Friday, November 7, 2025
How does one understand the irrelevance of feedback? Modern education is just that – evaluation of worth. We go through years of our lives working, feverishly, for feedback, approval, and validation. Stickers, gold stars, and grades make me who I am, or so I think.
The striving for stickers, gold stars, and grades doesn’t end in grade school. It’s worse in grad school and beyond, except it’s called diplomas, promotions, annual evaluations, and raises. From there it becomes likes, subscribers, and thumb’s up. From there it’s notifications, replies, and algorithms. Emojis, hearts, and smiles.
No stickers, no worth. No stars, no ability. Failing revenue, no stability. No subscribers, no success. No likes, no life worth living. No emojis, no fun. No friend requests, no inclusion. Have you worked enough for feedback?
I could encourage you and say you’re perfect! Is that not another gold star, a notification, or a promotion? I could tell you that you are just the way God made you, and God don’t make no junk. Platitudinal, bible-school worthlessness! Empty praise – not even your name is enough to tell me who you are. Nor your history, nor your story. How could a pat on the back amount to anything either? How about a demerit?
A demerit is a low score. Low score, low self-esteem. High score, high self-esteem? Guess again. Even those with more degrees than a thermometer and more dollars than the treasury have demerited themselves. A million likes, friend-requests, and subscribers never cure.
Only those who understand worthlessness will understand synonymous pricelessness, like the Mona Lisa. She’s priceless, so she’s worthless. Can’t sell her, trade her, or keep her hidden. Gold stars are nice, but nourishment comes not from this world or what it offers you.
Life is fulfilling into and of itself, that which you are. That’s feedback though, a platitude. I’m referring to beatitude.