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7/25/10

Looks like my scanner is having some problems, but I'll try to either get it working or gain access to a new one within the next couple of days. In the meantime, here's an email from a stranger:

"Hello Perfect Stranger (=
I don't really know what to write, I just know that I want to. I guess because It's just amazing that somehow I'll be able to share my thoughts to someone who I really don't know. Instead of just keeping it all to myself.
I have this small blue notebook that I carry with me all the time. I write words, quotes and phrases from books that I've read or movies that I saw, and my own. Those that can sometimes be stuck in my head and I needed to write them down so I can get them out.
I hope you're feeling fine, wherever you are in the planet. I'm here in my room, at our house, in this country. It's been raining a lot, well because it's the rainy season. I use to hate the rain coz it makes everything gloomy. I'm just starting to learn how to accept things as they are. It's never easy don't you agree? I just finished reading a book, on one part I've read something and I just had to agree the book is right:

Our disappointment comes in essentially two ways. When we're experiencing pleasure we want it to last forever. It never does. Or, when we're experiencing pain, we want it to go away-now. It usually doesn't. Unhappiness is the result of struggling against the natural flow of experience.

Just thought to share it with you. When bad things happen, we can try to deal with it gracefully. It doesnt mean that we're not hurting or not affected. We can make the pain be lighter if we try to accept what is happening and take time to stop and breathe and know that it too shall pass. We just have to let it happen.

I wonder when will I meet you (= I'd love to hear your story.

Till my next letter,
PerfectStrangerjustlikeyou"

7/23/10

"Dear Stranger, (7/4/10)


See everything. Do everything. Don't try to get in trouble but don't miss out because you're scared. Sing even if you suck. Be quiet sometimes. Be loud sometimes. Take risks. Learn to live without sleep. Find humor in every situation. Play the games you played when you were a kid. Don't be embarrassed to like the things you do. Know who your real friends are. Spend time with your parents. Don't hold in your anger. Don't hold grudges. Forgive but don't forget. Skip class every once in a while. Do your homework. Have unusual talents. Be nice. Be yourself. Smile. Meet new people. Take a road trip. Watch as many movies as you can. Don't pass out with your shoes on. Dance like an idiot. Dance in the rain. Just dance. Talk to strangers. Go to concerts. Spend a Friday night at home by yourself. Dress up for no reason. Wear sunscreen. Turn the volume all the way up. Learn how to cook. Stay in touch with your high school friends. Brush your teeth. Laugh when you're not supposed to, loudly and unstoppably. Love deeply. Listen to people when they talk and hear the things they don't say. Learn another language. Do something stupid. Do something illegal. Do something stupid and illegal (but don't get caught.) Make a mix. Get a pet. Hold onto your siblings. Don't gossip. Go away to college. Act crazy. Defend the people you love. Fight your own battles. Stop worrying about the future. Travel. Stay out all night. Obsess about something pointless. Make your own money. Shower every day. Fall in love. Don't dye your hair too much. Make a scene. Avoid all-nighters. Drive fast. Experiment. Realize that whatever is bothering you will go away. Life may suck today but it will get better. Read books that aren't for school. Speak your mind. Give peace a chance. Go to church every once in a while. Remember life is short. Don't just exist. Live. Do what you want to do, not what other people are telling you to do. Don't pretend to be someone you're not. Have fun. Never give up. Learn all the words to as many songs as you can. Don't be ashamed of your body. Cry if you need to cry. Beat a video game. Don't forget what's really important. Realize your friends will be strong when you can't be. Question authority. Try new things. Don't judge people. Break the rules. Dream. Experience as much as you an. Explore the infinite abyss. Seek your great perhaps. Take pictures. Make mistakes. Remember everything. Regret nothing.


Love Alyways,"


Note: Letters From Strangers doesn't urge you to do something illegal, I'm just sharing the wonderful letter I received. ;)

Be a stranger.

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It can be unpredictable when I will receive new letters in the mail, so I've created a Twitter account that you can follow for news, updates, and heads up about new submissions!

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Feel free to send questions or comments my way on Twitter as well. :)

7/4/10

 




  
"Dear Stranger,
    Ok. This is the fifth time I've started a letter to you. Let's hope I make it past four lines this time. Currently, I'm seated at my wooden rolltop desk, surrounded by crumpled up balls of paper, and my little portable radio. It's set to 90.9, which is the classical music station out here in nowheresville.

    A rather long pause has occurred between these two paragraphs. I stopped to turn the radio to 88.5, which is our local NPR station. They're currently talking about a beachtown in Maryland that is losing money because of its parking meter system. I'm sure you love to hear all about that, but I digress.

    Did you know that the three top activities in a human life are work, sleep, watch T.V.? Television is the #1 past time of the civilized world, but it's slowly losing this championship to the internet. The very word “media” is changing its definition. That is why I'm very glad to be writing this letter. Some things deserve to stay a way of life. Letter writing gives you a sense of intimacy, of love and commitment to a person.

    And that is where I've been writing to. To tell you that I love, that I care about you, and that it will be alright. Everything will always be alright.

I love you.

The Lost Stranger"
    

6/27/10

"Dear Stranger,

Stop. Take a deep breath. Hold it. Hold it until you think your lungs will burst. Let it out. Relax. Breath in again.

