I've been lonely for so long. And I've been hurt so deeply. If only I could have met you again a long time ago, then I wouldn't have had to take all these detours to get here.' Tengo shook his head. 'I don't think so. This way is just fine. This is exactly the right time. For both of us. [...] We needed that much time.... to understand how lonely we really were.
Haruki MurakamiBut I didn't walk a single step. I stopped a lot to stretch, but I never walked. I didn't come here to walk. I came to run. That's the reason-the only reason-I flew all the way to the northern tip of Japan. No matter how slow I might run, I wasn't about to walk. That was the rule.
Haruki MurakamiRunning taught me to have faith in my skills as a writer. I learned how much I can demand of myself, when I need a break, and when the break starts to get too long. I known how hard I am allowed to push myself.
Haruki MurakamiWe can, if we so choose, wander aimlessly over the continent of the arbitrary. Rootless as some winged seed blown about on a serendipitous spring breeze.
Haruki MurakamiWell, think of what Iโm doing to you right now. For me Iโm the self, and youโre the object. For you, of course, itโs the exact oppositeโyouโre the self to you and Iโm the object. And by exchanging self and object, we can project ourselves onto the other and gain self-consciousness. Volitionally.โ โI still donโt get it, but it sure feels good.โ โThatโs the whole idea,โ the girl said.
Haruki Murakami