soapbox

So I'm breaking from the frenzy of information, and decided that I wanted to write notes on that Emerson speech. So I printed it out and began again. One of the things that jumped out at me was when he spoke of, "a people too busy to give to letters any more."

Well that sparked my memory, and I remember when no-so-many days ago, I used to get really nice emails from this guy N.

I think that we learned a lot about each other through those letters, and are most likely a reason why I feel like I've already known you for quite some time. And I think that Emerson may have been foretelling of an age when society is too caught up in being busy that it forgets to slow down and be personable with the other inhabitants of this world. Sure you know someone, but do you really know someone?

One of my favorite quotes is by Thomas Moore: "We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible. To have real conversation with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion, but it involves courage and risk."

You and I both know how difficult it is to open up and be honest with others... heck, we know how difficult it is to be open and honest with ourselves. But the recompense for doing so not only builds a strong relationship, but edifies oneself. I learn more of who I am and what makes me tick. Just like a therapist. A while back my aunt and I would talk for hours, ranging from our favorite works of art to who's dating who to why we want to relocate to Dallas to why we are so messed up in the head.

I'm not saying that you and I should feel compelled to do so, or that I'm looking to find something like what my aunt and I shared. I believe that every relationship is different, and it takes on the characteristics best suiting the included persons. But I am saying that the lines, the ideas that we have exchanged have been enjoyable for me and something good. I realized that even though we talk pretty much everyday, letter writing is a medium that has its own benefits, and allows certain ideas and subjects to develop and possibly form into more eloquence, thus being a necessary form of communication. Could you imagine me telling you this over the phone or text? LOL
So Emerson sparked me to take a break and let you know this via a letter.

I am looking forward to learning more of what The American Scholar has in store, but it seems it's time for study again.

Hope your day is going well and dinner with your uncle was nice. And you already know, but it seems appropriate to say it again, I'm proud to call you friend.

Truly,
ryan