What makes you special

Mariana Atencio: What Makes You Special? at TEDxUniversityofNevada (Transcript)

Here is the full transcript of NBC News journalist Mariana Atencio’s TEDx Talk presentation: What Makes You Special? at TEDxUniversityofNevada conference. This event occurred on January 21, 2017.

TRANSCRIPT:

Thank you so much.

I am a journalist. My job is to talk to people from all walks of life, all over the world. Today I want to tell you why I decided to do this with my life and what I’ve learned.

My story begins in Caracas, Venezuela in South America where I grew up, a place that to me was and always will be filled with magic and wonder. From a very young age, my parents wanted me to have a wider view of the world.

I remember one time when I was around seven years old, my dad came up to me and said: “Mariana, I’m going to send you and your little sister, who was six at the time, to a place where nobody speaks Spanish. I want you to experience different cultures.”

He went on and on about the benefits of spending an entire summer in ‘this summer camp’ in the United States. Stressing a little phrase that I didn’t pay too much attention to at the time, ‘you never know what the future holds’.

Meanwhile in my seven-year-old mind, I was thinking we were going to get to summer camp in Miami. Maybe it was going to be even better and we were going to go a little further north to Orlando where Mickey Mouse lived. I got really excited.

My dad, however, had a slightly different plan: from Caracas he sent us to Brainerd, Minnesota. Mickey Mouse was not up there and with no cell phone, no Snapchat or Instagram, I couldn’t look up any information. We get there and one of the first things I noticed was that the other kids’ hair was several shades of blonde and most of them had blue eyes.

Meanwhile this is what we looked like. The first night, the camp director gathered everyone around the campfire and said: “Kids, we have a very international camp this year. The Atencios are here from Venezuela.”

The other kids looked at us as if we are from another planet. They would ask us things like: “Do you know what a hamburger is, or do you go to school in a donkey or canoe?” I would try to answer in my broken English, and they would just laugh.

And I know they were not trying to be mean; they were just trying to understand who we were and make a correlation with the world they knew. We could either be like them or like characters out of a book filled with adventures like Aladdin or The Jungle Book. We certainly didn’t look like them; we didn’t speak their language. We were different. And when you’re seven years old, that hurts.

But I had my little sister to take care of and she cried every day at summer camp. So I decided to put on a brave face and embrace everything I could about the American way of life. We later did what we called the summer camp experiment for eight years in different cities that many Americans haven’t even heard of. What I remember most about these moments was when I finally clicked with someone, making a friend was a special reward. Everybody wants to feel valued and accepted and we think it should happen spontaneously. But it doesn’t.

When you’re different you have to work at belonging. You have to be either really helpful, smart, funny, anything to be cool for the crowd you want to hang out with. Later on when I was in high school, my dad expanded on his summer plan and from Caracas he sent me to Wallingford, Connecticut for senior year of high school. This time I remember daydreaming on the plane about the American high school experience with a locker. It was going to be perfect just like in my favorite TV show: Saved by the Bell.

I get there and they tell me that my assigned roommate is eagerly waiting. I opened the door and there she was sitting on the bed with a headscarf. Her name was Fatima and she was Muslim from Bahrain and she was not what I expected. She probably sensed my disappointment when I looked at her because I didn’t do too much to hide it.

See, as a teenager I wanted to fit in even more, I wanted to be popular, maybe have a boyfriend for prom. And I felt that Fatima just got in the way with her shyness and her strict dress code.

I didn’t realize that I was making her feel like the kids at summer camp made me feel. This was the high school equivalent of asking her: do you know what a hamburger is?

I was consumed by my own selfishness and unable to put myself in her shoes. I have to be honest with you, we only lasted a couple of months together, because she was later sent to live with a counselor instead of other students.

And I remember thinking: ah, she’ll be okay, she’s just different. You see, when we label someone as different it dehumanizes them in a way. They become the other. They’re not worthy of our time, not our problem and in fact, they, the other, are probably the cause of our problems.

So how do we recognize our blind spots? It begins by understanding what makes you different, by embracing those traits. Only then can you begin to appreciate what makes other special.

And I remember when this hit me, it was a couple months after that I had found out boyfriend for prom and made a group of friends and practically forgotten about Fatima, until everybody signed on to participate in this talent show for charity. You needed to offer a talent for auction and it seemed like everybody had something special to offer.

