Dream Factory english version

Simon Philip

I try to understand what we disagree about

Episodes

  1. Recognition

    Feb 4

    Recognition

    I’ve learned that I shouldn’t need it. That freedom means not depending on other people’s eyes. That strength is standing alone in what I do. My mind has repeated this so many times it sounds like truth. If I don’t need recognition, no one can trap me. No one can control me. No one can disappoint me. And yes — I understand the logic. But I don’t live in my head. I live among people. And the truth is, I feel too much. Think too much about what others see, hear, understand. I’m affected by looks. By silence. By applause that never comes. And at the same time — something else. A tiredness from constantly having to rise above it. As if wanting recognition were a flaw to be corrected. Then I had another thought. What if it’s allowed? What if the desire isn’t weakness, but relation? Because something happens between people. When I make something that matters to someone else. When someone says: That touched me. That made me glad. That meant something. And I respond, without shame: Thank you. That matters to me. Something moves. Not manipulation. Not dependency. But momentum. I do something that brings joy to others. They tell me. I feel motivated to continue. A healthy spiral. Not a dangerous one. Maybe freedom isn’t indifference. Maybe freedom is being able to receive recognition without losing yourself to it. Let it arrive. Let it pass. Right now, it feels like relief to give myself permission. Not to chase recognition — but to stop running from it.

    3 min

About

I try to understand what we disagree about