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Dear Trap,
We had an exercise where we wrote about someone who'd influenced our lives in recent years. My initial draft was a short letter to family, but I decided to take this further and make it a monthly activity for 2018. There are so many people of whom I'm thankful to be in the company. And so:
★
Trap is a friend I met almost a decade ago through recreational writing. We didn't always spend that time together, but what we did share has stayed with me over the years. I still vaguely remember the layout of her LiveJournal account and the sophistication behind her words, young as she'd been.
In the last couple years, I've had Trap back in my life. I wonder, sometimes, how this happened. How did I reconnect with this wonderful person, who navigates everyday life with practiced grace and calm enthusiasm? What did I do to earn this privilege of receiving and sending messages between us?
What stands out to me is Trap's wide appreciation for a variety of mediums and stories. I have a narrow list of themes and tropes that I enjoy, but Trap is of a more adventurous approach in all things. It's so easy to fall into the negativity of a flaw—and just as easy to fall into the trap of fierce defensiveness—but Trap stands where the middle ground seems to lie, and she offers discussions that are both riveting and intelligent.
Most of all, Trap is a listening ear. There have been times where I'd lost my cool; talking to her then had been like applying a soothing balm that had actually worked (no supermarket scams here). Trap must have her own share of hardships like anyone else, but she makes time for her friends and responds meaningfully to let them know that they have been heard. I can never be grateful enough for her understanding and support, especially knowing that I tend to repeat myself and cower from confrontation.
Trap inspires me to be more level-headed, fair, and emphatic. When we talk, it feels like I've learned something about us and myself. She isn't afraid to speak up for others; she acknowledges the good and the bad; she enjoys life responsibly. I want to use what she's taught me to become a better person.
Trap is a dear friend whom I'm honored to know.
★
Trap is a friend I met almost a decade ago through recreational writing. We didn't always spend that time together, but what we did share has stayed with me over the years. I still vaguely remember the layout of her LiveJournal account and the sophistication behind her words, young as she'd been.
In the last couple years, I've had Trap back in my life. I wonder, sometimes, how this happened. How did I reconnect with this wonderful person, who navigates everyday life with practiced grace and calm enthusiasm? What did I do to earn this privilege of receiving and sending messages between us?
What stands out to me is Trap's wide appreciation for a variety of mediums and stories. I have a narrow list of themes and tropes that I enjoy, but Trap is of a more adventurous approach in all things. It's so easy to fall into the negativity of a flaw—and just as easy to fall into the trap of fierce defensiveness—but Trap stands where the middle ground seems to lie, and she offers discussions that are both riveting and intelligent.
Most of all, Trap is a listening ear. There have been times where I'd lost my cool; talking to her then had been like applying a soothing balm that had actually worked (no supermarket scams here). Trap must have her own share of hardships like anyone else, but she makes time for her friends and responds meaningfully to let them know that they have been heard. I can never be grateful enough for her understanding and support, especially knowing that I tend to repeat myself and cower from confrontation.
Trap inspires me to be more level-headed, fair, and emphatic. When we talk, it feels like I've learned something about us and myself. She isn't afraid to speak up for others; she acknowledges the good and the bad; she enjoys life responsibly. I want to use what she's taught me to become a better person.
Trap is a dear friend whom I'm honored to know.