To everyone I have ever known

To every person who has ever entered my life,

       I want you to know how often I think about all who I have met. I think about all the people in the eight different churches and Christian youth organizations I was involved with growing up. I think about my old neighbours. I think about the people I met at our cottage. I think about the people I went to high school with. I think about the people I met on my volunteer trip to Kansas. I think about the other people in the park the two times I went camping with my extended family. I think about the people I met in Nemaska. I think about the people at Medeba. Of course I think often of my family in St. Thomas and of my friends and all the other people I have met in Peterborough, and when I leave here I will think often about all the people I met in Riviere-du-Loup.

       There are some faces in my mind that are missing their names, a few names that have lost their faces, and I am sure there are some people who have slipped completely into the shadows of my mind. After all, there are more people who have entered my life than just the ones I met in the above places. There are people I smiled at wordlessly or said hello to on the streets or on a bus and there are strangers I waited in the bus station with for hours without even exchanging one word.

        I have remembered more of you than you might believe, but even if I have forgotten some of you it is ok because, for better or for worse, big or small, you touched my heart and changed my life. Through that change a shadow of you is with me always.

       I am learning to accept how many of you have become shadows in my life. Goodbyes are always hard and there have been times when I've struggled to embrace a moment because I was overwhelmed by the pain of knowing how quickly it would be over. There was a time when I wanted everything to last forever, but that isn't how this life thing works.

       You touched my heart and now you are but a shadow in my mind and that's ok. I am a better person because of you. Whether you taught me strength through causing me pain or through building me up, you helped me on my way. For that I am thankful. Yes some of you are so poetic I want to make you small and carry you with me in my pocket wherever I go. Yes I long to gather you all together in one room, but that's not how this life thing works. You are where you are and I am here thinking of you but also enjoying the people I am with now, and I can't explain why this is beautiful even though it is sad, but I think it is and I'm at peace with it.

       Now all that is left to say is thank you, for being who you are and for touching me how you did. I hope that whoever you are and wherever you are you are learning to be joyful.

Love
Laurissa