“In reading an interview by (614) Magazine about a documentary that I am involved in called Making Mail, I found a special piece of writing by Dr. Charles W. Eliot. This reads in part, “Messenger of Sympathy and Love Servant of Parted Friends Consoler of the Lonely Bond of the Scattered Family” and is inscribed into the granite of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum in Washington DC. The letter-writing and mail art community functions in a way that we all feel directly connected to those we exchange with, no matter the distance. This is why Dr. Charles W. Eliot’s quote speaks to me as it does; we partake in an isolated, heartfelt practice and even though we write completely alone in our workspaces, we are genuinely connected to our own scattered family. We have the ability to live completely isolated lives however still feel completely connected to others all over the world.”
— The Gift of Letter-Writing and Mail Art, an essay by Codi Ann Thomsen
03.19.13 @ 22:52♥23
What’s Mine is Yours, March’s Edition; available on Greenhouse Blues
“If I were in my last moments of life — and one day, I will be — I may not reflect how I spent my life but rather, “Is there a person on this earth that I left feeling unloved? Do I have a moment to call them before I go?”
— Last paragraph of The Art of Giving What is Intangible; a writing by Codi Ann Thomsen
03.07.13 @ 19:27♥14
I may or may not have just wrote the most important piece of writing in my life thus far. This was completely necessary; I needed this.
This piece of writing will be in this months What’s Mine is Yours book, which every day, is becoming more exciting. At this point in time, I am considering making an edition of 15-20. I will continue posting updates of its progress and if any point, you become interested, be sure to let me know; I’d like to have an idea of how many people would be interested before I get to printing and binding. This book will only be printed once and I will, at some point this month, have pre-orders as an option for you. It will be signed and will also contain a blank page at the beginning of the book as a space dedicated for writing from me to you personally.
03.05.13 @ 21:46♥161
Sneak peak at a page from a shared journal between myself and @thinknorth (Tim) primarily focused on travel & wanderlust.
“My desire to be elsewhere should not alone reflect that I am discontent or dissatisfied with where I stand now. More so, it should be centered upon the fact that I am deeply confused as to how a vast majority of human beings can be content knowing only but one set of scenery throughout their lifetime, for staying in a single place seems more like deprivation of beauty than anything else.
I, for one, will create home elsewhere.”
I have spent weeks recently disturbed by my own presence. It does not seem real to me — more so a deep, petrifying reaction which leads to nothing but the deepest sorrow. I shutter when I see my own reflection in the city’s windows. I got out of my car earlier this afternoon in front of a tobacco store and I stopped in my tracks when I saw myself in the reflection of the door. Why?
I had lunch with Ray this afternoon, in which he told me that he quit his job and he wishes to go to North Dakota for work. “Before I tell you, I will not do this if it will upset you.” He told me. I winced, but smiled and said, “You should” and I meant it. I told him that we would send mail. I’d write him once a week so that he could always expect something. And that I would come to visit him.
“Thank you. I was afraid that you would think I was leaving you. Nothing could be further from the truth. I will love you always.”
“No, I understand now that no distance could separate us. You’ll never be leaving me. You never did. And I will never leave you either. I love you with all of my heart and we’ll carry that with us, no matter where we go.”
I read letters from two beautiful souls today and each of which brought me to tears. I was captivated. I am captivated. To that of which others have made themselves open to me, I am utterly speechless. To feel their pains and their thoughts and their truths, I feel genuinely okay. I do not feel alone when I am connected with others and it is with those connections, that I am alive and I am whole. I am thankful for those who share, even when it accompanies stuttering, or hesitation. I am thankful for those who have reached their hand out to me and I am thankful that even though we all wince when we’re touched, there are people who will let me hold their hand in return. Without connection, without encouragement, without loving and sharing and allowing our vulnerability to show, I would be irretrievably lost. Without the love of others, the emptiness of my stomach would surely cave in upon itself.