Some kids were going to play the violin, others were going to recite a theater monologue. And I remember thinking we don’t practice talents like these back home. But I was determined to find something value.

So the day the talent show comes and I get up onstage with my little boom box and put it on the side and I press play and a song by my favorite emerging artist Shakira comes up and I go: ‘whenever, wherever, we’re meant to be together’. And I said my name is Mariana and I’m going to auction a dance class and it seems like the whole school raised their hand to bid. My dance class really stood out from like the tenth violin class offer that day.

And going back to my dorm room, I didn’t feel different, I felt really special. And that’s when I started thinking about Fatima, a person that I had failed to see as special when I first met her. She was from the Middle East, just like Shakira’s family was from the Middle East, she could have probably taught me a thing or two about belly dancing had I been opened to it.

Now I want you all to take that sticker that was given to you at the beginning of our session today where you wrote down what makes you special. And I want you to look at it. If you’re watching at home, take a piece of paper and write down what makes you different. You may feel guarded when you look at it, maybe even a little ashamed, maybe even proud. But you need to begin to embrace it. Remember it is the first step in appreciating what makes other special.

When I went back home to Venezuela, I began to understand how these experiences were changing me, being able to speak different languages, to navigate all these different people and places. It gave me a unique sensibility. I was finally beginning to understand the importance of putting myself in other people’s shoes. And that is a big part of the reason why I decided to become a journalist, especially being from part of the world that is often labeled the backyard, the illegal aliens, third-world, the others, I wanted to do something to change that.

35 Things that Make YOU Special

What do people remember about you when you walk out of the room?

In my case, I may think it’s my background and knowledge that makes me special, but it’s more likely that what’s really memorable is seeing food magically transports itself from my plate onto the floor or onto other laps when I’m excited…

What makes YOU special?

Take a look at the following list of 35 things that make you special. It’s like a life inventory. When you consider all the questions, you’ll get a sense of how your life is at the moment, and how you could change it to bring out YOUR special uniqueness.

1. Personality

What is your personality? Take a look at the following personality types according to the Enneagram. Are you

2. Signature style

What’s your signature style? Are you engaging, entertaining, moving, intense, funny, bold, ditzy, serene, boring, or threatening?

3. Beliefs

What do you believe about life, the universe, or about yourself? Do you have religious beliefs? Do have beliefs about yourself that limit your potential?

4. Spirituality

Are you drawn to the mysteries of life? Do you use spiritual practice, i.e. meditation, prayer, or other to nurture your spirituality?

5. Aspirations

What are your aspirations? Do you strive for a cause that is greater than you?

6. Dominant sense

Each of us has a dominant sense through which we experience the world. What is your dominant sense? Is it sight or sound or touch?

7. Thoughts

What kind of thoughts are mostly in your mind? Are they daydreams, or thoughts focussed on your current project? Is your mind usually focused on the past, on the present, or on the future?

8. Goals

What are your goals? Have you recorded them? Which goals we choose, and whether we set them determines a substantial part of our uniqueness. Click here to learn how to set goals.

9. Creativity

Are you creative? Do you create at work, or write, paint, cook, or in any other way? Often people who are creative are more lively and happier than those who are not. Find out what makes us creative.

10. Happiness

How happy are you? Take the test here to see how happy you are. Find out what authentic happiness is.

11. Attitude

What is your habitual attitude? Is it negative or positive? Our attitude is shaped by influence and association, beliefs, thoughts, expectations, and self-talk. How was your attitude shaped?

12. Attraction

What are you drawn to? What are your favourite colours? What’s your favourite music, climate, or food? What kind of people do you like?\13. Genes

We are shaped by both heredity, as well as environment. What traits have you inherited from your parents that make you unique?

14. Body

The size and build of our body is genetically encoded. However, how we care for our bodies determines what it looks like. Check out the following questions: Are you slim or overweight? Are you fit or out of shape? Are you flexible enough to touch your toes? Is your body able to practise sports, or dance, or do yoga, or train in martial arts? If you have a physical disability, are you stretching your capability to the limit, or not?

15. Face

The face is a mirror of the soul. If we are kindly and upbeat, our face looks animated and relaxed. If we feel down, or anxious or ill, our face looks tight and grey. What is your face like? Do you take moments to relax your face?

