Ahhh...hubbing. The whole process can be wonderfully cathartic and enjoyable. But, for some, it can also be discouraging. Writing a hub you think is worthy of a Pulitzer Prize only to receive little to no views or comments can be, if I may quote Alanis- 'a jagged little pill.'

That's why when I read a hub, whether it's new or not, I try to leave a comment when there are none. Of course, I still leave comments on other hubs as well when I feel so inclined. And not to say that comment number 158 isn't as fulfilling as comment 1,2 or 3. But, when you feel as if your work is not being accepted or respected or enjoyed, especially by a community made up of other writers, it can be difficult to process.

I have to bring up Stuart Smalley from Saturday Night Live several years back. His was a skit in which he was always reminding himself of his own self worth in the mirror. Of course, it was meant to be funny, but there is a lot of truth there. Life imitating art or some such.

In so many ways, we all need a little validation. Some need a lot of validation...for everything. But, regardless of how much you require, we all need some. At some point, we all need someone to tell us we're good enough. We need to know we are just as good as our peers, that they are our equals, not our superiors.

My Granny always used to tell me, "You are no better than anyone else and there is no one any better than you." Advice taken to heart. For some, this is an easy statement to understand anf believe. Unfortunately, for others, that is not the case. I know examples of people who do not feel worthy, do not think they deserve the good things others are blessed with, assume these things will never happen to them.

These are the peole that need validation more than anyone. I have worked at a job where my boss rarely told us if we did a good job. We never knew if we were good employees or mediocre. We, as humans, have to be validated. It's just our nature.

Popularity- Webster's dictionary describes it as, among others, suited to the means of the majority, frequently encountered or widely accepted, commonly liked or approved.

Who of us has not wanted to be popular? In school, at work, on HubPages? We all want it at some point, some of us even achieve it. Some achieve it easily and often. For others, popularity seems an unattainable goal.

"Not me," you may say. "I don't care whether I'm liked by others. I do not care about other's oppinions of me." Well, my friend, I would like to divert you to my stubbornness hub. Caring what others think and allowing what others think to affect you, are two separate things. Very few people, if any, prefer to be disliked or despised. Even still, those people usually develop a following because of their attempts to ignore the status quo. And become popular regardless.

Wishing to be popular and not being able to attain it can lead to low self esteem and poor self confidence. In the hub world, being an unpopular hubber can lead one to question their hubbing, and perhaps writing, abilities. They may question their decision to join HubPages in the first place.

As I have said before and will continue to emphasize, a writer should write for her/him self first and foremost. Whether anyone likes it or not, write what you want to write. If others like it, then that should be a bonus. However, and I know this sounds contradictory, but it is the validation, the acceptance, the enjoyment of our works by others that pushes us to continue writing.

This is why it is so important to leave helpful comments. Of course, there are some not so great hubs out there, and I'm not saying we should sing their praises when the work is not worthy of said praise. But a helpful suggestion or an addition to a fan club can make a world of difference.

I have to add, that this is one of the reasons I love this community so much. Because even as I'm writing this, hubbers everywhere are doing exactly what I've been talking about. They're giving advice and tips to new hubbers. They are becoming somebody's first fan, leaving someone their first comment, viewing a new hub for the first time. In other words, I really didn't even need to write this hub in the first place because you all already know!! :)