Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors
we getting literate out here
Thru this roadtrip im on ive done a lot of reflecting.
bc what else am i gonna do ive been in a car for over two weeks lmfao. and it gets hot as hell sometimes + allergies r back?? aw hell na. but i’ve really been trying to understand what has been happening to me for the past two years. and while the amount of people i’ve met was small, the importance of these ppl have been grand. partly because there weren’t many people to judge off of, and partly because it was so hard for me to connect with people, that any connection was powerful. But I met three types of people: Mirrors, Windows, and Doors.
These three terms are used in children’s literature, where kids see mirrors of themselves, windows of a world they could live in, and doors of worlds that are able to enter. This idea is used to highlight the necessity for diversity in literature, to show kids that they can exist in the world. As an adult, ive seen these ideas play out in the people I have met.
I’ve met mirrors; people who’ve shown me my own patterns - giving attention to others, spending time, supporting others, insecurities in my relations, ignorance of the world. Other people’s behavior pissed me off, then i realized “damn i do that too tho” so like???
I’ve met windows; people who’ve shown me whats possible - passion, how to communicate, how to love another without knowing them, the power of a conversation, healthy behaviors, a life where you refuse to address your own behaviors, a world where I stop creating, infinitely chasing stability, what happens if I kept smoking. I’ve seen the light and the dark on the other side of these windows. I tried to get both, but I had to find my own way, or was unable to reach those.
I’ve met doors; people who take me to the next world - people who want to see me succeed, endless support, people to laugh with, and the same people to cry with. people who are excited for my art. people who want me to smile with them. people who help fight for me. It has been absolutely harder to find these people, but life truly skyrocketed when I did. some were right in front of me. thank you.
I’ve seen these concepts in art too - art that shows me my flaws, art that shows me whats out there, and art that can take me to that next era in my life. and I wanna make all of those.
There’s good people, and there’s bad people, but they’re all living their life for the first time. talk to them, see who they are, and learn. small talks go a long way.
love,
Faraz
ps. its like 8 hrs before this is being sent out i’m half sry if its incoherent near the end bc →
pss. → bc i just finished my road trip! i want my next newsletter to b abt that but I have hella shit to dew so we’ll see what happens. if anything ill share a whole menagerie of pics itll b a vibe.
psos. ive been in a bit of a rut while posting on twitter but ive been posting some stamp pieces and theyve been going great. I like the lil lul im in tho. it lets me build art for my audience without rly worrying abt growing the account. + im at my fams house for the summer so i dont need to worry abt rent bless them frfr
this is a great video talking abt how these ideas r used in childrens books!!
this is such a good question - never be afraid of getting personal w strangers (im saying this as a straight ish passing white ish passing male so theres a lil social politics) bc ppl so rarely get to talk abt whats personally happening. it can rly b a conversation to change ur life. worst case they dont respond and continue being a endlessly shallow shell of a being but w/e yktv xoxo ttyl
fr life pretty asf sometimes. especially when it gets ugl
torkey. ima throw a whole webpage of roadtrip pics i stg. ish idk im feeling flaky
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