Sometimes we forget that. Exactly what breathing feels like. The sensations we experience. Right now, I am laying on my stomach in my bed. I'm in my room with blue walls & black furniture. In my house in a town I call Bumblefuck. I feel the air circulating around me, pushed by a little fan. I feel the freedom of my bare feet dangling over the edge of my bed. I feel the ache in my chest & stomach from the loss of the boy I love. I taste the lingering sweetness of fresh strawberries &  vanilla ice cream. I smell the coconut shampoo used to wash my hair. The comforting scent of clean laundry coming from my pillows. I hear my dogs barking & my healthy lungs working. I see my book shelf, covered with thousands of pages with words that tell stories of all kinds. I see my shaking hand slide across the page that you now hold. 

Have you let go of that breath yet?

Your life will be difficult. You might get scared & feel like it's impossible. But you have to believe that somehow, someday, everything will be okay. And to get that far, you have to breath.

So get comfortable. I mean really, I-never-want-to-move-from-this-spot comfortable.

Ready? Breath.

What do you feel?

Taste?

Smell?

Hear?

See?

Is it beautiful? I hope it is.

Love always, "

Want to submit a letter?

6/20/10

Before I post today's letter, I would like to pose a question. Does anyone think I should post digital submissions as well as physical ones? It would be more convenient, but I think it would subtract from the novelty of the site. I would love to hear your thoughts.

So, *drum roll* here is today's letter! It's interesting to note that the handwriting is seemingly female:

"Dear Stranger,

    I want to tell you about a girl that somehow stole my heart, a friend that isn't even aware of my love for her. I slept beside her last night just breathing- drinking her in. Feeling the heat roll off her in waves to crash into me, my fingers twitched with wanting desire – the urge to touch her -where? how? what to say? I've been struggling for breath since she took my breath away. Gasping lungs, breath hitched; the thought of our first kiss.
    I wish I could describe her to you – indulge you in my fantasies but you could never see her like I see her, I don't think anyone can. I see past every front she throws up – I see into her – the core of her – hot against my cold skin. The taste of her – raw on my tongue, from another wasted fantasy. Wasted because she's not interested wasted because I get so jealous just thinking about it. I love her – I hate her. I hate the way she says THAT name like a secret with just a ghost of a smile over her lips – a hushed sound – protected and guarded – I want to be her secret! I hate her for hating herself for not listening when I says she's beautiful for disregarding every long lingering glance. THEY'D NEVER SEE YOU LIKE I DO – you're beautiful. You dress yourself up for them but for me you can be natural, true and pure. You can throw your hair up in a scruffy pony tail leaving just your fringe and a scattering of hair loose – you can forgo the eyeliner – your eyes are so stunning alone – you could dress in rags and for once not look 'perfect' and I still wouldn't find a flaw – my hands would itch to run through you hair, lips demanding tastes! Side bye side our hands brush and you recoil from the cold but you smirk to yourself at the lingering feeling – I love that look- That saucyness – bold as brass – washed away to a violent blush if I only quirk my eyebrow at you. I love your innocence, that naivety so nice – so sweet. So young yet worldly – live before – broken in.
    I want you to know that it hurts when you date
    I want to confess how hot I find your teeth
    I want to tell you that I drown in your eyes,
    I want to tell you!
I promised last night;
    “If her lovely eyes are open I'll tell her.” - Your eyes were closed leaving me with the hushed sound of your breathing and the kiss of your breath. I watched your chest rise – quicker than mine – I saw life flow through you – bursting out your pores – A sun – radiating your glory. I could just talk to you all day – snuggle into pillows and whisper to you until morning.

I'd never let anyone hurt you- I'd protect you – especially from me. You'd never have to fear this voice or these eyes because when I look at your smile, I falter and my voice cracks. Because when you look at me I have to reconnect my sentences – Dot my T's and cross my i's – Sometimes you're too perfect to be true, and I cling to the knowledge that no one knows you like I do. You relax in my presence – recline into my embrace – words flow between the gaps in our persons – so close but so far apart. I feel the distance in our silences how far I can travel yet you stay grounded for your next word – I long to unleash you – release you – free – wild abandon. ME – Chose Me!

BECAUSE WHEN I'M NOT WITH YOU – I'M NOT LIVING – I'M NOT BREATHING AND MY HEART IS NOT BEATING. EVERYTHING BUT TIME STOPS! TIME DRAGS ON AND ON – MAKES ME CRAVE YOU MORE – IF I HAD BREATH TO SCREAM – I BEG YOU TO RESTART MY FROZEN BODY – BREATHE LIFE INTO ME AGAIN. POUR YOUR BLOOD INTO MY MOUTH AND DRINK YOU LIKE A DRUG – LIKE OXYGEN. SURVIVING ISN'T THE POINT; YOUR LOVE IS DESTRUCTIVE – DESTRUCT ME!! ASSEMBLE ME – ID LAY CRUMPLED AT YOUR FEET- WAITING FOR YOUR GLORIOUS LUNGS TO DISPERSE THAT BREATH YOU STOLE IN OUR FIRST KISS – HEAVENELY TORTURE – HEAVENLY PAIN – WAITING FOR THE WARMTH TO DIFUSE THROUGH MY CAPILLARES TO MY SWELLING HEART – WAITING FOR YOUR BAITED BREATH TO SPILL SWEET OBSCENITIES INTO MY ATTENTIVE EAR – YOUR WORDS LIKE POISON (?) TO MY LIPS DRAW OUT SUCH VULGARITIES (?) AS THIS:
    I LOVE YOU

    I need you to feel me too – feel the core of you against my own – our souls CRUSHED TOGETHER – US. Flawless in lines of pale and tanned where you stop and I begin.

    So Stranger if you ever see her (you'll know) tell her how much  she is loved because it's lonely on my side of the bed.

Love from the laughter

xxx
<3"

Here is a description of the project, and the address to submit your letters to.