16. Ethnicity

What is your ethnic origin? Are you proud of your culture of origin and your ancestors, or not?

17. Culture

What is your culture? Is it followed by the majority or a minority of the people around you? In what way does your culture influence your life?

18. Voice

We are born with a particular voice and its resonance, tone and pitch. However, it can be developed – as actors and singers know. What is your unique voice like?

19. Diction

Do you speak with an accent or a dialect? The way we pronounce the language we use is a unique marker.

20. Gender

Gender is only partly determined by body formation. What masculine and feminine traits do you see in yourself?

21. Health

Good and bad health are life’s gift and burden. What really shapes our uniqueness is the attitude to health. What is your attitude? Are you pro-active or passive? Do you complain or actively seek healing?

22. Hormones

Hormonal patterns determine whether we are tired, or hungry, or irritated, or lustful.
What hormonal patterns or surges are noticeable in your life and how do they influence you?

23. Age

Age is a biological factor. But it is also influenced by the mind. Do you feel old and unfit, as well as low on energy and drive? Or do you feel vitally alive, energetic and youthful? If you want to feel youthful, you need to put effort into keeping your mind and body in good shape. How do you keep in good shape?

24. Intelligence

Being intelligent is not only having a high IQ. Intelligence is now seen to include social, emotional, and physical aptitude. Your mix of these strands of intelligence is what makes you unique. How do you maintain and develop your intelligence?

25. Life experience

Each of us has a unique experience of life. Used wisely, experience is valuable because we can recognise patterns and respond appropriately. Which life experience has shaped you most?

26. Childhood

The childhood we experienced in the past makes us unique today. What was your childhood like? How has it shaped you? If your childhood included traumatic experiences, what have you undertaken in order to heal from them?

27. Trauma

What kind of life crises have you experienced? Have you integrated them, or are they still unresolved? (My upcoming Ebook From Tragedy to Triumph: How to Win Through a Life Crisis explains how to integrate difficult experiences).

28. Opportunities

We have all encountered different opportunities in life. What kind of opportunities have you encountered or created? How have you responded to them? What we make of opportunities is part of what makes us special.

29. Relationships

Whom and what we relate to makes us who we are. Which human beings do you love or feel connected to? Whom do you feel disconnected with? What about the environment – do you love nature, or the city? What is your relationship to animals – which are your favourite animals?

30. Learning

Your stance towards learning makes you unique. Is continuous learning important to you or not? Do you like formal study or informal learning? What kind of learning environments work best for you?

31. Habits

How do you spend your time on a regular basis? How much time to you spend on passive recreation, such as TV? Do you have an unpaid activity that you enjoy? How important is this activity to you?

32. Work

Most people spend more time at work than asleep. How we spend this big chunk of our life makes us unique. What do you define as your main work? Do you work for yourself or work for others? Do you work mostly alone or with a team of others?
Are you passionate about your work or is it a chore? Do you earn enough to keep yourself going or are you struggling financially?

33. Quirks and foibles

What are your quirky habits? As I said in the introduction, these foibles can be the thing that people enjoy about us.

34. Communication style

Psychologists pinpoint four different communication styles. Are you a Relater, Socialiser, Thinker, or Director?

35. The life journey

Each of us is on a unique life path. Which path we follow defines a part of our uniqueness. What path have you chosen?

What strikes me is that we are able to change most of these variables! What makes us truly special is how we spend our energy, thoughts, and time, as well as how we respond to whom and what we encounter.

It’s in your power to evolve and bring forth the unique, special person that you are. That’s an awesome responsibility

When you read this list, what did you realise about your life? Please share you thoughts in the comments.

What+makes+you+special

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cover art by Icekatze!

cover art by Icekatze!

Fallout: Beyond Equestria
Final Session Log

And the music was awesome!

«Every blank flank needs our help!»

Back in May, I wrote a blog giving my thoughts on the first six episodes of this season. If you would like, once I have watched the other new episodes, I can give my thoughts on the post-hiatus batch. But there is no way I could hold back expressing how much I loved «Crusaders of the Lost Mark»!

One of the best, if not the best, episode in the whole show. I simply cannot gush enough over how beautiful this episode was. And if you’ve seen it, you don’t need me to tell you why. And, considering the episode came out weeks ago, I doubt there is anything I could add that you haven’t already heard.

