Who doesn't love the feeling of getting a soulful piece of mail? Not the bills or advertisements; rather the thoughtfully written, sealed and sent letter from a good friend. I have a few nostalgic tendencies, and snail mail is my favorite by far. Whenever I am feeling down, these notes grow a smile and all my pearly whites see the break of day. Sometimes, I'll admit, revisiting past letters can draw out tears as well. When I studied abroad in Spain, nothing comforted me more than receiving a few gems from home including my "Happy 21st Birthday" chocolate cake shot from my bartending brother, wrapped in a bandana (1 part kettle one, one part kahlua, sugar on the edge, lemon to chase and it tastes just like a piece of chocolate birthday cake). Amazing that it even made it overseas, unharmed. Other good mail gems I've received over the years include Anne's stationary from Berlin; Jenny's handpainted card from India; the singing birthday cards I got in college every year from my mom; and a cat-shaped letter from Cate in Italy. If you could capture the joy of mail in a jar, it would surely make fireworks and then explode once you tried to put a lid on it.
For every yin there is a yang. The downside of snail mail is the waiting game. Void of modern speed and delivery assurance, there is a certain mystery to the mail you send. Will they recieve it? When? How? When will they respond? How long do I wait for a response? These are some parallel feelings to the macrogame of life that we are all playing together, as really I find our patience is always being tested. We wait to get test results, anticipating the best and preparing for the worst. We wait to be accepted into a dream graduate program, unsure of where we may be placed. Our patience is tested as we wait 9 months for the baby to come, hoping everything goes well. We anxiously apply to jobs as we wait to see where we may land. In the anticipation, though, we learn patience. We must. And behind patience is hope, as hope is the only thing that can make the waiting game endurable.
A lot of our lives is a test to our patience, up until our final breath. We don't know what path our life might take, as much as we try to plan for and pursue certain opportunities, careers, and lifestyles. Thus, we become patient people, hoping that we will get that neatly wrapped package with the pretty bow on it soon, and yet fully prepared for a mangled disheartening package as well. Knowing that we are all in it together, I believe we should make it easier on each other whenever possible. A smile, a lift, and a thank-you go further than you'd imagine. And hey, why not take a moment out of worrying about the future and spend some time frolicking in the fields. Okay, maybe there is no field to be frolicked in near you, but a park will do.
Perhaps, somewhere over the rainbow, we will feel something like this:
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| Patiently waiting for the mail, courtesy of Creative Commons |
A lot of our lives is a test to our patience, up until our final breath. We don't know what path our life might take, as much as we try to plan for and pursue certain opportunities, careers, and lifestyles. Thus, we become patient people, hoping that we will get that neatly wrapped package with the pretty bow on it soon, and yet fully prepared for a mangled disheartening package as well. Knowing that we are all in it together, I believe we should make it easier on each other whenever possible. A smile, a lift, and a thank-you go further than you'd imagine. And hey, why not take a moment out of worrying about the future and spend some time frolicking in the fields. Okay, maybe there is no field to be frolicked in near you, but a park will do.
Perhaps, somewhere over the rainbow, we will feel something like this:
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