A Letter to You...
In gratitude,
To my followers:
I’m not a terribly consistent person to follow. And I mostly upload my poetry and very little prose, so you don’t see much of what I write (cause I write a lot of prose...). But I think of you when I choose what to upload. When it isn’t for a challenge, I consider what you might like, and more importantly, what might be relevant to your life. Because you're important, and I don't write carelessly (or flawlessly, but I'll grow, right?). If I've written, there is a reason I've done so.
And if you read it, I'm grateful.
I’m pretty sure you could tell me my own themes without hesitation...they’re kinda obvious. I like to write about all that is good, beautiful, and true. Compassion, hope, truth, mercy, firmness of purpose, conviction--these are a few of my favorite things...
You are very patient with that. I hope that it is because you see the need for these in our world, in your own life, or in the lives of those you encounter.
I have, however, been asked why before. Why do I write so hopefully? Why am I so consistently optimistic?
I assure you: I am not optimistic, but I do agree that I am hopeful. Optimism is utterly useless and easily shattered, while hope is true and unbreakable.
I am of the utmost certainty that our happiness lies in reality and not in the make-believe, or in the ebb and flow of emotions, or in the security of ignorance and selective vision. And so everything that goes on the page is meant to be lived out in even the most minute moments of life. Every thought that passes through my head and every word I write is connected inseparably to reality. So, dear followers, if my fantasy worlds and imagined moments do not reflect reality and draw upon the real hopes and desires of man...forgive me, I have failed us both.
Remember, though, I do not dwell upon what is ugly, false, and evil in our world. So if you don't see enough of that in my writing, it is because I am quite sure you see a great deal too much of it in your daily lives. I will never deny that the ugly, the false, and the evil exist and take place, and I will never skirt around them, but I will always combat them with the good, the true, and the beautiful--which also exist, though we seem to forget that all too often.
And that, my dear readers, is why.
I hope it was as thorough an explanation as it was long-winded (I always am...).
I'm so grateful that you read my work. I'm so grateful that you think about what I've written. I'm so grateful you and I have a connection we otherwise may never have had.
I am grateful for you--grateful that you've followed me, yes, but mostly grateful that you exist. I really, truly am. You always show me a new facet of reality and teach me new ways to hope. And that is very, very dear indeed.
A Guideline to what @HopeMarie means in her terribly unoriginal comments:
“Thank you so much!” “Thanks!”
Read: Wow. I still can’t believe people enjoy my work...I’m so grateful. Yup, 'thanks' actually means 'thanks'.
“I’m so glad you enjoyed it!” ”:)” ”:D”
Read: Real time emotions. I am currently experiencing actual happiness inside that you enjoyed my writing. Your likes and comments motivate me, as well as make me grateful that I write.
"That's so sweet!"
Read: That's so sweet! I really, truly think so. Yep.
"[insert personalized different comment than usual]”
Read: Every word I write in a comment is intentional. I ponder it before I write it and after I write it. I’m not over-analyzing and there isn’t any sort of insecurity or fear behind it (don’t worry), but I just prefer to be sincere at all times. I want you to read exactly what I mean and to know that I mean exactly what I’ve written. You might notice that this doesn’t mean I take away all of my passionate digressions or some ’eh’s and ’haha’s and smiley faces here and there. Sincerity requires honesty, and if it’s in my comment, it honestly reflects something about what I mean or how my thought process went as I wrote it.
"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."
-G.K. Chesterton
And so, thank you followers, again and again. I am truly, absolutely, without-a-doubt grateful.
-HopeMarie