After watching the episode for the first time, I yearned for more of it. So while working on other projects, I found myself watching reaction videos for the episode (starting with the one below by Strategic Jordan, whose YouTube channel first came to my attention when he started a highly-enjoyable «blind reaction» Let’s Read series on Fallout: Equestria).

You simply cannot overstate the importance in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic of learning and embracing that which makes you special, whether it be your talent or your virtue. That better part of you that allows you to rise above and be the better person. It is the very core of this show, and it is what drew me to it from the start. It was the foundation of my magnum opus, and serves as a reminder to myself in daily life: we can be better. Seeing that the true talents of the Cutie Mark Crusades is helping others, and that their epiphany came when they abandoned their self-focus to focus on aiding those around them, drove home and reaffirmed these themes in the most gorgeous way. This episode was an anthem for the series.

«I see the light that shines in me. I know that I can be my better self.»

In tangential news, Bethesda Softworks just released the final video in their S.P.E.C.I.A.L. series: Luck! So now, as promised previously, here are all seven videos in order. Enjoy revisiting what makes you S.P.E.C.I.A.L.

Now i just really hope that cutie mark crusaders won’t get the cutie map treatment. I much rather they will have to figure out how to not only help ponies but find ponies who need help, then them getting sent around on destiny defined missions.

So much fun stuff. It may have felt a bit rushed, But I really liked the show went about the filly’s getting their cutie-mark. The show was more of a lesion for parents, then it was for little girls, mostly telling them to not raise a spoiled brat, but also because it makes the kid unhappy to be a spoiled brat.

That episode still gets me, I think it is my all time favorite. Mostly for the reasons you have pointed out but also for some personal reasons.

It is interesting how the topic of ‘what makes you special’ fits in two ways here. Possibly more if someone is a deep thinker.

It’s pretty emotionally satisfying to see them finally succeed 😀

I think their cutie marks are unique just because they would sell more toys then since they are more different from typical ones from being more unified. But it sort of implies they will never separate which is nice I guess. It was a good ep though.

Ohh Luck video is released, the set is complete. I wonder if they will do anything S.P.E.C.I.A.L. for October 23rd..
I had the most wide eyed expression at Crusaders of the Lost Mark’s end.

The designs of the CMC’s cutie marks have a lot of meaning packed into those little symbols. A large part of what makes the Crusaders Special is each other, and the bonds they share that grew as they quested together. This is of course represented by the fact that the shields bear three colors, corresponding to the CMC’s manes. The shields themselves show that Cutie Mark Crusaders is as much a part of who they are as anything else, as their questing for their own marks has given them unrivaled insight into what cutie marks represent, and what it means to discover them. However, the emblems on those shields still differentiate the CMC by showing the talents and/or values that are unique to them. For Apple Bloom, the apple and the heart represent the hard work and integrity the Apple family is known for, and the love she has for her family. Apple Bloom can do anything, from brewing potions to fixing up a clubhouse, if she puts her mind to it. For Sweetie Belle, we’ve known since The Show Stoppers that she has a lovely singing voice, and that she idolizes her big sister Rarity. Sweetie Belle is a creative thinker, and often prone to inspiration, for good or ill among her friends. The music note is obvious, but the star represents this other quality: inspiration, both for herself, and to others (and of course, music itself does much to inspire people on its own). Lastly, Scootaloo’s cutie mark is a wing and a lightning bolt. Like her idol, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo is an athlete, and the bolt on her shield represents both her own athleticism, and that of the figure most inspiring to her. The wing itself represents Scootaloo’s hope. Scootaloo may never fly, but she’s awesome anyways, as Rainbow Dash once told her. Still, she holds onto the hope that someday she will fly with the best of them. Together, Inspiration, Hope, and Hard Work are what define the Cutie Mark Crusaders as a group. They get inspired to try something new, hope that they will discover something about themselves, and work hard to continue bettering themselves no matter how many times they might fail. Once they realized how good it felt to use this process for the benefit of others, they truly realized who they were, and where they belong: Cutie Mark Crusaders, together forever.

I was so very very happy at the episode. That Liquid pride filled my eyes during that episode. No matter what age you are, this theme resounds with everypony. I am also glad to see the final of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. episodes, and also reaffirmation that anypony, even Diamond Tiara, can change for the better. Those Cutie Mark Crusaders are awesome, and like they have been putting in place last season and earlier this season specifically, the journey for cutie marks will not end with receiving their own, but realizing that even after that, others still need help. Their Crusade continues, now with a shield with their own colors.

