Celebrate the Little Things

I AM. YOU ARE. offers personal reflections on love

By Molly Aronica
Published: February 14th, 2010 | 10:45am

Kevin Staniec lives his life in the true spirit of Valentine's Day. On February 13, he kicked off the release of his book, I AM. YOU ARE., which is dedicated to celebrating the little things that everyone loves about being in love.

Each page of the book contains a thought written by Staniec accompanied by Moore's interpretive illustration of it. All of the quips are honest and artfully constructed, such as, "You are hop scotch chalk on a thick brick wall" and "I am remaining seated with hands and arms inside at all times."

According to Staniec, the idea for I AM. YOU ARE. came about organically. "I am saddened to hear about those who have a hard time explaining their emotions. So, I figured, why not try to express what I was feeling, and ask a friend to join me on the journey?" he said. Each morning Staniec wrote down a few thoughts before work and sent them off in an email to his friend Melanie Moore, who ultimately became the the book's illustrator.

Eventually, the pair's work became a subtle study of genders. While collaborating back-and-forth, Staniec and Moore started to express their feelings about love and relationships — and they often balanced eachother out. "This creative game of penpalling started to reveal little differences between men and women," he said. For instance, when Staniec wrote a simple and concise verse one day, Moore might counter with a complex illustration.

After deciding to publish the book, Staniec created a blog around the concept, where people can submit their own versions of "I AM" (personal reflections) or "YOU ARE" (impressions) to appear as running threads. "The blog just made sense: This project was far too much fun not to share," Staniec said. Some of his favorite blog entries include:

"I am the label inside of your clothes, instructing you, just how to care for me" -Jen, Aliso Viejo

"I am a poem, a life of rejection notices and no appreciation awaits me." -Lob, Sacramento

"You are my funhouse reflection." -Justine, Los Angeles

"You are butterflies in my stomach, keeping me awake at night." -Corrie, Santa Monica

Staniec plans on publishing a second book that contains his favorite submissions from contributors to the blog.

Staniec and Moore also eventually found that working together on this project was a therapeutic way for them to deal with the conflicts and struggles of their childhoods and past relationships. "The problems we were having with our relationships, our families, or co-workers were similar to the predicaments we faced in the sandbox, on the playground, and during recess," Staniec said.

An idea like I AM. YOU ARE. serves as a reminder of why love is worth celebrating. "I would love for someone to tear out their favorite page and pin it to their wall or fold it inside an envelope and give to a friend on Valentine's Day," Staniec said.