“The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.” – David Foster Wallace, This is Water
That quote is probably a little heavy for a list of small kindnesses like the one I’m making here.
The pear painting, after I tried to convince him to buy it for himself because I loved it so much. Taking time out in a networking lunch to help me find a job up here before I moved. Pie after breaking up with a boyfriend. Letting me hash out the same heartbreak over and over, without any “I told you so” or “Just get over it”. Shower beer after a long day in the field. A long, impromptu walk in the middle of the work day when my plan for giving notice kept breaking down. Countless after-work bitching sessions in the bouldering gym and over beer. Invites to girls’ nights after meeting maybe twice, in this new town of mine. Books, and comic books, and coffee, and poetry, and long, intermittent IM conversations during the day, and so much support. Tea and music and books and long Skype calls and the very best hugs.
Brothers, for understanding parents. Parents, for understanding myself.
Post in the Ground 