I loved that episode too. My favorite song out of all of them has to be «The Light of Your Cutie Mark». Reminds me of «For the First Time in Forever Reprise» from Frozen.

It is odd though. In fallout equestria a lot of people seem lost, do not know what theri cutie marks mean. In some cases, they are even declared useless.
Yet inthe show it is emphasizing what makes them important to ponies, individually and as a society, and their magic as well. There is no such thing as a useless cutie mark. But one can easily forget what it means.

Sometimes you have to remind yourself that you are special!

It is common knowledge that everypony has a special talent that defines who they are. As a reward for making this self-discovery, a mark appears on your flank for all the world to see. That mark told everypony who you were and what set you apart from all the rest. It is something that should be worn with pride and loved. However, that wasn’t the case for me. I remember getting my cutie mark when I was a filly, as most ponies do at that age. My parents used to tell me all the time that I was bound to get something related to my colorful imagination. I spent most of my time day dreaming about some far away land or pretending I was an adventurer saving ponies from an ancient evil. It was all my teacher could do to keep my attention in the classroom. It had gotten so bad she had called my parents into her office to warn them I was setting myself up for failure if I didn’t stop wandering in my own world. It was strange being scolded by the very ponies who had told me to nurture my imagination. Perhaps that’s where the seeds of doubt had first been planted.

I remember how painful the next day had been, how mind numbingly boring. Miss Goldenflower was teaching us about the Royal Civil War and I was actually trying my best to pay attention like a good, little filly. That lasted about as long as you would expect. By the time lunch rolled around, I was staring at the chalkboard with unseeing eyes and a steady stream of drool oozing from my mouth. The bell broke the spell and I galloped as fast as I could to escape the mental prison my classroom had become. Eating my lunch, I began to devise a way that I could still enter my fun world while not tipping off Miss Goldenflower. It was then that colt who sat behind me (Sky Blaze, I think his name was) walked by with a notebook balanced on his back. Something excited him and his wings gave a flutter, throwing the book to the ground right at my hooves.

«Hey, Blaze, you dropped… your…» I called out but stopped. I stared at the notebook with its empty pages and lines just waiting to be filled with words. That’s it! After returning the lost notepad to its rightful owner, I darted back inside and rummaged around in my saddlebag. Mom had gotten me a notebook at the beginning of the year but it had remained in the bag, unopened until now. Why had I never thought of this before? The bell rang, its sharp scream announcing the end of lunch. Sitting at my desk, I watched the other students come back inside with their heads low as they tried to mentally prepare for the next boring lesson. Miss Goldenflower came in after them and gasped when she saw me already sitting obediently at my desk.

«Well now, it’s nice to see you actually on time, Novella,» she said as she trotted over to her desk. Several giggles came from my classmates and I blushed with embarrassment. I was renowned for being tardy from recess. It wasn’t my fault! It took way longer than thirty minutes to save a princess from an endless maze. I looked at my hooves as numerous eyes watched me. «Alright, class, settle down. Now then, who can tell me how long the Endless Night actually lasted…»

Opening up my notebook, I floated up my pencil and began writing. For Miss Goldenflower, it would appear as if I were just jotting down some notes. But for me, I was painting a picture with words. In my mind, I saw the pirate queen standing at the helm of her ship, navigating the vessel through a dangerous storm. Her crew weaved through the ropes like spiders as they unfurled the sails to catch the salty air. The pen danced around the page as it swiftly wrote what I saw, leaving no detail out. Writing down the day dreams I often had seemed to come so naturally to me that I hardly noticed an hour had passed by. Then, two. All the while, Miss Goldenflower remained oblivious to the adventure I was having.

I remember thinking how much I loved this newfound skill. Suddenly, a burst of light illuminated the room, blinding myself and my classmates! I felt a tingling sensation throughout my whole body and then, just as suddenly as it had started, it was all over. I opened my eyes to see the teacher staring at me with wide eyes, her mouth agape. Oh no! Had she discovered my little plot? Then, I heard Sky Blaze gasp behind me, causing a few others to follow. I turned and saw that, once again, all eyes were on me. I felt my face turn hot as the blood rushed to my cheeks.

«Wowee, Novella! That’s an amazing cutie mark!» Blaze said.

