Shy Eye, Brave Heart

Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them—if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry.

― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

“How do I spell your name?”

“S-H-I-A-H”

Shier. Shire. Shy Eye.

The one who hides behind the camera.

I didn’t find you as spiritually or morally troubled - or maybe you hid it well. But I did learn a whole lot from you over the last weekend: how to take great pictures in the dark without flash, how to fix a squeaky fridge door or how advantageous it is to be a small person when bouldering.

“I think all your friends are now following me”

No wonder! Together, we made some history over this two and a half days – made memories and took photos with so many people! My friends, strangers, and people who you met in the street – all of them will follow and remember you for your light, so brightly reflecting itself through your photos.

I still didn’t write you a Couchsurfing request – because I am pretty sure you’ll come around again, trying to fix yet another thing in my home. (I have to document E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G)

Fully equipped with energy bars and photo gear, today in the morning you were sharing the last photos with me – the timeless gifts I got from you which will extend your weekend stay in Warsaw into forever.

Thank you for those blessings.

- I am happy.

- Why?

- Because I’m scared.

I’m also afraid. It’s very scary to meet so many people – because once you get to know someone amazing, you got to let them go, watching them pass like a shooting star. It’s very scary, indeed, to be open and kind, and continue to live your truth – making other people happy at any cost. I know, you get that – isn’t it because of that you are in Lviv now?

Now you know where my family lives, and don’t hesitate to ask for address if you would like to stop by Dolina or Truskavets.

I’m pretty sure you’re going to have great adventures in Ukraine. I feel that your photography will make a difference in many lives. It also has – here, in Warsaw, and back there in the US. The whole world is waiting to be captured by your camera, while a fair share of it I already (in all those 100,000+ photos)

Including me, a fellow dyslexic hobbit that just like a Catcher in the Rye, catches those crazy free souls, travelers, artists, explorers, refugees before they "go over the cliff" – to give them peace and warmth where they can rest and heal before climbing yet another mountain peak of their lives.

Thank you for revealing my light to me.

Democracy dies in darkness.