Cut Clichés: Embrace You & Your Vision This Year

Happy New Year, everyone! I haven't spoken to y'all since last year (actually it's been a month, sorry y'all.)

2024 was...a time! It was a year to be remembered--for many things.

Here is the main thing I will always (and I mean ALWAYS) remember from this year: I hate the word cliché AND calling anything cliché.

From the standpoint of communication within relationships--the word cliché is indefinitely banned from my vocabulary. I don't want to hear it ever againnnnn--I'd rather Voldemort in Harry Potter be said before cliché is given space on a piece of paper. 

The reason? 

Clichés are the enemy of authenticity and creativity when we communicate it to one another. They are my version of that itching, grating, voice of society and culture that stops people from being phenomenal--and if people do succeed, it takes them much longer to get there because of a stifling cliché.

I saw so many people get taken down by the idea in 2024. Me included. 

The definition of cliché is a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. In printing terms, it means a stereotype or electrotype. 

The etymology of the word cliché comes from the past participle of clicher, meaning "to click", creating an echoic sound of a mold striking metal. 

For us--this basic translates into the idea of there being one "core" message and that the ideas to that message still linger throughout any ideas it's tethered to. For film and media, this isn't a bad thing! 

Within interpersonal relationships and communication? It's bad. Horrible, actually. 

The fact that the definition and the etymology (coming from printing) reflect how the mindset of "clichés" show up in our everyday communication is really wild. (and I don't know about y'all, but I'm not letting ANY vocab stemming from printing dictate what's cliché to say or do). 

I heard someone say their idea was cliche because it had been done before--and that's why they were contemplating stopping. 

No one has done the idea before like you would do it. 

The story behind your idea hasn't been done before. 

So....just because it's been done one way, it can't be done in another? 

*blinks in trying to find the cliché*

Humans are not one-dimensional. We should (honestly) never understand a phrase or an opinion "one-way".

The only sentence I've heard more than the word cliché this year is this: "They want us to only view something one way." From relationships to social justice, that has been the top sentence of 2024. People are breaking away from the typical "norm" now more than ever. 

We never truly know if what we're saying has been heard by someone "first," but we still say it because it holds meaning. If something was truly “overused,” it would lose its weight—and I don't think we’d continue using phrases if they had no impact. 

Clichés don't necessarily betray a lack of original thought—while it may be said repeatedly, people are still able to offer fresh perspectives and build on those based on their own experiences. Those experiences reflect in our society and culture as we move forward-- and we're heavily leaning towards originality and uniqueness as a collective. 

We are cutting cliché communication.

In 2025, I personally want to see more people embrace originality, even if it means revisiting familiar ideas with new perspectives before calling it a cliché. It might be a battle I'll fight for the rest of my life, but so be it.

It's worth it if people can be true to themselves (regardless of society), and in turn be phenomenal, faster.

I hope everyone's new year is filled with joy, happiness, and fulfillment--in what ever way YOU desire--not what your society (or society around you) tells you to desire.

your host & certified yapper, 

~ Amaya :)