What? My orange eyes turned down to my flank and sure enough, right there for everypony to see, was my cutie mark. My jaw dropped. I couldn’t look away. It was beautiful! A flower with red petals sat above an ink well, a drop of ink on the tip as if it were ready to write my next adventure. «I-I-I got my cutie mark. I GOT MY CUTIEMARK!!» I cheered loudly, unable to keep my excitement down. The other fillies and colts danced excitedly with me. Even Miss Goldenflower joined in the mini-celebration. It was impossible to pay any attention to the rest of the lesson and the teacher knew it. Rather than droning on and on about a war none of us cared about, she changed the lesson to her own cutie mark story. I didn’t hear a word of it. I couldn’t stop staring at my flank.

At the end of the day, I galloped home to show off my new cutie mark to my parents. They were so happy for me! I told anypony who would hear about how I had gotten it and I knew, without a doubt, what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was going to be the best author in Equestria!

Big words for such a young filly.

Looking down at the blank page, I sighed. It was always hard to think back on those days and remember just how easy it was to dream such big dreams. Back then, I couldn’t have known just how many writers there are in Equestria. Each one a talented pony who could weave an unforgettable tale of romance or excitement, finishing more and more books to be tossed onto the shelves for their fans to enjoy. It was a little intimidating, to say the least. I had worked hard to perfect my talent so I, too, could share my world with the ponies who loved to read. When I finished my first book, I felt an accomplishment that rivaled the joy I felt when I got my cutie mark.

I’m sure other authors sat outside of the bookstore on the first day their book was published just to watch the horde of ponies that would buy a copy. I refused to think I was the only one as I watched the store like a hawk. All day long, ponies walked in and out, carrying bags filled with the colorful pages of another’s hard work and imagination. From where I sat, I couldn’t see if any had bought mine. I could clearly see the window display showing the cover of my story and a few copies resting on a table below it (I paid a little extra for that part). At one point, I watched a young colt pick up a copy and skimmed the pages, only to pull a face and toss it back on the table. My blood turned cold, but I tried to rationalize it. My story was a romance novel and he was just a silly boy. All that mushy stuff was bound to make him gag. Yeah, that’s it. I relaxed a little and continued to wait.

Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore! I leapt off the bench and trotted into the store, bowing my head in greeting to the clerk at the counter. The smell of new books wafted into my nose and I found myself breathing it in deeply. I made my way slowly through the shelves until I reached the romance section where I knew I would find my story. Sure enough, there it was. My ears drooped. Not a single book had been removed. They were still packed tightly with the other masterpieces of other authors. That was okay, right? It was silly to think they would sell on the first day. Maybe the next day.

A week had gone by and still my book remained untouched. This time, I couldn’t hide my disappointment. As I walked out of the store, a pair of fillies walked in, excitedly talking about the newest Daring Do adventure.

«Can you believe A.K. Yearling released another book? That’s like two in four months.»

«I know! I’m so excited. I heard that something really bad happens to Daring Do in this one!»

«Shh, Sunbeam, no spoilers.»

I found myself following them back into the bowels of the store. Maybe my work just needed a little more advertising to get somepony’s attention. I levitated a copy from the dusty shelf and trotted up to the fillies as they browsed through the extensive Daring Do collection.

«Hello! Might I ask, are either of you interested in romance novels?»

They stared at me a moment, not sure of what to make of this strange unicorn standing in front of them with an awkward smile.

«I guess, why? Who are you?» Sunbeam asked skeptically.

«My name is Novella and I just so happen to have written my own book. It’s on sale in this very store. Here, why don’t you take a look.»

The novel floated towards them and Sunbeam took it in her hooves. She looked at the cover then back up at me. «I’ve never heard of you before.»

I tried hard to keep the smile on my face, but it was beginning to falter. The other mare, whose name I didn’t know, eyed me like I was some sort of crazy pony. Perhaps I was. «Yeah, are you, like, a good writer or something?»

What kind of question was that? «Well, I wouldn’t say I’m in the same league as A.K. Yearling, but I do alright, I guess.»

«Alright, fine, we’ll give your book a read. ‘Kay thanks, bye!»

The smile returned in full force. «Oh, thank you! Please, if you see me again, let me know what you think!»

