I recently crossed paths with the most fascinating soul. For context, I’m one of those “weird” people who believe life was better without today’s overwhelming technology. I often joke that smoke signals and drums were the ultimate communication tools; simple, and far less intrusive. Naturally, most people in my life roll their eyes and think I’m being ridiculous.
But a few days ago, I had a conversation that felt like validation for my quirky perspective. It started with this radiant individual a beautiful soul in every sense of the word. She casually mentioned, “Val, you won’t believe this, but I just got my first mobile phone recently, right before traveling here to Kenya. I only got it because I needed to stay in touch with my family back in the US.”
You can imagine my face; complete disbelief. “Wait, so all this time, how were you keeping in touch with everyone?” I asked.
Her response floored me. “Do you know those old wire phones? The ones with the curly cords? That’s what I’ve always used.”
Right then and there, I knew I wanted to be her best friend.
Before you assume she’s just some out-of-touch person, let me blow your mind. She’s an 80-year-old mathematics professor, brilliant, witty, and brimming with life. Oh, and she adores real, tangible books. Not eBooks, not audiobooks, but actual, paper-smelling, page-turning books.
We spent a brief moment chatting about her life, her values, and her love for simplicity, and I was captivated. The chances of us meeting again are slim, but I’ll never forget her. She reminded me that sometimes, the simplest lives can be the most inspiring.
Shadow to my light. 