The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

At the beginning of our friendship, a man that I now consider to be a dear friend, asked me this question:



What kind of an idea are you?



At first, I did not understand what he meant by this, so I asked him. And this is what he responded:

"I cannot explain to you what I mean, because it is you who should fill the question with meaning. I know that it is a very vague question, but your answer will tell me more about you when I do not explain the way I see the question. It is a question that has so many meanings. It doesn't matter what meaning you give to it."



I then wrote the following: "I understand now why you asked me this and what kind of answer is related to it. I find this question very intriguing! It says a lot about you as a person and your intelligence. Can I ask you if you would be so kind as to show a bit of patience as I try to search for my answer? Because it is such an in depth question I need to think my answer through before I get back to you. This isn't something I can come up with in 5 minutes and I doubt you would want an answer that is written without thought.. What I do know is that you can expect an explanation from me on several levels :) Hope that explains why I did not reply your message immediately and I apologize for the waiting."



We continued our conversations and they became more interesting.



After a couple of days I believed to have found my answer. This is what I wrote:



What kind of an idea am I?



"I like to see myself as a light.. I am a candle that has been lit at the beginning and won't go out until it's time. I am surrounded by darkness. In that darkness there are many people wandering, yet I stand alone. Nothing or no one will be able to blow my light out, although they might influence its shining (this may be the wind that represents past experiences or the gain of new friends and true love, which will make my light shine brighter).



As time goes by, someone may come across the light and decide to use it to enlighten their way or just as a companion (those are called friends) and our paths are intertwined from here on. Others may decide they do not need me as they know the path they walk on or they might find this light not suited for their needs. Our paths cross and are separated again (those are called acquaintances).



Unfortunately, like each candle, mine will come to an end as well. But until that happens I will have experienced a lifetime full of adventure, true friends and love. I will then have completed my journey and will join the place of eternal light, where sooner or later I will meet all of my friends once again and we will shine together with a light brighter than the sun..



Note: This is how I would like to see myself and how I would like to be seen by other people. It is not necessarily the way other people actually see me (there is a difference). Although I hope the two do not lay far from each other.. :)



Another way of answering your question is that I am an idea in the very sense of the word. I was born and from here on I am constantly changing. I gather information, (self)knowledge and wisdom from a variety of sources and choose which knowledge I will use to shape the idea. As this process continues the idea transforms into a project, a painting, a poem, a musical composition,.. whatever I want it to be. The result will be as I wish it to be, but one has to acknowledge the fact that although it has been through a long process of perfecting, it will never be perfect. And that is just something we will have to learn to accept. For life itself is not perfect, it is only what we make it to be..



I hope this answer gives you something to think about :) I thank you for your patience and for asking me this question in the first place. I think you have helped me a little bit further along the way of self-knowledge and now I am curious as to hearing your opinion and your answer as well :) "



I received a very intriguing answer to the same question. :) We still talk to each other and enjoy our conversations. I would like to thank the person that asked me this question in the first place and made me think about what kind of an idea I am.



So thank you, genuineblood, for being my friend and the intelligent person that you are.



And I invite you to think about this question as well. What would be your answer?