People: Jonah Erickson

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about a dear friend, Jonah.

Jonah, over the past few years you have been such a big encouragement to me. You are someone who thinks through things well and does not act merely upon instinct, but you seek out what is honestly best, and that is such an endearing quality to me. You are a man of principle, an ethical man, a dying breed today. As well, one of the ways that you encourage me well is by being creative, which goes back to helping you think through things differently. You also critique well. At times it has felt like I am talking with myself when I talk with you, and you always make it a point to listen well to me. I have always had a good time with you and you have helped me through some difficult times. It is encouraging for me to see someone who loves so well and loves so many well. You also care deeply about Christ and for Christ and there is room in our relationship to discuss things of faith as well as our relationship with a loving King. You are a rare breed Jonah, and you have done some work on my heart, whether or not you realize it. It is great to be able to share a friendship with you.
Jonah, you are one of the people who encourages me most to be a better man, in so many ways. You are never satisfied with the status quo. You have sought out life and you have sought out me. I am so thankful for you and I want to make sure to continue to pursue you. I need you in you my life. You are a good influence on my character, I do believe. Jonah, there is not enough that I can say about you, and you bring life to me.
Jonah, you impress me with the life that you live, and I am so excited to continue our friendship. I thrive on your childlikeness mixed with your maturity. You are a man and I love you.

People: Levi Miller

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about my brother, Levi Miller.

Levi, it has been said that a man's character is in some part dictated by the people around him. I believe this and because I believe this, I am so thankful that you are in my life. You inspire me to be a better man in so many ways. You are a man of principle, and in an age that we live in that is so rare. One of the reasons that I love you so much is because you have so much life and energy in you and it is not so much that that is not the case for me, but at times I feel worn down. At times I feel like I have no energy and that I am not living up to my position or potential, and you consistently encourage me. Everytime that I spend time with you I am refreshed. I feel like you listen to me well and give me room to talk about the things that I enjoy and thrive in. Additionally, I enjoy listening to you as well because I think that your ideas come from a good place and that you think differently and outside of the box. I have come to realize that you see people as having intrinsic value to them, nobody is not worthwhile for frivolous reasons. One of the greatest compliments that I can give to you is that you are someone that I actually want to influence me because I think that I will become a better man through it.
Levi, this year I have needed your friendship so much. Many times I have spent with you and they have been some of my favorite days from the past year. I can confide in you and trust that you have my best interests at heart. The only thing that I feel like I do not have enough of is time with you, and you are a friend that I really hope will be in my life for a long time. You listen and love well, and it is so prudent to see someone who is not complacent with the type of man that he is; you seek to understand yourself and better yourself, not be ok with who you are. This is something that I too seek. You have been like a brother to me for much of the past year, and I have often failed to reciprocate the type of love that you have shown me, but I have been trying. I also am able to feel love for you, something that I cannot say for many people these days, and that alone encourages and challenges me.
Levi, all this to say that I could not in this small space hope to parlay what you mean to me. I am inspired by your desire to live simply and share and give what you have to others. I hope that I have been a positive influence in your life and I appreciate so much your love and friendship for me.

People: Bloodbath

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about my shortest friend, Bloodbath.

Blood, before I stayed with you those two months, I had no idea that we were going to become so close. Really, I needed your friendship so much that summer, more than I could ever properly explain. It was a difficult summer in reference to what exactly I was doing, but my blossoming friendship with you made was easily the best thing about that summer. I miss you very much and I still plan to visit you sometime when I can because I feel like you and I are kindred souls. I enjoy hanging out with you so much and you are so low maintenance. You love food and I feel like life with you was so simple and yet so enjoyable for me. You allowed me to see the world in a way that I was not accustomed to seeing it in, and that type of impact on my life is invaluable. We also did not need much to become friends, but one of the things that appealed to me most about you is that you had a desire to mature and a willingness follow suit. You are more of an adult than most people I know, especially in the way that you take care of those around you that you care for and in the way that you see the world. Life was not always easy for you, but you grew from that and overcame the difficulties; that is so inspiring to me. So much of who you are inspires me to be a better man.
Blood, you are a great man and a great friend. I have enjoyed all of the time that I have spent with you, even though I feel like it has been far too brief. The memories that I have to think of that we have spent together are so fond and pleasant, as is that period of my life, and you played such a large part of that. Somehow you are more mature than most of your friends, which is not surprising, but you are also more mature than most of my friends, which is saying something. You have your head on straight, and you are destined to lead a life that matters and a life that loves others well.
Thank you for your friendship Kyle. I love you.

