In this week's issue
G*Nice column: Striking a chord
Thought I would have a dip into my mailbox this week and acknowledge some of the Friday people that take the time to holla back at me over the weeks.
- G*Nice
- Published: 00:04 August 1, 2008
Thought I would have a dip into my mailbox this week and acknowledge some of the Friday people that take the time to holla back at me over the weeks.
I have to start off by saying that despite doing this thing for close to two years now, I am still surprised and humbled by the amount of feedback that you guys send in... and, I admit it, deeply touched by some of the kindness that you send my way.
First shout goes to Iman – who was insanely congratulatory by writing "How you deeply articulate your feelings in the most rather random and funny way is awesome!" I regard myself more awful than awesome but I accept your praise with great humility. It seems the stuff I shared with you about family really struck a chord – I was both praised and chided for my honesty. The biggest surprise I get is when in my "rather random and funny way" of telling a story it touches others in a way that compels them to write back in.
Ms Ganeshan, who was a mere visitor to our fair city, was inspired to share that "your writing touched my heart and also gave me hope" because she, like most of us, is pursuing a life and career while those one loves are in other lands. The strange thing is that I really have no perception how the columns will impact those that take the time to read them, as
I don't write with any intention apart from to get things that are rattling around in my head and in my heart onto the page. It's a kind of therapy, I guess.
Not that it will ever stop me being flippant and deeply sarcastic, but as the weeks go by and the letters flood in, I am made more aware of the responsibility I have not to take my platform too lightly and to fully appreciate the unique little thing that we have going.
You might recall that a few weeks back I spoke of "nasal memory" which I tried to describe as those smells that we have experienced at some point that have embedded themselves deep in our sub-conscious.
When they are recalled by hitting our noses again, the memories come flooding back more vividly than if they were a photograph. I am sure that when you turn to my column week after week you are aware of a certain smell? For some I hope it's white lilies and sweet candy although I am sure that for others, you immediately check your shoes to see if you have trodden in something!
Anyway, it's not to be sniffed at this "nasal memory" and thankfully it isn't just me that believes in it as Divya wrote in to share a smelly anecdote. Some perfume in the mall reminded her of a favourite teacher from 12 years ago and she was so excited to share the moment that she wrote "I wouldn't tell this to anyone thinking that they might call me crazy...
" I encourage all of you never to worry about that. Like Seal sang, "But we're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy!"
What does strike me as a little crazy is when I get letters from the good people out there, explaining why it is that they haven't written in previously. Just imagine that! "I am writing to you now explaining why I haven't written to you before?" I get loads of those by the way. One such was from lovely Ellma R., who made the excuse that Facebooking and MSNing take up too much of her free time. I bet she isn't on her own there, huh?
To finish, I will leave with you with something to chew on from Alison who recounted a profound fable. She tells the story of a man walking along a beach, who encountered hundreds of stranded starfish washed up after a storm. He then proceeded to toss them back in the sea one by one. A passer-by saw him and asked him why he was bothering and why he thought it would make any difference. After flipping another one back, our man smiles and answers, "I made a difference to that one!"
Make of that what you will. Staring at the Star... Fish-erly Yours
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