Connection (an attempt)

I began this piece the other day but never finished. My mind was cloudy and I could not quite form what I was trying to say. I have decided to abandon the approach, but have nevertheless posted it in case I get a response that inspires me to pick it up again...

Human intuition drives us to connect with other beings, moments and sensations, triggering the realization that our existence is not solitary. It is this powerful realization that continually motivates us to move beyond our limitations, seeking comfort in knowing that we create ripples; our actions produce inarguable outcomes that prove our perceptibleness. Sinking softly in cool water, feeling the tiniest bubbles tickle your face as they seek their higher destination. Nature interacts with your body in this blissful moment, imparting a heightened sense of awareness. Connection happens, and the moment passes, but the effects are forever imprinted on your being.

Recently I have developed a somewhat cruel addiction to ascending the peak of a mountain at a pace that intimidates even me. What began as an adventurous respite from business became a routine discipline that has enveloped any former wonder for the natural environment. Rock trails became a staircase and the surrounding scenery turned into background noise. Other hikers, then, transformed into curious passersby, not dissimilar to tumbleweeds brushing across my path. Life offered me a wondrous chance to connect with a most visceral ambiance but somehow my eyes glazed into fogginess, rejecting the world in favor of meaningless ritual. Ignoring countless opportunities to interact amidst such a beautiful setting, I now seek the very possibilities I have squandered.

Every day we are placed in situations that afford us the chance to be a part of something other than ourselves. Our commitment to reaching out defines the probabilities of the results. Society seems to constantly reinforce that we must take care of ourselves and indulge our own needs and desires in order to live happy lives. While this notion might lead one to become more outwardly healthy, it discards the efficacy of a deeper, more spiritual health. Religion aside, this spirituality involves allowing oneself to be a part of a greater community, to bask in loving arms of nature and to experience the emotions of special times.