People: Jamu

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about my German brother, Jamu.

Jamu, to say that you are a brother to me is an understatement. I met you in my kitchen, and from the moment I met you I instantly enjoyed you. I have known you for less than a year and yet in that year you have been able to impress me with who you are. People have consistently thought of us as brothers, and I am always glad when people do because you are such a brother to me. You are a joy to have around in every circumstance and situation. You have shown a resiliency and your willingness to hang out in a wide variety of situations is refreshing. You are polite and considerate and you always wanted to know how you could include me in what you were doing. I appreciate that. I met a lot of international people this year, but none of them are quite like you. You are a man in the most accurate sense of the word, strong and a good leader while simultaneously emotional and loving. In my life particularly, I needed your friendship this year. You listened to me and I loved coming home to see you there. You are like a brother to me Jamu.
I appreciate your openness as well, consistently giving me room to think and process, and although you made your work a priority, you also made life a priority, going out of your way to do different things. Not only did you allow me to be open, but you have always been open with me about your thoughts and the way that you feel. One of the things that I most enjoy about you is that I am able to be with you in a variety of different events; eating, a sunset walk, getting mcflurrys, celebrating the holidays, talking at dance parties, and going up into the mountains to get tri-tip. I have so many pleasant memories with you, yet our friendship is by no means over. I want you to be a part of my life for years to come because you are a special type of friend and man and individual.
Jamu, thank you for loving me so well and being such a good friend. I love and appreciate you so much.

People: Aaron Vasey

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about a special friend of mine, Aaron Vasey.

Aaron, you are one of my most important friends. It is weird for me to say that, but you are someone who cares about me very very well. We have been very close since last year, and you are just a joy to be around. You make me laugh and bring me a lot of joy. I occasionally wonder why you chose to be such a good fried to me, and that only indicates just how much of a good friend you are to me. Whether it be us getting food together, walking somewhere, or just sitting watching something, I always enjoy time with you. You are someone who allows me to be very open and you listen better than most people that I know. You also ask good questions which is a part of listening well but warrants mentioning separately. Over the last two years, I will get off of work and you are one of the people that I want to see. When I think about you, I think about someone who loves well, yet I do not know why. You are someone who I really enjoy talking with as well, partially because I can be open but partially because I feel like you are interested in talking about similar things to me. You seem to have a wide enough range of interests, and many of those overlap with mine which I have become somewhat dependent on.
Aaron, I am so thankful that next year you are not leaving and thus I get a full year to live with you. You see the world in a peculiar yet lovely way. You have managed to retain your youthful innocence, something that I virtually feed off of. Sometimes I feel exhausted and tired, and not only do you refresh me, but you encourage me in a way that nobody else quite does. I am excited to continue to get to know you and watch the way that you grow and our friendship along with it. You enjoy sharing music together and overall just sharing life together, and while I sometimes get frustrated with people, you are very rarely among them; there is a reason for that. It is not because you cow-tow to what I want out of a friend, but it is because you actually love me.
Yes Vasey, with you there so much amicability and I feel loved so fiercely from you, which I can say so rarely about someone. I so very much appreciate the life that you give me and the enthusiasm which you bring to our friendship. I only hope that I can continue to love you well in return.

People: Jake Sterhagen

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about one of my best friends, Jake Sternhagen.

