Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines the word niche with the following:
Noun: a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted <finally found her niche>
Photo credit: www.kellysauer.com
This idea is why I’ve never been a consistent blogger. Over the past couple of years, most well-meaning people have told me the same thing: “You need to find your niche!” You see, therein lies the problem, my life is anything but specific. Trying to make myself fit in one box is about as productive as trying to guess what will come out of Donald Trump’s mouth next. It simply cannot and will not happen. My life is a glorious mess of the many things I am passionate about: faith, fashion, politics, modeling, friends, pop-culture, technology, acting, and relationships. The problem is this: society tells me that I am not allowed to be involved in all of these areas at the same time.
I need to pick just one passion and be content.
I need to find my niche.
Take the following examples, all of which have been loudly proclaimed to be in one form or another:
“You cannot be publicly opinionated in politics when you’re in entertainment! You might offend the next casting director who is considering you for a role! Tone it down. “
“Isn’t being a Christian about being humble? Being a model and getting paid to let people plaster your face everywhere is anything but Christian!”
“People who are passionate about technology often are introverted and struggle with forming meaningful relationships, right?”
I could go on. The point is that I really frustrate a lot of people because my life doesn’t make sense to them, it doesn’t fit in their box.
But I’ve finally arrived at the conclusion that I will no longer try to fit into those singular boxes. I will be sharing what God is teaching me, what He has given me. I will push the boundaries. And this blog will serve as a place where I can share my ideas, what I’m learning, and the things that I love with the world . . . be it a political endorsement, a movie review or photo shoot, or just a post about how much the people in my life mean to me. And if I find something else that I love, I’ll post about that too. Because this is my life, crazy as it may seem.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m horrible with grammar (sorry Mrs. Thompson), I don’t consider myself a great writer, and I’m totally scatterbrained.
Here’s the thing, though: I’m so excited about God’s gift of life to us. I just want to explore every possible avenue and share my experiences with the world. Will it be a complete train-wreck? Maybe, but I refuse to spend my life chasing the elusive “niche”.
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14 thoughts on “The Elusive Niche”
Exactly. Just do what you love. However many different things that entails. Follow the path you believe God is leading you down because ya know what? He knows what you should be doing where and when it should be being done by you, always. Congrats on your first blog!
Daniel, the one thing I have learned in my life so far is that your world does not have to fit in anyone’s specified box. Seriously it doesn’t have to work that way. I come from a family who lived by the rule of where you live and speak the word of God, but understand that God has given many different colors to everyone, and each person has a color and together we make the world with our colors, by working with them, admiring and respecting them. This world exists because of the many colors.
As for pushing boundaries, that’s what life is. How on earth (in my opinion) can we ever find out what is beyond the wall if we only go as far as the sidewalk? (think about it). Many of great minds have carved out their rightful places in history simply because they have pushed past their boundaries to find a whole new layer of existence and truth.
So please don’t hold yourself back. You are young, you have a solid head on your shoulders.As Gibbs says on NCIS “What does your gut tell you?” Listen to it and go from there.
And if nothing else…read my next sentence out loud right now: I have faith in you Daniel Bostic. Go color the world with your crayon 🙂
Daniel, your blog is warm, honest, and wonderful. Blogs aren’t meant to be masterpieces. They are a forum for the writer to share ideas, struggles, hopes, and lessons with whoever wants to read them.
I love that you have not set an expectation of literary genious on yourself or to your readers. No. Rather, you have promised a glimpse into your world and that is what matters.
Well done!
Mrs. Thompson
BTW- I am completely flattered to be mentioned in your first formal blog!
Great first blog – it is honest and so well written, it is as if I was listening to you speak.
I think some people recommend a niche thinking that your goal with this blog is to appeal to brand sponsorships. If you write about fashion or travel, certain brands will only work with people who specialize in those areas. However, as Mrs. Thompson here says, it is great that you have not set an expectation for yourself or your readers – we will come see what’s on your mind regularly because we like and admire you as a whole person, not looking for a specific niche.
Monica such valuable insight and it means so much coming from you! You are so kind. I’m hoping that as I continue to post, even more new interests will arise. Our conversations last week were part of what inspired me to create this blog!
