I am a husk man, and I am a ducks back sort of fellow.
One of the challenges to anything like this, a sort of soul up renovation of the human animal, is other people. We do not live in a vacuum, and often times people touch us, or poke us, or say things without knowing they are hurtful and could possibly be a set back.
I experience this most often when I am out. It amazes me that people just say cruel things, and act cruelly for no reason. Simply out of control, or not thinking, or anything, they just poke you. It is an amazing sensation.
The thing with this, I am not above it. I am not some Malcom X style rightous man. I spent a good number of years lashing out, sometimes saying cruel or inappropriate things. So, I am not claiming the higher ground at all.
But, in my early 20s I met a man named Blair Lewis. He was a teacher, and in one whispered conversation he changed my life forever. He told me that words have weight. And then he let it go.
You put a few drinks in a guy or girl, and the world seems to become about their adventure through the cosmos. The way they move is often entirely self directed, and often times unaware that others are in the space or walking down the same road as they are. Its why I do not feel comfortable in public situations.
People say things, and somethings hurt people. Sometimes the person saying it has no idea that it does, and the person with the small hurt is left with sort of no recourse. Sometimes these things are almost entirely sythetic, and self created slights. Sometimes people want to be hurt.
But, often times people say things, and take liberties with other people. And that makes it hard.
What is nice for me is the plan, the program. Knowing where I want to get to, and knowing what steps it is going to take to get there. Having people supporting me like Randall and Kristy makes this possible. While they are not actually emotional counselors, the plan they worked with me on is a constant reinforcement of the path, a touchstone if you will.
The world is hard. People are inadvertantly cruel sometimes. We are all walking our own path. It is nice to have good shoes, and someone to support you.