Jake, you are one of the greatest people that I know. I met you years ago at a worship night, and we have had a robust relationship ever since. Jake, there is no way that in one post I could say enough about what you mean to me, but please permit me the grace to attempt to do so anyway. For two years now, I have needed your friendship very much. You listen to me well and you give me room to talk and think. You are one of the most rational people that I know, and you have a way to make people around you think rationally, and I appreciate that because as rational as I am, I simply get fed up with people far too much. But you do not Jake; you are very reluctant to give up on people, and I do not consider that weakness, I consider it strength. You love Christ, and you are actually interested in investigating truly and completely what that means and giving energy to the thought process of figuring this all out. You are an incredibly good friend to everybody who considers you a friend, and anybody who is a friend of yours would vouch for that. After college I lost a lot of people close to me, not because they were now uninterested in being my friend, but because they left geographically. You verily filled in that gap and filled it in lovingly and exceptionally, always taking time to be intentional with me. Man Jake, you even helped me get my driver's license.
Jake, all of this to say, you have been such a good friend for so long. You make time for me, pay for me far too often. One of the things that is most substantial is that you actually give thought and effort into how to love me practically. That is such rare a trait, Jake. Most people talk about love but have no real idea or discipline to carry it out, but you are interested in practical love. Not only with me, but you seek to practically love God as well. You are unsettled when you perceive evil and wrong around you and you seek to make change. That is another rare quality to find in people, that you possess. You are a one of a kind friend to me and consequently, I have a deep-seeded love for you. I am often overwhelmed by the love that you show me because it is rare that people show love to me with that ferocity. I need that in my life, and it has created between us a spirit that allows me to discuss truly anything. Jake, there is nothing that I feel like is off-topic to discuss with you, another rare quality. I appreciate that freedom and openness.
Jake, thank you so much for being such a good friend and encouraging me so much. I truly do not know what my life would have been like if I had not led a bible study with you last year. You are a once in a lifetime friend and somebody whom I hope is in my life forever. You have a youthful vivacity combined with an adult, mature integrity. I can only see our relationship getting better because you are someone that I want to spend so much time with. I love you deeply Jake.

People: Troy Yamasaki

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about one of my favorite Asians, Troy Yamasaki.

Troy, let me start by saying how refreshing it always is to spend time with you. You are a man who constantly and consistently seeks to love Jesus and make Him known in your life and the lives of those around you. Without you my life would be much drier and though we do not always spend time together, even knowing that you are in IV to labor with me is so very needed. From the time that I met you I have had the blessing of being able to be something of a mentor to you and I am so thankful for that. You have loved me well for three years now and given me a place to be open about myself, my weaknesses, and most of all my faith and thoughts thereof. You have shown so many the love of Christ by what you have done and the way that you have acted and continue to act. Something that has been confirmed as true over and over is how considerate you are and how caring you are toward you friends. You have long been one of my favorite people to pray with because I think that you are much more intentional in your prayers than most other people that I know. Most everything about your faith is refreshing Troy, and while you are not perfect, that is a fact that I believe you understand and seek to change.
Troy, I consider it a blessing to be your friend, and knowing you often feels like knowing a celebrity, but not because of some arbitrary, vain reason, but because you have made it your mission to love people well. That does not go unnoticed, even though I know that you do not do it for the notice. For so much of last year, your faith kept me going and gave me a reason to stay strong. I have seen your commitment to Christ, even when you do not know what that looks like, and it has encouraged me to stay sinless. I appreciate that you seek to be obedient to Christ and that is something that I do not ever want you to lose.
Troy, I have spent some great times with you in the past, not just little times, but also big times like both of our birthdays over the past couple of years. I appreciate every moment that I get to spend with you, and while I have not been a perfect friend to you, I am so appreciative that you have had so much grace on me. I love you Troy, and I thank you for the impact that you have had on my life.

People: Jenny Nguyen

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about the person who pluralized my name, Jennies.

