Hoping is a balancing act.

Hoping is a balancing act. If I hope too much I become unaware of the present and fixated on the future. I forget to enjoy now. If I stop hoping, I fall into despair, disregard the present and the future; forgetting the endless possibilities in each new moment.

Being Alone in the World

My 25 year old daughter is struggling with loneliness, which got me thinking. Are we ever not alone? We may have friends, companions and lovers but we are essential alone within our own minds. I love my children but they have begun their adult lives, which has taken them away. I care dearly for my best friend but I know situations of life could pull us apart. Then finally, there is death, which separates us from the illusion of connectedness with another being. How do you grapple with being alone?

Touch

I sat dining with a friend the other day and she casually touched my hand. I was surprised at my feeling of elation from such a casual touch. The experience stuck with me and I began to notice how my life is virtually devoid of touch other than the occasion obligatory handshake. I love touch and yet I have devolved into a tactile isolate. This is not about whining but rather an observation and a challenge to all of my friends. Give affection when you can, especially to those who society shuns. Middle aged fat men deserve loving touch too.