I turned and trotted away, feeling as light as a feather. Finally! Somepony can now share in the magical adventures that I often dreamed about as a filly. I was so excited… maybe a little too excited. Quickly, I found the little fillies room in the back of the store and entered a stall to do my business. Suddenly, I heard two familiar voices follow me in.

«Wow that was, like, beyond weird,» Sunbeam said.

«Tell me about it. What kind of self-respecting writer just stands around in a bookstore trying to pawn off their second rate book?»

«Everypony thinks that just because their cutie mark is a quill or pen or whatever that they can suddenly become a famous author. Psh, as if.»

«Good call telling her we’d buy a copy just to get her to go away.»

They continued but I had stopped listening. Tears were streaming down my face as I burst out of the stall and galloped out of the bathroom, leaving them in stunned silence behind me.

The blank page continued to stare at me, as if begging me to write something, anything, on it. And yet, I had nothing. No images came to mind, no tales of heroes and villains, no love stories that swooned the heart. It was an empty wasteland, drained of any life. What did it matter? I was never going to be as good as A.K. Yearling or the dozens of other famous authors. My tales would never be known to the ponies of Equestria. A drop of water splashed on the page and I realized I had been crying. Sobs racked my body as the truth of my failure hit me full force. All this time, I thought my cutie mark made me special, but it just grouped me into an overcrowded cliché of other ponies who were way more talented than I. How could my light shine if all the other lights shined brighter? With a growl, I tossed the pen and paper to the ground. I was never going to write again!

I couldn’t be near my desk so I grabbed my saddlebags and left my tiny apartment. The autumn sky was dark with clouds as the pegasi of Manehattan prepared for a storm. I ignored the chill as a gust of wind blew through my green coat. My mane and tail flapped uselessly in the breeze like red flags. I hardly noticed the ponies galloping past me as they tried to beat the storm before the rain fell. I was far away from them. I was thinking, again, of the day I had gotten my cutie mark. I wished I had grown to be as special as I thought I would back then. Suddenly, a drop of rain fell on my nose, snapping me out of my memories. Within seconds, I was drenched. I raced through the streets until I found a place I could wait out the storm. Without seeing the name of the store, I burst in.

«I’m sorry, I hope you don’t mind if I wait-» I stopped midsentence. I was back inside the bookstore! Of all the places I could have gone to, it had to be this place, didn’t it! The clerk looked at me from behind the desk, taking in my soaking wet coat and saddlebags.

«There’s a bathroom in the back if you want to dry off, but please, don’t get any of the books wet.»

I nodded my thanks and carefully made my way to the bathroom. It took a lot of paper towels, but I finally managed to dry myself until I was at least presentable. As I walked back to the front of the store, I saw my book resting on the shelf, still untouched. Without thinking, I levitated a copy out and brought it up to the front and placed it on the counter. The mare looked at me and shrugged her shoulders before ringing me up.

«That’ll be twelve bits.»

I reached into my wet saddlebags and brought out the golden coins. The book followed me as I waited for the rain to stop. It took a few minutes, but the heavy drops finally turned into a light sprinkle. Seeing my chance, I left the store and made my way through the city streets. I had no idea where I was going, but I let my hooves carry me and my book away from the hustle and bustle of Manehattan’s busy streets. The next thing I knew, a small park appeared before me just as the rain started to pick up again. Grumbling, I had no choice but to park myself under a rundown gazebo until the storm calmed down again. Behind the clouds, the sun was starting to sink lower in the sky as Princess Celestia prepared to end the day. Soon, Princess Luna would be raising the moon and I would have to make my way home in the dark. Oddly, I didn’t mind that thought all that much.

I pulled the book out of my bag, not even concerned that the damp cloth had warped the pages. Aimlessly, I flipped through it, looking at the words I had worked with day and night. I remembered the beautiful images my mind painted as I wrote. Two lovers sitting on the edge of the world silhouetted by the setting sun. The sky above them was as fiery as the passion they felt for one another. Slowly, the stars emerged from the velvety night around them as they each proclaimed their undying love for the other.

With a sigh, I tossed the book into the nearest garbage can.

«Excuse me,» came a voice.

Turning, I saw a mare trotting under the gazebo. I believe she was an earth pony, though it was hard to tell with the large, purple cloak covering most of her body. Her mane, or what I could see of it under the hat she wore, was a colorless array of grays and blacks. Her light golden coat shimmered in the dying light of the gloomy day. To top it all off, she wore a pair of red rimmed glasses that seemed comically large for her face. My first thought was she was trying too hard to disguise herself, but in my somber mood, I found I cared little.

