Dear reader,

When my old love recently returned my belongings and pulled a box from the car, a few books fell out along the bottom of the box. An unpleasant moment for someone who values their books highly. It felt as if my most loyal friends were lying on the ground, and I couldn't save them from falling in time.

Just like a box that breaks, friendships or relationships sometimes fall apart – and that's normal. Fortunately, my friends magically produced brand new boxes out of nowhere to safely store my books. Our ability to be carried away by a story says a lot about how we can understand experiences of people around us, in other words, it fosters empathy for our relationships with others.

The reason why books are our most loyal friends is supported by a quote from Franz Kafka; for him, books were 'the axe for the frozen sea within us.' As readers, we enter different worlds with much curiosity to open our hearts and souls, but also to discover hidden parts of ourselves.

Some friendships or relationships are only meant for a short period in your life, with beautiful memories. Sometimes, you realize that a separation was not a loss but a liberation from what no longer fit you. Just as we give our books a suitable place on our bookshelves, our faded relationships also find a special place in our hearts. And before you know it, you discover many new books.

With love,
Stefanie
Editor Hard//hoofd
Newsletter Hard//hoofd March 7, 2023