You are inspiring my young friend. God does not expect us to fit in a box but to express ourselves through the amazing gifts HE has given us individually. Go forward precious child of God, I’m excited to hear what HE is giving you to share.
Just be YOU. You’re real, and honest. Who cares what anyone thinks. Maybe you really are Indefinable, but who says that’s a bad thing?. Stay unique and true to yourself.
I’m right there with you man! Or not there with you, since we are like scattered orbs floating in non-niche land?
Either way, I have always been encouraged by the fact that there is someone out there like me- niche-less and passionate about too many things to count. And that’s okay! Don’t let people put you in a box or discourage you with questions of why you aren’t consistently in a straight line. God has given you talents and options far beyond their reach! I am always excited to hear about new updates in your life friend, and truly believe God has placed you in each moment no matter how unaligned for a particular purpose. He is using you in so many ways! Keep up the faith Daniel, great post!
Exactly. Just do what you love. However many different things that entails. Follow the path you believe God is leading you down because ya know what? He knows what you should be doing where and when it should be being done by you, always. Congrats on your first blog!
Thanks Yvonne. God is really teaching me a lot!
Daniel, the one thing I have learned in my life so far is that your world does not have to fit in anyone’s specified box. Seriously it doesn’t have to work that way. I come from a family who lived by the rule of where you live and speak the word of God, but understand that God has given many different colors to everyone, and each person has a color and together we make the world with our colors, by working with them, admiring and respecting them. This world exists because of the many colors.
As for pushing boundaries, that’s what life is. How on earth (in my opinion) can we ever find out what is beyond the wall if we only go as far as the sidewalk? (think about it). Many of great minds have carved out their rightful places in history simply because they have pushed past their boundaries to find a whole new layer of existence and truth.
So please don’t hold yourself back. You are young, you have a solid head on your shoulders.As Gibbs says on NCIS “What does your gut tell you?” Listen to it and go from there.
And if nothing else…read my next sentence out loud right now: I have faith in you Daniel Bostic. Go color the world with your crayon 🙂
Great blog btw 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving my friend to you and yours…
Ms. Sue
Sue, your encouragement means so much! Here’s to being different!
Daniel, your blog is warm, honest, and wonderful. Blogs aren’t meant to be masterpieces. They are a forum for the writer to share ideas, struggles, hopes, and lessons with whoever wants to read them.
I love that you have not set an expectation of literary genious on yourself or to your readers. No. Rather, you have promised a glimpse into your world and that is what matters.
Well done!
Mrs. Thompson
BTW- I am completely flattered to be mentioned in your first formal blog!
Thank-you Mrs. Thompson! I really do appreciate the encouragement. I will do my best to put all those grammar skills you taught me to good use. 🙂
Great first blog – it is honest and so well written, it is as if I was listening to you speak.
I think some people recommend a niche thinking that your goal with this blog is to appeal to brand sponsorships. If you write about fashion or travel, certain brands will only work with people who specialize in those areas. However, as Mrs. Thompson here says, it is great that you have not set an expectation for yourself or your readers – we will come see what’s on your mind regularly because we like and admire you as a whole person, not looking for a specific niche.
Monica such valuable insight and it means so much coming from you! You are so kind. I’m hoping that as I continue to post, even more new interests will arise. Our conversations last week were part of what inspired me to create this blog!
You are inspiring my young friend. God does not expect us to fit in a box but to express ourselves through the amazing gifts HE has given us individually. Go forward precious child of God, I’m excited to hear what HE is giving you to share.
Just be YOU. You’re real, and honest. Who cares what anyone thinks. Maybe you really are Indefinable, but who says that’s a bad thing?. Stay unique and true to yourself.
I’m right there with you man! Or not there with you, since we are like scattered orbs floating in non-niche land?
Either way, I have always been encouraged by the fact that there is someone out there like me- niche-less and passionate about too many things to count. And that’s okay! Don’t let people put you in a box or discourage you with questions of why you aren’t consistently in a straight line. God has given you talents and options far beyond their reach! I am always excited to hear about new updates in your life friend, and truly believe God has placed you in each moment no matter how unaligned for a particular purpose. He is using you in so many ways! Keep up the faith Daniel, great post!
Great first blog, Daniel. I look forward to following you.
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