.

i hope you’ll enjoy my blog, i know i’ll certainly enjoy writing it!

xo,
molly nell

p.s.
in case you were wondering, here’s merriam-webster’s definition of mollycoddle…

mollycoddle

verb: to treat (someone) with more kindness and attention than is appropriate : to treat (someone) too nicely or gently