«I hope you don’t mind if I share this spot with you. The pegasi are really letting us have it this evening, aren’t they?»

I shrugged. «You’re fine. I don’t own this place, so I have no say in who can or can’t shelter here.»

She smiled. «Thank you. I’m A…Amberhoof. Nice to meet you.»

«Novella. Same.» Was she about to say something before her name? I shrugged the thought off much like the previous one.

«That’s a pretty name. Are you by chance a writer?»

I saw her rose colored eyes gaze at my cutie mark briefly. I rolled my eyes. Everypony knew what I was thanks to that blasted mark. Too bad it didn’t show them just how terrible of a writer I really was. «I guess you could say that.»

«How wonderful! I fancy myself a bit of a writer too. Have you published a book yet?»

Great, another self-proclaimed author. She seemed cheerful enough that I didn’t have the heart to tell her she was wasting her time. Instead, I just nodded, my orange gaze flicking to the wastebasket unconsciously. She saw the movement and trotted to the bin, reached in, and pulled the book free. Taking a hoof, she wiped a bit of grime off the cover and held it out for examination.

«It looks beautiful. Why on earth did you throw it away?»

«Isn’t that where garbage goes?»

She looked like I had just smacked her across the face. «No! Books should never be thrown away!»

The passion she felt about my own creation made me look down at my hooves in embarrassment. «It’s not that great. It hasn’t even sold a single copy. I can’t compete with the likes of A.K. Yearling.»

She giggled at that and I turned to look at her questioningly. Returning my gaze firmly, she smiled. «Yes, she is a rather successful author, isn’t she? But, did you know that she didn’t start out that way?»

My head tilted as I continued to watch her curiously.

«It’s true. I remember hearing a story about how hard it was for A.K. Yearling to publish her first Daring Do book. Nopony was interested in action adventure novels back then. Time and time again, she tried to get somepony, anypony, to read her grand tale, but they all walked by like she was crazy. Finally, when she had lost all hope that her story would never be read, a little colt picked up a copy and opened it to the first page. You can imagine the excitement she felt upon seeing his eyes light up with wonder as the first sentence drew him in.»

I could imagine it. I saw my own book being held by a pony as they dug through the pages as if they would find a pile of gold at the end. It had been my life’s dream to see that, but I knew it would never happen.

«You see, if you give up then your story will never be told.»

Then, she did something I hadn’t expected. She opened the cover and began reading the first page. At once, tears welled up in my eyes to see my very own book being read. As she continued, a smile formed on her face as her mind’s eye used my words to create a picture. It’s all I had ever wanted and now, it had finally happened.

«You have a very unique and beautiful style. Tell me, do you like what you have written?»

«Of course, I do. I poured my heart and soul into those words.»

«Then you should be proud of what you’ve created, even if no one else is. You are a special pony, Novella, I can tell. Don’t give up. You have a gift that needs to be shared with the world.»

The tears continued with more gusto than before. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear those words. I never thought I would ever amount to anything, and yet here was this stranger, telling me that I could do great things. She believed in me even when I had not. All I could do was nod as she kept smiling. Somehow, I knew she understood what I was feeling.

All at once, the rain stopped, leaving the two of us in silence. Amberhoof sighed and tightened the cloak around her. «Well, I’m afraid I must be going. It was very nice to meet you, Novella.»

«Thank you. It was nice to meet you too.»

She trotted into the growing darkness and was gone. I, too, moved away from the gazebo as I made my way back to my apartment. With a jolt, I realized she had taken my book! My heart leapt into my throat. At long last, a pony had a copy of my book! I moved with a little more pip in my step as the lights of Manehattan illuminated my path. The bookstore lay ahead, its door locked, and in its window, I saw my book in all its glory. I placed a hoof on the glass and gave my reflection an accomplished smile. I had done it! I had done what I set out to do and I was proud of what I had done. Someday, I know others will be too.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
As a writer surrounded by even more amazingly talented authors, it’s hard for me to find any worth in my own stories. Sometimes, we need a little help from another to help us see the worth in our talents. I wrote this to help me remember that no matter what, my writing is special, even if it’s only to myself.