Do you ever wish you were stranded
on a desert island?

No more worries.
No more cell phones.
No internet, Twitter or Facebook.
Some exotic local where no-one could find you – finally alone with your thoughts, swinging in a hammock, with all the time in the world to do just as you pleased.

We’ve all dreamed of that from time to time.

So why then, in the rarity of this occurrence, do these apparently lucky individuals always seem obsessed with getting off the island?

Is the MSG in take-out food that addictive?
Would they rather gather food at the grocery store than climb a tree to knock down coconuts or fashion a spear out of bamboo and sea shells?

Or do we, as humans,
crave companionship to the point
that we would give up all chance of total freedom
to regain it? 

You have no doubt heard about the orphans in over-crowded Romanian orphanages which lacked the staff to care for the infants other than change their diapers and prop bottles in their cribs.* These children showed growth and developmental delays and had a higher rate of infant deaths, all attributed to the lack of human physical touch.

Touch forges the bridge that allows us to thrive.  

For most of us, our parents are our bridges. It is through their loving touch as infants that we grow to trust and love others.

Our families are our springboards, enabling us the courage and confidence to seek connections beyond our inner circle. To develop relationships, through trial and error, that will enhance our chance of survival; those we call our friends.

I know that for me, my close friends provide support when I need a boost.
They provide a confidential place to go when I need to vent.
They accept me as I am, warts and all.

We share similarities, past histories, and gut-busting laughter.
We share triumphs and trials.

They each exhibit the qualities that I value in a person and reflect the virtues that I value in myself.

And although we touch base via email or texts, we connect when we sit across from one another at a coffee shop or when walking a trail or even sitting side-by-side in a movie theatre.

We give each other hugs whether we need them or not.

And I know that I could not survive without them. 

They are my cheering section; the ones that never let me fall too far.  After all…

No man is an island.
                                                    John Donne (1572-1631)

What are your friends worth to you?

*Luckily this scenario is changing and there are now clinics where volunteers cuddle and hold the babies and a foster care program has been instated.

30-Day Challenge – Day 2 

Ok, Day 1 complete and I wasn’t sure that I could even begin.

We had a beautiful weekend where I live and I took advantage of it by cleaning out a long-neglected garden – pulling, edging, trimming, digging, lifting, yanking, dragging – for about 16 hours in total. Sunday night I could barely lift my legs to climb the stairs but my bed was beckoning, so I managed, one slow step at a time.

Monday morning I awoke with sore glutes, hamstrings, shoulder blades and lower back. But did I let that stop me from starting my yoga challenge? NO! – almost, but no. I popped in my Rodney Yee dvd and for 25 minutes followed along looking like a marionette to his Gumby. My jerky awkward movements were laughable I’m sure but luckily I had no witnesses. I pushed through and surprised myself. I completed it all to the best of my stiff abilities.  

I will update you on my progress periodically and hope you do the same. I have a long way to go before I reach Gumby-state but Pokey’s not a bad start. 

One down, 29 to go. 

Did you start your 30-Day challenge?  What did you do?

photo credit: http://photopin.com/