Hey all, it's been a minute. Not a whole lot has changed in my life since my last post. Still living in Regensburg while working and finishing up my degree (graduation spring 2022, here I come!). Where I end up at the end of this year is still a mystery, but I digress.
An old friend of mine from my days in Munich came and visited this past week and it was really quite grand. We drank beer and reminisced, got some work done for our respective universities, visited old haunts and made a couple new memories, and all-in-all just had a good-ass time. After all, that's what friends are for; are they not?
Yes, this past week served as a gentle reminder of something quite important in life - friendship. I'm quite lucky to have had the experiences in life that I have, but I'm even more grateful to have met the people that I have.
During my time with the ski team at GVSU we used to have a little saying we'd joke about: If you're getting rad but nobody sees it, are you really getting rad? I mean are you?! I only remember this phrase because it was often uttered during the ridiculous games of G.N.A.R. we used to play on our ski weekends (and if one of you ski team alums is reading this, I'M THE BEST SNOWBOARDER ON THE MOUNTAIN!) Yet there still lies an interesting little kernel of truth in that saying. My time with the GVSU ski team was so special precisely because of all the goofy shit we did together as a team. I suppose a more appropriate version of this saying would be: If you're getting rad but have no one to share it with, are you really getting rad?
Human connection is indeed a wonderful thing that deserves to be cherished. The people I've met are the reason why my experiences in life were and continue to be as great as they have been. I suppose that's a large part of why this pandemic has been so difficult for so many of us.
In any event, if you happen to be reading this, take a moment and reach out to an old friend or acquaintance and tell them why you're glad to have had them in your life. No matter how strange you think it may be or how short your time together was, I'm sure they'd love to hear from you.
Life is a journey. Be grateful for the companions you've had and look forward to those that are to come. But above all cherish the presence of those in whose company you currently find yourself. That's living.
Thanks for the great time and thanks for being you, Elsa Smelsa.