Jennies, allow me to start out by saying that there is no way that I could ever say enough about how much you have impacted me this year. I hardly knew you beyond face recognition before moving into the Treehouse with you, and I can say that from the moment that you moved in, I chose to believe in you. When around you, I know how much that I am cared for, and when I think of you I think of you as someone who is strong yet honest. I have never met someone who is as unabashedly, unashamedly tell people the way you feel, whether that be messed up things in your past, your sexual history, or anything else. You are honest in another way too: if you think that something is ridiculous, you will say so, if you think that someone is great, you will tell them so. That type of honesty is extremely refreshing. You care for the people around you very well, and you understand well that you are loved. You are also up front about your insecurities, which, while at times frustrating, is also very refreshing to see someone who knows what their weaknesses are. You have taught me much, and while I have matured very much this year, you have played an integral part in that. I guess what this is all saying is that I respect you immensely. You do a good job of loving, and I think that you are excellent at being a functional human being.
I think one of the other things that I really love about you is your way of taking the ridiculous things of life in stride. Life is full of ridiculous things and you do not seem to get caught up in them, but instead seem to just laugh and carry on. In that way you are more logical and less controlled by your emotions. You have so many flaws, but you are aware of them and you have so many beautiful things about you as well, Jenny. You are ambitious as well and that inspires me to want to do more because although you are a nerd at heart, you take care of what you need to do first and prioritize play where it should be without over-valuing it and thus mucking your life up unnecessarily. We have spent so many good times together, one-on-one and with groups, and you are always a joy to hang out with. You really make me feel accepted and loved so securely. I love that about you and I often think to your friendship.
Jenny, you are such a special creature and I very much appreciate you. Thank you for loving me and being so good at it while at the same time allowing me to be secure and listening to me. Thank you for that, Jenny and happy birthday. I love you.

People: ZBG

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about a man with merely 3 letters, ZBG.

ZBG, your friendship has been such a huge blessing to e over the past two years. The day that I met you we prayed and worshiped together and I feel like that set the precedent of our friendship. I have doubted what many people think of me and experienced many friendships wherein the other person has not given back to me, but none of that has been true for you. You have always not only pursued me but pointed me directly back to Christ. I have always appreciated the way that you have loved me. your grace in my life is unparalleled and you have never treated me with anything but intense kindness and care. More than that, you have been open and honest with me and that is an easy way to get close to me. ZBG, what I have loved so much about our friendship is the way that you have listened to me and been eager to hear what I have to say, and it has given me such a space to be open about my life and my faith with someone who loves me. You have helped me to think well and have a discussion, giving me room to be myself. When I think of you I think of someone who does not desire his own glory, but you do things for the greater good. This is not entirely true, but you have taken much of what has happened to you in stride and have not broken down. I have seen you pursue friendships in order to make them great.
ZBG, I think that you do well at knowing your limits and being up front about them. You do not try to do more than you are able to and that is a rare quality in men these days. You have given me such a huge dose of grace and shown love directly to me throughout the duration of our relationship. I appreciate your willingness to go on walks and talk, get lunch if I am hungry, or be challenged if that is what I want to do. You have put up with a lot while constantly forgiving me when I transgress against you. I have needed your pointing me to Christ everytime that you have done it and your sober-minded way of looking at the world.
ZBG, there is so much more that I can say, but for now you will have to settle for me thanking you for the friendship that you have been so willing and at times eager to give to me and me letting you know that I love you. I can see myself loving you for a very long time and I hope that that vision comes through.

People: Dane Short

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about my one friend taller than me, Dane Short.

