Relative Something

This morning I witnessed a broadcast that struck a chord with me in a variety of different ways, and I became aware of a sort of dichotomy that I have always been drawn toward. I believe it is a pretty universal trait, but it gets manifest in as many different ways as there are types of people in the world. I am attracted to creative endeavors that are in some way atypical, and while uniqueness is a valuable component of what draws me, at the same time, I enjoy being able to share the experience with others. I wonder if there is some point where what appeals to me becomes too conventional as a result of being over-shared?

One rather over-simplified example of how this might be depicted would be with popular music. When I first hear a song that appeals to me, I am moved to want to hear it again. But if the song becomes popular and over-played, it becomes annoying. Another example that comes to mind is our getaway spot near Hayward, Wisconsin. 30 years ago it was a much less developed community with a bit of a tourist town flavor of local shops and seasonal attractions. I loved escaping there and sharing it with friends. Over the years, many others who loved it and shared it with friends have contributed to what has become a traffic jam of commuters rushing to get up to a place that is sprouting commerce that looks like every suburban community we drive through to get up there. I do still love it, but it just isn’t the same.

I have to be careful to balance my desire to share what appeals to me with my attraction to that aspect of it being unique. To have, or to eat, my cake?