Escape Characters

Seen and shown

I was thinking that it was unreasonable that I've been leaving months between posts here. And I was thinking towards fixing that. Towards writing what had been on my mind, to share with the world some particularly novel or interesting thought. Something about what makes me happy or sad, or how I feel about my career, or my health, or my latest exploits in computing. But as I started to write, I realized that I'd already written about everything I was outlining. And, in fact, I had addressed the bullet points and covered them with more detail, more clever language, or implicit tact than I was trying to force currently. Granted, I was just starting to write, and it's rare that what I start out with is what I end up with. And what's more, my finished product, whatever it may be, is usually dozens of iterations from its root, refined and distilled in the hopes of capturing something worth reading. But still. I could see where I was going. And I had already been there. The exercise seemed very empty.

I think I'm writing this to say I'm done here. When I started this, I was enamored with my introduction to young adulthood, and felt those close to me needed to share in the experience, particularly those far away. I felt the need to transmit, quiet though I was. But now I recognize that perhaps such time has passed, usurped by stolid acknowledgement, a silent, understanding nod to life, we as its witnesses.

Actually, that may be my parting point. Learn to distinguish between what you've seen and what you're shown. Appreciate the similarities and the differences. And acknowledge them for what they are, and what they aren't, and why they might be. And learn what you can on the way.

Thanks for reading. I'll try to keep writing, somewhere.

- Josh Rhoades