Dane, from the first time that I had the opportunity to spend time with you, I have enjoyed it. The simple fact is that we have so many things that we are able to bond over, from being tall and thin, to cooking, to the intricacies of navigating life as a follower of Jesus. One of the things that I appreciate most about you Dane, is that you give me room to think and you really listen to me ardently and well. It seems like for the duration of our relationship I have had the privilege of mentoring you in many aspects of life, but believe me when i tell you that that has done as much if not more good for me than it has for you. I have so many thoughts and having someone who not only listens but wants to listen to them, is incredibly important and treasured to me. Most relationships I have to work so hard for, but with our relationship, I have been able to develop it with less effort, not because I love you less, but because you are so open to having a relationship with me. Our relationship is robust, and by that I mean that we are able to do and have done many different types of things together. We cook, talk, laugh, worship, watch, play monkeys in the sand, play signs, and many other things. This has helped enhance our relationship so much and kept it from growing stale.
Dane, if I have not done an adequate job yet of making it clear, I really appreciate that I am able to be open with you and especially that you give me a positive space in which to develop my thoughts. Your ability and willingness to listen has taught me a lot about how to listen and how to ask good questions. Additionally, I have tried to listen to you well and that is one of the reasons that we are such good friends: we listen to each other and make that a priority. You are goofy but more than open to being serious when the need arises. Additionally, you are someone that I love to hang out with in groups, partially because of your ability to be goofy or serious and partially because I always feel comfortable around you. Dane, you have transitioned from a young, eager freshman into a leader, even if you are at times reluctant to lead in the traditional sense, you lead in many ways these days, with a humble attitude, fervent spirit, and faithful heart.
Dane, I am so appreciative of your friendship and that you have been willing to take steps when I have lacked in that regard. Thank you for listening to me and having grace on me. I love you.

People: Ben Harding

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about a man who #sleeps: Ben Harding.

Harding, I still remember when I first met you that night at the beginning of my senior year. I do not think that too many people know you well, but I have had the blessing of being able to spend a good amount of time with you over the years. You are a fun person, and I do not say that lightly; sometimes there are times when I just want to hang out with you, even feel like I need to hang out with you. You are such a great person to hang out with when I am exhausted or when I need to just relax and need it not to be heavy. That is an underrated quality. You are so opinionated at times, but that is only because you are so strong in who you are. You work hard for what you want, and I am glad that you are willing to put up with me posting napping pictures of you.
Ben, I occasionally get peeved with what I perceive is a lack of care about the most important things, and I know that that aspect will continue to grow as you do. However, I know that at the end of the day, you would go to battle for anybody that you really care about, me included. I can say that it is a blessing to be able to say that you are one of my closest friends. You are strong-willed and that will serve you well in life.
Harding, thank you for making me laugh, laughing with me, having such a similar taste in movies, being honest with me, playing so much basketball with me, and just being a friend. I appreciate you very much and love you.

People: Brandon Downum

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about my quirkiest friend, Brandon Downum.

D, I have known you for several years, but the last two of them are when I have really known you well. To say that I needed you last year would be a gross understatement. I so very much needed your friendship last year and the fact that we were able to get close has been a huge blessing. I do not think that many people have really taken the time to get to know you, but that is to their detriment. You are someone who is a good friend to his friends and is also aware of his own faults. You have shown a willingness to come and meet people where they are at. People generally know you as 'that quirky guy,' but I have had the blessing to know beyond that. When I think of you I think of someone who has always been willing to make me laugh, and while I do think you are funny, you have been able to make me laugh because you know me well and know what makes me laugh. Your pursuit of me has been a big blessing too because there are so many people that I always have to chase after that having someone who returns it, even just a little, is huge for me.
You are more than just a quirky guy Brandon. You are someone who struggles, who loves, and who enjoys life. Although you do not like confrontation, you are always able to see the lighter side of life in a culture where light and joy are drowned out amidst a cacophony of complaints and thanklessness. You are not perfect and you never will be, but you clearly know that are working for it. It is that side of you which makes me excited for what God is going to do in you in the coming years. I can see you becoming a man Brandon, but one who will not lose that vital sense of childlike wonder that is so integral in how you see the world. That is a treasure and I encourage you to stoke it, even as you layer onto it maturity and grace.
Understand why I tell you all of this: I love you and I will miss you so much when you leave. You are someone who has been a real friend to me and you have shared with me much that I believe has been hidden from others. As well, you, more so than perhaps any of the friends that I have ever had, share so many great lines with me.
"Is there no decency" "I'll do it" "We shan't be telling your mother about this, shan't we" and so many more. D, thank you for being my friend at times when I have really needed it and enjoying life with me on many levels.

