Friday January 22, I went to the Broadway Theatre and watched A Single Man by Tom Ford. The film was an absolute work of art. One of the things I took from this memorable movie was a line Colin Firth’s character delivers. He says that the only thing that has made life worth living for him was the people he connected with. It was an appropriate time to watch the movie for me, I was celebrating my 28th birthday. The thing about birthdays is that it allows you an opportunity to see who really cares that you are still a part of this world. A simple birthday wish can bring such a small inexplicable lurch of joy.

The film left the lingering thought of the kind of connections I have in my life. The people who now surround me and even the special connections from the past. I thought about the role that everyone plays in my life. The night before I saw A Single Man, I spent the evening in the company of the folk I love the most, my family. I am fortunate to have the kind of love that goes beyond the simple dictionary definition for this clan of mine. The kind of love that hurts at the mere thought of losing one of them. I’m realistic, it’s not always or has been a bed of roses, but through all the dirt you find the roots bonded by love running deep in the ground.

I make it a point to focus on all that makes a person good; I extract and compound those observations and throw them in to my jar of self-improvement (a never-ending task.) I’ve met people who have taught me a lot. I’ve met characters that taught me little. I’ve had the privilege to come across people now and then that I believe to be indispensable for leaving a deep imprint in my soul. People with unique substance; wanting nothing more than to soak in their infectious energy. And even more rare are the people who understood you completely, and you felt like you could finally exhale and just truly be. All your defects and glitches completely exposed. Nothing Hidden. Absolute truth. I sat around in my living room Saturday night and tried hard to observe (intoxication makes the task a bit difficult) all my friends laughing and having a really good time. I felt very lucky that I was encircled by people who thought I was alright enough to be sharing that moment with me. I was appreciating the role they individually play in my life teaching me different things, and I felt a deeper adoration for the ones in the room who I undoubtedly know are my kindred spirits.

Sunday morning as I layed in bed, I faded the hang over pounding headache (lack of water apparently) with the thought of gratitude. I was grateful for the fantastic pancake, sausage and coffee breakfast. I was grateful for the surprise of donuts and orange juice for my classroom accompanied by a beautiful card. The exquisite tostada dinner. The very special card. The cake. The jellyfish and I was very grateful for the beautiful people who kept me company as I transcended in to my 28th step.

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.    Albert Einstein