One never knows
when a life could change simply because you introduced yourself.
It seemed like an
every day moment at the time, but now I realize that when he introduced himself
to me, it was the beginning of a life changing experience. All that I can hope
is that my acquaintance means just as much to him…a true friend.
This is the story
of a meeting of two personalities. It makes me realize that friendship is
something to be cherished more than is possible. In fact, true friendship is
something more timeless than anything I know of. Here’s why:
I met him at a camp
crowded by over 1,000 high school students, and although I saw hundreds of
faces every day, I became friends with him.
We talked like
everyone else about our interests and hobbies. I learned that he flies
airplanes and is intrigued by magic tricks. I told him that I do ballet and
ride a unicycle. He was going to be a senior and myself, a sophomore. We lived
in different states and had different life styles. We seemed not to be very
similar at all, but there was something that flashed “connection” and we seemed
to get along well. By the end of camp, the two of us were sharing stories and
laughs. We exchanged email addresses and promised to keep in touch.
When I returned
home from camp, I realized that I had lost the paper with his email address on
it. I looked through all of my stuff, but after a couple of fruitless weeks I
stopped searching. One day, I thought to look him up on the online network that
was being set up for the campers that attended the camp we went to. To my
disappointment, he wasn’t registered, but as I was online, an Instant Message
popped up on the screen. To my surprise, it was the kid who I had just tried to
look up a moment before. He had simply tried putting the beginning of my email
address in as my IM screen name. Thank goodness it worked.
A series of
heartening conversations budded from there. I started to realize something that
I hadn’t quite fully acknowledged while I was at camp. This kid was
exceptionally thoughtful and kind. I don’t know what made me, but for some
reason I started to tell him things that had been building up inside of me for
fifteen years. We expressed our deepest feelings through typed words on a
computer screen and learned from each other’s pain and experiences.
Our conversations
traveled through depths of life that had only been touched before far inside of
me. I have always been afraid to share myself… to express my emotions, but for
some reason I could talk with him. He too said that he had never talked with
anyone about the things we discussed before. It was a very new experience for
me, but it was extremely beneficial to my heart and my soul. I had finally
found someone who was willing to understand me without prejudice. He was
someone I could relate to.
As of now, I have
only known him for three months, yet the change that has occurred in me is
immense. I never knew that it was possible to be as inspired as I am, but it is
happening without a doubt. I am more kind. I am more patient. I love, I live,
and I believe in my life. I no longer cry every night because of the pain built
up inside of me. I have become more of an optimist than I ever have been. I
smile at others just to see if they’ll smile back. I thank people who never get
thanked for doing what they do and being who they are. I try to inspire… for I
simply need to pass on the favor.
PLEASE! I am asking
you now. Please go introduce yourself to someone who you would never expect to
be friends with.
Perhaps you will
feel the connection that I have so graciously been able to experience, and know
for yourself the change that comes with true friendship. A soul mate is one who
will change your life long term. Even if your friendship is torn apart by
grief, abandonment, or death, the effects of the little time that you spent
together shape your heart into something it never was before. This change is
timeless and immortal. And now I ask you again, if you decide to do anything
with your life, choose to be a friend to others that will affect them and
change their lives for the better.
I dearly hope, even
though we are hundreds of miles away, and our only form of communication is
Instant Messenger, that the kid on the other computer who has changed my life
has somehow benefited from my compassion and listening ear.
I say this to you
now, Super Aviator Man: THANK YOU.
—
Written in 2007 by Katy C. — Illinois