Reading 1 - Saltz

After reading the article, the passage that stood out to me the most was from Lesson 25. In Lesson 25, the author wrote, “You must be open to critique but also develop an elephant skin.” This resonated with me because it made me realize that criticism is part of our lives. We all experience some form of criticism in our lives. I think that criticism arises because people have different perspectives and experiences, which can shape how they perceive things. For instance, one person might think a painting is impressive, while another might disagree as art is subjective. As a result, we must be open to differing opinions. Moreover, the idea of developing “elephant skin” resonated with me because it emphasizes the importance of not letting criticism affect our self-confidence. The passage also reminds me that criticism tells us the truth about our weaknesses so that we can improve and become better. Being open to critique is important, but at the same time, it can be challenging. It pushes people down and even stops them from continuing to try. It is not always easy to handle criticism without letting it stop us from moving forward. However, we are not avoiding criticism but accepting it as a tool for growth. 

In Lesson 25, the author also wrote “Keep your rejection letters; paste them to your wall. They are goads, things to prove wrong.” I found this passage powerful. I agree that rejection can be painful. It makes people feel depressed and self-doubting. However, a rejection does not mean that we are not good enough. It means that our potential has not been fully recognized yet, and that motivates us to prove ourselves. Whether it is the rejection of artwork or a job rejection letter, it does not define us as failures. I think that rejection is an opportunity for us to better understand ourselves and that we can become stronger.