From the Author: "Take the time to read, you might learn someone." -Éric L Farrell

May 2, 2003
Recently, during my booksignings, I've began to realize another purpose for what I do as an Author. In today's society, most of us have become very busy people and take little time to communicate in person with each other. Sure, we take time to talk to the people we work with and live with, but I'm not convinced that this is enough. It's sometimes discomforting to see how we all avoid interaction with each other, usually because we feel like it's not appropriate. We walk by each other everyday and sometimes we don't even speak. We shop on the same shelves at the store, but we make sure to act as if we don't even notice the other person standing there. I see us act this way, but I know that all we're doing is ACTING. Most of us do want to interact with the people we come in contact with, but we don't know how, and we don't know what to say. I can tell that we still seek personal interaction because of the subtle things most of us do. Although we don't know each other, we hold the door open for each other, we say God bless you when one sneezes. Occassionally, a young guy will pull up next to me in my car and ask me to race him. Some of us even glance into each others shopping carts to see what the other is buying. (nosey? or just genuinely want to know what others like and what others think. Why don't we just ask them?) Why do we do all of this? Because we want to welcome others into our world, and we want others to welcome us into theirs. Well, why don't we just talk to each other more often? Because we don't know what to talk about and what not to talk about. We've conditioned ourselves to think that almost every topic is inappropriate and that there's never a right time and place to talk about it. So we don't talk about what's important anymore because we're afraid of disagreement. We shouldn't be afraid. Disagreement is often the first step toward understanding. Disagreement will not always lead to agreement, but it can always lead to understanding when we seek to understand the heart of the other person and how they feel. How do you feel about that? Why is it always inappropriate to ask others opinions? It's not appropriate to talk about this... it's not appropriate to talk about that. Yeah, whatever. We need to communicate in person with each other more often wherever we're at. I say "in person" because as great as technology is, there's a serious lack of the emotional communication that's needed in order for us all to understand each other better. I've been a published author for a little over a year now, and I've met thousands of people at my signings of all different ages, races, religions, and cultural backgrounds. I've realized how great of an opportunity this is for us all to come together and get to know each other better. Sure, it's great for my books to sell well, because that's required for me to stay in this industry. But it's more important that my readers get a better understanding of me, of others who are like me, and of themselves from reading my work. I do the booksignings so I can meet the people of the world, so the people of the world can meet me, and so the people of the world can meet each other. When I say "It's nice to meet you," I mean that. What better opportunity for us to come together and talk?..

If you're in the area, stop by my booksigning and see me. If you're not in the area, call up someone who is and tell them to come out.

Love at You,
Éric L Farrell, Author & Poet


1 John 4