Yesterday we did a farewell to colleagues who completed
assignments. They are all very capable, intelligent and mature individuals. Raised
by super demanding parents, I tend to be too hard on myself and people around
me, but even from such an ungenerous eye, they were awesome.
Even if connected online or SNS, nothing can replace communication
in person. Like it or not, however, one has to say goodbye to people for deep
dialogue at some point. That’s hard, but as one gets older, that’s inevitable.
In her classic "Silent Spring," Rachel Carson said “In nature, nothing exists alone.” I come to
appreciate that better as I am losing people around me. Whether the sound of wind,
trees, rain, or encounter with butterflies, bees or cats, I do spiritual
dialogue with them in a deeper sense, it seems, replacing the loss of intimate human
exchange.
