Nothing Good Gets Away




মন বলছে অবান্তরে বহুদিন আগে এই চিঠিটা ছেপেছিলাম, কিন্তু নিশ্চিত হতে পারছি না। যাই হোক, যদি ছেপেও থাকি, ভালো জিনিস একাধিকবার পোস্ট করলে ক্ষতি নেই। ছেলেকে লেখা জন স্টেইনবেকের চিঠি। 

*****

New York
November 10, 1958


Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.

But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so -- only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another -- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,
Fa


Comments

  1. Aha ... shokaal ta ki shundor hoye gelo. Mon bhalo hoye gelo. Thank you Kuntala!

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    1. সত্যি শর্মিলা, চিঠিটা বড্ড ভালো।

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  2. Pare chup kare base vaba chara r kichu e karar nei.-Sunanda.

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  3. Bad that my son is too young, hope I remember these sentences when time comes that he needs my advice ...

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    1. নিশ্চয় মনে থাকবে, শিবেন্দু। এই কথাগুলোই বলতে হবে তেমন তো নয়, আপনি হয়তো, হয়তো কেন নিশ্চয়, আপনার ছেলেকে আরও ভালো, আরও উপযুক্ত পরামর্শ দিতে পারবেন।

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    2. Ami er cheye upojukto poramorsho aro Sundar kore debo. Aha. Emon bhul bhangate Mon chaoa to durer Katha , nijeo biswas kore felte ichchha kore :)

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    3. Btw, amar ekta request achhe. Onekdin age apnar ekta golpo pore khub bhalo legechilo. Prem-Bhalobasa bishoyok golpo. etukui Mone achhe.Muskil hochche ar tar cheyeo Mone achhe boddo bhalo legechilo. Minimum 3/4 bochhor ager lekha, most probably tar o ager. Kintu du tin bar purono blog er link dhore onekshan gheteo seta paini , hoyto dhairjyo nei bolei fail.
      Ei rokom vague bornona r opore keu jodi khuje dite pare, ekmatra lekhika e... Tai bhablam apnake jiggasa kori.

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    4. নানা, ধৈর্যের ব্যাপার নয়, শিবেন্দু। আমি নিজেই কবে কী লিখেছি ভুলে গেছি, এই খড়ের গাদায় খোঁজাও মুশকিল। আপনি যেটা বললেন আমার সন্দেহ হচ্ছে সেটা অটো + বৃষ্টি + প্রেম এই জাতীয় একটা পোস্ট হলেও হতে পারে। যদি খুঁজে পাই, তাহলে এখানেই লিংক দিয়ে দেব। না পেলে ভেরি সরি।

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  4. "Nothing good gets away".

    Aha. :)

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    Replies
    1. সেই ভরসাতেই তো আছি, বিম্ববতী।

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  5. Replies
    1. থ্যাংক ইউ, প্রসেনজিৎ।

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  6. eita tumi anek agey chepechiley. 2010 e mone hoy.

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    1. ঠিক, আমারও মনে হচ্ছিল ছেপেছিলাম, শম্পা।

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  7. Nothing good gets away..

    *goosebumps*

    Bhodroloker 3 bar biye. No wonder he was an expert at love.

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    1. সবার অবশ্য ঠেকে এক্সপার্ট হতে হয় না। বাৎস্যায়ন ব্রহ্মচারী ছিলেন শুনেছি।

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