One of the strongest forces of the human heart is the need for connection. Babies deprived of connection will not thrive and even may die. In the very least they will face major challenges throughout their life seeing the world as an unfriendly, dangerous place. Whether children or adults, the feeling of isolation or loneliness is one of the most painful of all human emotions. But though the yearning for connection is so primal, opening our hearts to ourselves or another is a scary proposition. It leaves us vulnerable to unmet expectations and disappointment, not to mention loss. Even in the best of situations, we sense the truth of impermanence that things will change, whether by shifting circumstances or by …