People: David Haynes

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about the voice himself, David Haynes.

David, I was so surprised to see that I did not write about you the first time around I did this, but I am also thankful because now I get to write anew about you. I am so thankful that I have known you for so long and have had the privilege of seeing your growth first-hand, and our relationship along with it. Many people have known you for your voice but I have seen your faithful character, your humble spirit, and your joviality. The reality is that you care about people David, and you care about people well. For as long as I have known you this has been true of you and the more you mature and become a leader, the more this is who you are. When I think of you I think of somebody who shepherds people well. We have always had a relationship that you are someone that I have a special type of love for you. Something that I think that you do very well is rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. You have a quiet humility about you that speaks so much louder than anything you can say, which is saying something considering your voice. You are so much more than your voice. The reality is that you have a certain magnetism about you that draws people in, but not only do you not abuse it, but you use it to love others well.
David, there is so much that I can say about you. Every time that I see you I get such a deep dose of joy and I always look forward to getting to see you. I hope that I get to continue to stay close to you. I needed your friendship so much last year, and your consistency in my life was so appreciated and so necessary. I do not think that I will ever be able to tell you what your friendship means to me adequately and what getting to lead you so directly for two years means to me.
You are a stud David, and while all of this may sound gaudy, you have become a trustworthy, faithful man and someone who leads and loves very well, and it is an honor to be among those that you love. I love you buddy.

People: Paul Miyake

I have been out of college for two years now. A lot of people have impacted me in those two years and I figure that it is high time that I start to tell them how they make me feel. I am focusing primarily on the people that I did not get a chance to thank in college but have left their imprint on me since. I have no target number to compete, but I need to inform people that they have loved. Considering that I have grown less emotional since college, this project does pose its problems; have grace on me please. This post is about someone so racially ambiguous, Paul Miyake.

Paul, for years you were very mysterious to me and I did not quite understand you. I tried to be your friend and here you were, Mr. Cool in the eyes of everybody and for good reason. You exude cool and you have since the day that I have met you. You have been blessed with a magnetism that I do not really see in many other people. I think that for a long time you had not experienced true, deep, long-lasting friendship because you did not know how to. You even told me something akin to that near the end of your junior year. I do not know what changed, but I can tell you that over the course of your last year, year and half of college, you developed and cultivated so many deep, long-lasting friendships. Your reputation grew and changed, not so much Mr. Cool (though you undoubtedly still were and are), but as a leader, a man, and friend who loves well. I can say that you are one of only a few people that I have seen so clearly grow in such a time so palpably in the exact area that you wanted to, and it is an encouragement to me as someone who is seeking always to grow. Last year I needed you in so many ways, needed your friendship. You were an encouragement to my faith, to my own ability to lead; you showed me that there are young people who care about good, decent things. It has been such an honor to support you in your year in the middle east, and it has given me so much joy to see you grow throughout the time I know you. You have gone from a boy into a man, and I am not exaggerating when I say that. You now have a collectedness about you, but not without the ability to infect others with your laughter all the same.
I think that what you have given me most Paul, is somebody to think through things with. You know that I am a thinker, always pensive, and you have always given me an avenue to expunge on. Not only have you listened to me but you ask good questions. Paul, there were times last year when I leaned so heavily on you in so many ways and I was able to ask you to keep me accountable for things because I respected and still respect you far too much to lie to you. I needed that honesty and all of these things have given me ample reason to tell you that you have loved me so well. There is for sure an imprint on my life over the past two years that you have left, and you are one of only a handful of guys (a small handful at that) that I would trust others to. This is because you lead faithfully and you love with reckless abandon.
All of these things sound gaudy Paul, but I really love you and I am so excited for the next time that I get to see you. I have told you before that I can easily see myself being friends with you for the entirety of my life and that is something that I still hold on to and am confident in. I am praying for you, Kiddo.